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Lesson #8 - The Gift of the Holy Spirit Introduction:
Acts 2.38 speaks of the “gift of the Holy Spirit.” What does this mean?
Is the gift the Holy Spirit itself being what a person receives when baptized
into Christ? Is the gift of the Holy
Spirit that which proceeds from the Holy Spirit and if so what is that gift?
Grammatically either statement could be true. There are times when the term
“Holy Spirit” is used to refer to miraculous gifts, 1
Thess. 5.19. Some might argue that John
7.39 speaks of the Spirit. But this is by metonymy refers to the effects of
the Holy Spirit. Therefore, to know which is meant we must look at the specific
context and general context of this passage. I)
Acts 2.17-21 and Joel 2.28-32 A)
The time period is identified by Peter – this is that (the sound of the
rushing wind and tongues of fire) 1.
Does anyone have this today? 2.
Do all believers have all of “this” today? B)
In the Last Days, Acts 2.17 1.
Not throughout the Last Days 2.
The church was to be established in the last days, Isaiah
2.2-3 3.
A new covenant is be given, Jeremiah
31.31-32 4.
When was the New Covenant revealed? Jude
3 5.
Is it still being revealed today? II)
I will Pour Out of My Spirit (Not, I will Pour Out Holy Spirit Baptism) A)
1.
Object is not the Holy Spirit being poured out but the Holy Spirit is the source
of that which is being given 2.
I will pour out of this milk jug obviously means not that I will pour the jug
but that which the jug contains. B)
Three things made available 1.
Prophetic revelation, vv. 17,18
a. There were apostles and prophets,
Ephesians 4.11
b. Church at 2.
Miraculous demonstrations, vv. 19-20
a. Mark 16.17-18
b. Hebrews 2.3-4 the purpose of the miracles was to prove the
revelation 3.
Salvation, v. 21
a. Goes back to Acts 2.17 and fulfilled in the Gospel, Ephesians 1.3, 22-23
b. What were they in need of? Salvation 4.
Of those three, two were of a limited duration
a. Prophetic revelation would end, 1
Corinthians 13.8
b. Miraculous demonstrations would end, 1
Corinthians 13.9-10 III)
The Pouring Out of Acts 2.17 A)
To all mankind (on all flesh) 1.
All flesh must be limited
a. The flesh of fish and birds are different, 1
Corinthians 15.39
b. How about all human flesh? Will the atheist, the agnostic,
adulterers, drunkards, etc. receive this? 2.
Do all believers prophesy or have miraculous powers? B)
What is poured out? 1.
Proverbs 1.23 knowledge as a gift 2.
Isaiah 32.15-17 God’s faithful are blessed with righteousness 3.
Isaiah 44.3-4 spiritual blessings C)
Most want to limit the miraculous to speaking in unknown tongues 1.
What about the other miraculous gifts? 2.
Very few people in the first century church had miraculous gifts IV)
Who So Ever Calls On The Name of The Lord Shall Be Saved A)
Acts 2.37 the object of their question was what
they should do B)
Acts 2.38 Repent and be baptized 1.
Why? That was what they were to do in order to be saved 2.
Peter is simply answering their question
a. They applied to everyone of them
b. He stated the authority: in the name of Christ
c. The purpose was in order to receive the remission of sins
d. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” was the blessing they were to
receive 3.
This was totally new; never preached before 4.
Now limited to Jews but anyone who calls on Christ shall be saved C)
The pouring out of Acts 10.45 is not parallel to Acts 2.38 1.
Repent and baptism = remission of sins.
a. Then the gift of salvation.
b. Remission of sins is a condition of and precedent to salvation. When
one’s sins are forgiven they then are saved. 2.
Acts 10 the pouring out first and then they were told what to do to be saved 3.
The pouring out was a sign that they could be saved V)
The Gift of Holy Spirit To Those Afar Off A)
The subject of forgiveness 1.
Verse 38 is connected to
verse 39 2.
Gar for
the reason for the preceding statement B)
The afar off 1.
Those separated from God and not under the Law of Moses, Ephesians 2.11-13 2.
The subject was not prophecy or miraculous gifts but salvation, v. 33, 21 VI)
Gift of God and Christ A)
John 4.10 we read of the gift given by God, John 3.16 B)
Ephesians 4.7 Jesus gave the gift of salvation C)
Gift of the Holy Spirit refers to the promise of salvation Conclusion:
What were they told to do and what were they to receive? They were told to be
baptized. There are three possibilities: 1) no one received what was promised
when they were baptized, 2) everyone received what was promised, 3) they did not
know what they received. What did everyone receive throughout the Book of Acts
when they were baptized? Paul’s sins were “washed away”; the Philippian
Jailor was told to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved”
Acts 16.31a. The Ethiopian Eunuch was added to the Lord. Each received
salvation. Did each receive the ability to prophesy or speak in tongues? No. Did
they understand what they had received? Philippian Jailor rejoiced, Acts 16.34;
Paul understood his sins were washed away. The Ethiopian Eunuch went on his way
rejoicing Acts 8.39.
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