ACTS 2:1- 21 “WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PENTECOST FOR TODAY”?

 

I want to draw our attention to the significance of the interventions of God in the history of the world, following the fall of man into a sinful state.  We are thinking here of the interventions whereby God Himself directly intervenes in the fallen world, first by sending His Son, Jesus Christ (the Messiah),  to save the world and then, secondly  by the sending of the Holy Spirit to remind the world of Jesus saving work.   

The Christian calendar follows these momentous events as we think about the birth, baptism,  crucifixion and death, resurrection, ascension of Christ the Messiah, followed by the descension of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ, 10 days after His Ascension.   These momentous events may be compressed into a period of about 35 years.  

With the cross and the resurrection weekend behind us and having remembered the Ascension of our Lord 10 days ago, we remember the next big event on the Christian calendar: Pentecost. All these are holy days on the Christian calendar. We have reduced them to holidays. Once again, significant words have suffered attrition over time. We speak about Christmas and Easter and Ascension holidays.  Pentecost has never been a public holiday in South Africa, since it always falls on a Sunday. In many countries, it is observed as a public holiday known as Whit Monday.[1]

 PENTECOST

 ‘Pentecost’   is taken from the Greek word for "50", because this feast occurred fifty days after the Passover. Pentecost, in Jewish circles is known as the Feast of the First-fruits or Feast of weeks, marking the completion of the barley harvest. 

It pleased God to send the Holy Spirit at this time to gather in the first fruits from among the nations presently in Jerusalem for this feast.  This would also be the start of a world-wide missionary movement bringing in a great world-wide harvest of believers, a people for God’s own glory- a work which continues in our own day, for the Holy Spirit who was sent from God has not been withdrawn!

Before His ascension the Lord Jesus had instructed the disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father … the Holy Spirit! Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).

 ACTS 1:1-21

In Acts 2:1 we read, “When the day of Pentecost arrived[2]…”. It was that day of which Jesus, and the prophets before Him e.g. Joel 2:28-32 and John the Baptist (Lk. 3:16) had spoken.  John the Baptist prophesied that Christ would baptize His disciples with the Spirit (Wind) and with Fire. That day had now finally and fully arrived.

The waiting disciples were together in prayer (Acts 2:1) when suddenly the Holy Spirit came by way of a sound (a rushing wind) and by sight (divided tongues of fire. Fire is a symbol of both cleansing and judgment). 

The words for wind and spirit are the same in the Greek language – Pneuma. The rushing wind is the Spirit – the Holy Spirit- universal and invisible, but undeniably present and powerful.

Those on whom the tongues of fire rested “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance “(2:3,4). 

"Filled with the Spirit" is the same as being “baptized with the Spirit” (cf. 1:5).

The tongues[3] here are human languages.  Jews from various nations (see 2:9-11) were gathered here providentially for the Feast of First fruits.  The list contains nations east and west, north and south of Judea and each hears the message in their own languages. They are at first bewildered and then astonished that each person can hear the declaration of God's mighty works in his or her native language. Each one can speak a foreign language without having previously learned it. Each one present is able to hear the gospel in their own tongue. This is Babel (Genesis 11:9) reversed. "What does this mean?" (2:12) is a logical question to this phenomenon.  Some glibly assume that these people are drunk (2:13,15).   This causes quite a commotion.

 The Explanation

In 2:14- 21 Peter explains what was seen and heard. He loses no time to direct his hearer’s attention to Joel 2:28-32. He shows them that this text is the fulfilment of what they see happening before their very eyes. 

1. The Holy Spirit who in the OT was given to specific individuals—such as kings, prophets, or judge, for limited times and specific tasks is now poured out on all flesh – men and women alike.

2. While Joel uses the phrase "afterward" (Joel 2:28), Peter intentionally translates it in Acts 2:17 as "in the last days." Pentecost marks the official beginning of the final era of redemptive history. The "last days" period is the current church age, spanning from Jesus's first coming and the outpouring of the Spirit until His second coming.

3. Joel connects the outpouring of the Spirit directly with prophetic activity: "they shall prophesy... see visions... dream dreams."  Keep in mind that this must all be connected to the truth of the gospel – not any prophecy, not any vision, not any dream – the gospel must be in it!   

At Pentecost, this happened immediately when the disciples were enabled to declare the gospel in languages they had never learned. The Holy Spirit enabled them.  

4. Joel’s prophecy concludes with a wonderful promise: "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  The door of salvation was opened to Jews and Gentiles alike. This continues  until the end of time before the Lord returns. That time will be preceded by wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below ( Acts 2:19-20 cf.  Luke 21:25,26)

So far for our text. What is the significance of Pentecost for today?

 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PENTECOST

 1. Pentecost is another confirmation that God is acting in this world.  God has acted in sending His Son. He continues to act by the Holy Spirit who brings all that Christ has taught to the church’s remembrance (Jn 14:26). The sovereign Spirit is constantly at work. Why does this need to be stressed?  We need to be reminded that God has not abdicated His work. We do not think that we must help Him out or manipulate situations.  I will say something in point 5 about that when I shall remind us that the Holy Spirit cannot be turned into a franchise.  

Pentecost reminds us that God’s work – and supremely the church begins with God and is sustained by God. 

Waiting on Him in prayer is key. 

Working what He commands in the Scripture is key.   

Dear church, let us learn to keep in step with the Sovereign Spirit (Gal. 5:25). “I say walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). 

Remember that God is working in the world by His Spirit!   

 2.  Pentecost is all about Jesus and His work!  Jesus Christ is the main point of Peter's Pentecost sermon (see 2:22ff). The climactic event is Christ's exaltation (2: 33-36).  The Holy Spirit constantly draws our attention to Jesus and reminds us that we are to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). This is a huge work and for this reason the disciples needed power for witnessing.  Pentecost is the amplified  testimony  of the Holy Spirit working in and  through ordinary people, men and women testifying to the Lord Jesus Christ in accordance with 2:17. It was the Holy Spirit’s  power by Peter’s  preaching  Christ that brought 3000  souls  into the kingdom in one day (2:41). The Holy Spirit was there to accelerate the work of God in the world.  Supremely then Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit  is  there to point us to Jesus  (John 16:13,14).

 3. Pentecost is the inauguration of the church's gospel witness to the whole world. The effect of the Spirit's coming would be that   those that were converted would be His witnesses to the end of the earth.  This typically happened when the people   from the nations present in Jerusalem at the Feast of First fruits /Pentecost heard the gospel in their own language and were converted and in turn took this gospel out into their respective worlds. This remains our great commission. It forms part of RRCC’s vision.

 4. Pentecost  leads to the formation of the church in the world. Those that are converted through the Spirit empowered gospel witness join the church. The Bible knows nothing of church-less believers. The true church is made up of the assembly of God’s saved people from among the Jews and the gentiles (Eph. 3:1-11). Every local church ought to be a microcosm of that great reality. To that end we labour and strive at RRCC. The church is the people of God, indwelt by the Spirit of God. She is God’s plan, God’s missionary movement to bring this gospel about Jesus to the nations. 

5.  A WARNING : Pentecost is not a franchise – not a monopoly of the Holy Spirit- not the domain of certain churches. There has been a tendency to get hold of the Spirit’s power and to monopolize Him, like the story of Simon Magus in Acts 8:19 who wanted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles. He thought of them as the franchise holders. For this he received a stern rebuke from Peter. 

We have somehow been led to believe  that  living  in the days of the outpoured Spirit   has brought us an  intensification of spiritual experience,  and of spiritual insight, and  a heightening of spiritual power. The church is constantly bombarded with this by false teachers who unsettle our hearts, always making us feel that we have too little of God’s new franchise now in the hands of these super apostles as Paul called them (2 Cor 11:5). I am also afraid that theories of superior sanctification and  accelerated holiness  as a result of a second experience of the Holy Spirit  have confused Christians  and have drawn us away from  focusing on God’s work in the world.

Certain churches and teachers teach  that we do not have the Holy Spirit if we have not experienced a so called ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit'  – an experience subsequent to conversion.  You are frowned upon in certain circles  if you have not spoken in tongues , if you have not participated in ecstatic behavior in worship, if you have not received  the laying on of hands of a super apostle, if you have not been  to deliverance services or  healing services, if you have not been  in a service that is 'loud'  by way of amplification,  huge TV screens, dazzling light effects, smoke machines etc. 

All these things remind us of the  frenzied activities of the prophets of Baal when contrasted with the calm, prayerful  spirit of  Elijah in 1 Kings 18:20-40. Sadly, the work and the gifts of the Holy Spirit have been turned into man- manipulated fiasco in many a modern church! 

And much of it is trading on the spiritual laziness of Christians who want to have  an instant experience rather than the daily  pursuit of diligent trust in God.  

I remind you that we do not have too little of God!  His grace  is sufficient for every situation. 

• But we do have too little faith! And we must ask God for it. 
• We do have too little obedience, too little time, too many of our own agendas that constantly replace our devotion to God! 

The Holy Spirit convicts us of these sins (John 16:8). And we must constantly repent before God of it. We note that  Peter will struggle with cowardice after Pentecost as before; Ananias and Sapphira will deceive and false doctrine will trouble the church in Corinth, Galatia and throughout history!  We must learn to rest in Christ’s finished work for us – for this we do not need a  franchise Christianity. We need to believe the Bible and  do what it says, and our God will provide all our need according to His riches in glory!

 So, what was Pentecost?

1.     The historical Pentecostal event  was an initiating event. As such it is unique and unrepeatable. It was a great miracle authenticating the birth, death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ.  All God's people  were freed to speak about the  gospel of God.

2.       It was an equipping and empowering of the church for its work of bearing witness to the Lord Jesus Christ in the world (Acts 1:8) with  the help of the poured out Spirit. In that sense it was a new work. Before Pentecost the church was largely confined to the Jews. Now, because of Pentecost the church spans the world. This work continues until Jesus returns. And we are called in the power of the Holy Spirit to continue to do the work of proclaiming the  gospel of God in this world. You will never have to worry about   spiritual power for the task at hand. If you are born again, you have all God’s authority and power with you, and according to the gifting with which God has equipped you. You speak. He does the rest. Sometimes 3000 converts in a day in that corner of God’s vineyard, sometimes one a year in another vineyard!  Still the  angels rejoice when a single sinner  comes home ! Amen

 

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[1] The Monday after Pentecost is a public holiday in: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Austria, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, The British Virgin Islands, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Monaco, Montserrat, The Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Togo and Ukraine.[3] In many of these countries, Whit Monday is known as "the second day of Pentecost" or "the second Whitsun" [ SOURCE: Wikipedia]

[2] sumplerousthai,   lit ‘ to fill completely  ‘ [NIV came;  KJV ‘ fully come’ ]; see also Lk 9:51)

[3] γλῶσσα (glōssa);  plural form γλῶσσαι (glōssai). In Acts 2, the word represents known languages

ROMANS 8:33 -39 “WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF JESUS”?

 

Romans 8:31 is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible: “If God is for us who can be against us”?   It is a powerful statement on Christian assurance.

Why do we need assurance? 

We need assurance when we are unsure or insecure. Insecurity is a huge human problem. A massive industry has been spawned to help our insecurity or lack of assurance. 

Why?

The Bible says that our identity is derived from God, who has created us in His image (Genesis 1&2). Furthermore, the Bible says that the fall of man into sin (Genesis 3) has severed mankind from their Creator. Like Cain  we have become restless wanderers (Genesis 4). We have become unsure of ourselves, because our true identity, our true purpose, our  true origin is obscured.  We are no longer sure who we are.  Our soul (which is a God-shaped vacuum) cries out, Who am I? What am I here for? Where am I going?  

Our fallenness generally causes us to look for answers in the wrong areas, and while we may find temporary relief in that guru’s teaching, or in various wellness strategies, and in various therapies, the ultimate questions won’t leave us alone. Augustine (AD 354-430)   the North African Church father correctly  concluded , “Oh Lord our hearts are restless until they are found in you[1].”

Ultimate assurance can only come from God, the One who  has made you and I. 

Following Paul’s great exposition on the nature of the fall and the effects of sin upon us (that which produces disconnectedness and ultimately lack of assurance / lack of hope/ purpose), he provides us with the remedy - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel restores assurance, by restoring us to a God centered view of life.  This is a process called sanctification.  

One great reason (there are others) why many Christians lack assurance is that they do not take the Bible, and the gospel in particular,  to heart. Their  hearts may be saved, but the mind is not engaged, and the  soul is not fed on the richest of foods. They do not meditate on  the  precepts of Scripture. They have not learned to preach the gospel to themselves. The gospel takes us into the arms of  Jesus, and once you are with Jesus, you are safe!  His presence and  His Word is  a balm to our soul.  

If you want to learn about Christian assurance get to terms with Romans 8.  Romans  8:31-39 in particular   is  very affirming.   In summary we learn: 

i.                         8:31 Who can be against  God’s people?  ANSWER: No conceivable power can stand against God

ii.                       8:32 If God gave us His very best – Christ (Is that enough?)  ANSWER: will He not give us all things?  

iii.                    8:33,34 Who can bring any charge against, or condemn God’s people: ANSWER – If you are justified by God no one can bring any charge against you. 

iv.                    8:35-39 Who can separate a believer from the love of Christ? ANSWER: “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (repeated in 8:39)

By means of these 4 questions and affirmations Paul summarizes the main teachings of his letter and in so doing he is dealing with the doctrine of assurance of salvation.  

If  Romans 8 is that great majestic mountain, called Assurance, then 8:31-40 is the mountain peak.

THE 4TH QUESTION CONSIDERED: WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST?

It is useful to consider the times in which this letter was written. The letter was written in AD 57.  Very soon, in AD 64 (7 years later) these Roman Christians were going to face a severe persecution under the Roman emperor Nero.  

In AD 64 Rome suffered a terrible fire that burned for six days and seven nights, destroying  almost three quarters of the city.  Rome then was densely populated and not prepared to effectively deal with large scale disasters, including fires. Such an event was inevitable. Rumour also had it that Nero may have set fire to the city, because he wanted to rebuild the city.    According to Tacitus[2], a Roman historian, Nero then blamed the Christian community for the fire. This began the first large scale persecution of the Roman state against Christians.  Many Christians were  put to death in the most horrific manner, and even for the amusement of the citizens of Rome.  Their dead bodies were covered in pitch and used as human torches.

You will appreciate that people who suffer such trials need strong assurance that God indeed loves them!

3  ASSURANCES  ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD IN TIMES OF TRIAL

1.       8:35 No tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword will separate us from the love of Christ.

The emphasis here (and in the rest of the text) is on Christ’s love (which is synonymous with God’s love – cf.  8:31,32) for His people.   Truly, if our assurance, or our faith depended on our love to Christ, I should very much doubt whether I could withstand any of those circumstances described here. I remind you that Peter did not manage to withstand the temptation to disown Christ, while He was interrogated by the Sanhedrin (Jn 18:15ff).To his credit, it grieved him bitterly (Matt 26:75; Lk. 22:62; Mk 14:72), and Jesus spend good time with Peter in John 21 to reassure  Peter of His love for him. 

In fact, none of the disciples stood up for Jesus when He was on trial. They all had deserted Him Christ in His hour of trial (Matt. 26:56). But Jesus loved them to the end. 

Paul experienced desertion – see 2 Timothy 4:16. In response to strong opposition to the gospel, probably in Ephesus, Paul says, “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me… but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…”.  At that time  Paul received an inner assurance that His Lord was with him in this forsaken moment.

The point is this. We are being kept by virtue of His love for us, and on the basis of this fact we continue; it is on the basis of Christ’s love for us that we are secure.  Nothing   can separate Christ’s sheep from His love (see John 10:27-30 & 17:12). His keeping power is real.     

Paul reminds us here of seven difficult situations in which Christ's love is sufficient to keep us:  tribulation (outward pressures), distress or inner turmoil (inward pressures); persecution; famine, nakedness, danger, sword. Paul himself knew about all these experiences. For a catalogue of his sufferings see 2 Corinthians 11:23ff. 

According to early Christian tradition and historical records, Paul was killed by beheading in Rome during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero around AD 64.  It is this same Paul that says that none of these things can separate us from the love of God. Even death, our worst enemy cannot do that.  Death will usher the believer into God’s presence. Christ – His love - is ours in life and death. That is the first thing that Paul wants us to understand.

2.           8:36 -37 Christians are more than conquerors in all these things

We begin with 8:36 : “for His sake we are being put to death all day long. Like sheep we are being led to the slaughter."  This is a quotation from Psalm 44:22. This Psalm reminds us that God’s people always have suffered much in every generation.  When Paul wrote in AD 57 this would soon (i.e.  within 7 years) be true of himself and many Christians he was writing to.

I remind you that persecution with death as a consequence is not a past thing for most Christians in our world. According to Open Doors[3], a Christian monitor of current persecution, 1 in 7 Christians experience persecution in the world.1 in 5 Christians in Africa experience persecution!  North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Eritrea are the top 5 persecutors of Christians. Nigeria is #7. Five of 10 persecuting nations are on African soil!  Remember your brothers and sisters who are currently sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings.

Back to Paul. He had been involved in the persecution of Christians. When the ascended Lord Jesus had met him on the road to Damascus, He did not say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute my Christian people? “He said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  The persecution of believers was ultimately a persecution of Christ. Believers are in Christ and therefore they are united to Him. Their sufferings are His sufferings, and His sufferings are our sufferings. Suffering persecution is a result of our union with Christ. Even in countries like ours where we are not physically killed, we suffer when we stand for the truth as it is in Jesus. In my calling as a pastor I  have experienced that, and have suffered in my soul on account of  numerous hard-hearted men and women. 

Be that as it may.  Paul wants us  to know that  in our resisting of sin and temptation and of many adversaries  we are conquerors, in fact,  MORE than conquerors. 

We are not simply survivors.  We are more than conquerors.

Polycarp (69 – 155 AD) the  bishop of Smyrna (now Izmir in Turkey), had been a disciple of the apostle John. In the reign of the Roman Caesar Marcus Aurelius he was arrested for being a Christian.  He was 86 years old. The Roman officials urged him to save his life by denying Christ and confessing Caesar as god. He famously replied, "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" He was sentenced to be burned. His death and the surrounding circumstances were a remarkable testimony. His was the death of more than a conqueror.  Like the martyr Stephen in Acts 7 he exhibited the glory of God in death.  It is not  his remarkable courage  in the face of death;  he was  a man in God’s hand and the grace of God worked in His trial. Nothing separated him from the love of Jesus. In death he conquered the grave. He is with Jesus. 

It is true that not every person responds like this.  We know people who have gone through terrible trials, and these trials have made them bitter, angry and cynical.  Trials do not always make us better people. But here is the assurance - for those who rest in Christ, and who keep His word – those He will also keep from (or in)  the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10 – Philadelphia).  He makes them more than conquerors.

3.        8:37-39: Not death nor life, not angels nor rulers etc. can separate us from God’s love. 

No time bound event (death/life), no heavenly powers (angels/rulers/things present/ things to come/ powers) no distance (height/depth), nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Jesus Christ.  He repeats what he has said before,  in 8:35. Paul expresses here a strong, unshakable confidence in Christ’s love. He says, “I am sure of it”!  

Dear Christian, 

The Word of God teaches us that there is more to life than meets the eye. 

Looking at life at face value can be intimidating, but it is not reality. Looking at life through the lens of Scripture is reality.  The book of Job confirms that. The book of Daniel and Ezekiel and the book of Revelation confirm that. Jesus confirms that in the gospels.   

How do you evaluate reality - your life events?  A pastor once he talked to a man, and he wanted to see if he had any spiritual realities. They were sitting in a church building.  He asked him:  "What you see in this room?" The man said, "I see hymnals, pews, a communion table, a pulpit." 

"What else do you see?" "I see an organ, windows, a balcony." The pastor asked, "Is that all you see?" And the man said "Yes!".  The pastor said, said, "I’ll tell you what I see. I see powers and principalities and forces in high places at work.  And I see a man  not at peace with his realities..."  In so doing he was reminding the man that there are greater realities at work – and they are as real as the chair you’re sitting on! Many things we do not see do in fact exist.    God's love exists. And this love is able to keep you in all situations, even worst case scenarios, such as Polycarp experienced.  Of that you may be sure.

Dear believer, may God with the help of His Word and the Holy Spirit give you new  eyes to see true reality. That will provide you with a new level of assurance, which you shall need as you face your unique trials in the world. May your confidence be rooted in the love of Christ for you. May you be helped by the Holy Spirit Himself as you look to Jesus. 

Rest in Him.  

Let Him be your ultimate assurance. Amen

 

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[1] Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, 1,1.5

[2] Publius Cornelius Tacitus,( c. AD 56 – c. 120) was a Roman historian and politician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. SOURCE – Wikipedia

[3] https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/

WHY ASCENSION DAY STILL MATTERS IN 2026

 

Today we commemorate the day when our dear Lord Jesus Christ ascended up into Heaven, 40 days after His resurrection from the dead. If you add 40 days from Resurrection Sunday (5^th April 2026), you get to Ascension Thursday, 14th May 2026.

The church in history has always observed this day in her calendar.  

·        According to Augustine the bishop of Hippo in North Africa (354-430 AD), the Feast of Ascension originated with the apostles.[1] Augustine urged believers to celebrate the Ascension by letting their hearts ascend with Christ to heaven.

·        John Chrysostom and Gregory of Nyssa, contemporaries of Augustine, refer to it as being one of the oldest feasts practiced by the early Church, possibly going as far back as AD 68. [2]

·        At the council of Nicaea (325 AD) it was established that the memory of the death and resurrection of our Lord should occur after the Jewish festival of Passover, which also follows a lunar schedule. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon (the "Paschal Full Moon") that occurs on or after the spring equinox (March 21).

Ascension day is a public holiday in Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, and Lesotho, but no longer in South Africa. Ascension Day was removed as a public holiday in 1994. At that time Easter Monday was also renamed ‘Family Day’.   Sadly, many of our citizens have used these days simply to take a long weekend.  Hardly anyone you might ask on the street  remembers what the Ascension is all about. No wonder then that it has been removed from our public calendar. This is the finger of God.  But, we ought not to depend on the government to legislate such days   for the church. These days are sacred to our memory without government legislation, and so we will remember the Birth, Death, Resurrection, Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ plus Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit whether we have the day off or not.  It is not about having a public holiday. It is all about honouring  the great work of God.

In connection with this day then, we read these three texts from Scripture:

·        Acts 1:6-11: The actual happening. Jesus appeared to many of His disciples during the 40 days following His resurrection. On the 40th day, He appeared again to the apostles and He then led them out to the Mount of Olives where He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit. The 11 disciples saw Him ascending into the clouds. As they continued to watch, two angels appeared and declared to them that, just as He ascended, He would also return in glory.

·        John 14 :1-3 tells us what He is doing in heaven for us. He is preparing a place for His people.

·        1 Peter 3:21-22 tells us about the amazing authority of our ascended Christ.

So why should we continue to observe Ascension day?  6 reasons

1. We remember that the Ascension is also the promise of His Descension. Not only do we remember today that Jesus ascended to heaven. We remember that Jesus is faithful to all His work which He came to do. He ascended in order to descend   again. He promised not to leave us as orphans. He promised that He will come again to fetch His bride, the church and to be the Judge of all the earth. 

2. In this regard we remember then also that our future lies where He is now.  John 14:1-3 reminds us that our future is with Christ, in heaven.  This helps us to maintain an ultimate perspective on our life, which does not consist only of 70 or 80 years. We are made for eternity!

3. We remember that Jesus our ascended King, is endowed with great authority  (1 Peter 3:21-22).  We remember Who is really in charge of this   world and of this Universe!  We affirm that this Lord Jesus is now exalted and enthroned at the right hand of God the Father, Almighty.  We remember that He is above every other name and authority as King of kings and Lord of lords.  Ascension Day is a bold affirmation about ultimate authority. Jesus is in charge of all things. Abraham Kuyper, the prime minister of the Netherlands at the turn of the 1900’s (and also Founder of the Free University in Amsterdam and also a pastor of the reformed church) famously declared: “There’s not an inch of this universe of which Jesus (God) does not say “Mine”.  That is an echo of Psalm.   Oh, how we need to hear this truth in our fear and anxiety driven society -  fears  that make us feel insecure, vulnerable, exposed – many of the fears are driven by untruths, fake news, social agendas, political agendas – you name them!  What fears, what anxiety   such news  brings to the hearts of many people.  How will I survive? How will I eat, how will I drink, how will I clothe myself (Sounds familiar? see Matthew 6)

Ascension Day deals with authority. Christ “has gone into Heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him” 1 Peter 3:22.  Ascension Day deals with who its is that ultimately rules- about who it is that is ultimately in charge!   This is why Jesus, could say to his disciples on the eve of His departure, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . . .” Matthew 28:18-20.

Jesus’ authority in heaven is not an abstract authority. It is not simply related to heaven.  He is not simply ‘the man upstairs’  (Deistic worldview), far removed from reality. He is Lord over all, heaven and earth  and  in that setting Peter says, “He knows how to rescue the godly from trials“ (2 Peter 2:9).  From His heavenly throne, He empowers His true church. When she lives in His strength, and in obedience and submission to Him, she shall have His power and authority. Pentecost (remembered on Sunday, in 10 days time) proved this.

Jesus is LORD  everywhere  and in all areas of life. There is no area of life that is outside of the authority of Christ

·        He is Lord over every continent, country and city. He has authority over every people group.  For reasons known only to Him,  some people groups are presently more favoured with the gospel than others. Others have been more favoured in the past (see North Africa, and the Middle East and in the Western world). The reason why the gospel is scarce in Iran and Saudi Arabia is not because Jesus is powerless and helpless in those countries.  He is not! There are more believers in these countries than we dare to assume.  Our Jesus possesses the hearts of the kings of the nations.  Some are handed over others are in possession of His mercy.

·        He is Lord over every area of life, and again we are reminded of Abraham Kuypers dictum.  He cares about what we see, and what we listen to.  He cares about our business ethics and our legal practices, our schools and governments and the decisions that our parliamentarians make. He cares about our treatment of the vulnerable – the widow and the orphan and the sick.    And we do well to remember that everyone  will have to individually stand before this ascended, enthroned  King and coming Judge on the Day of Judgment. All will have to give an account to Him (see Matt 25).

4.  We remember this day because it reminds us that the ultimate victory over all evil  belongs to Christ.  Many rulers think that they have unlimited power and authority in themselves. But do they? History shows us otherwise.   Think of Bible times. Think of Caiaphas, the high priest, Herod the king and Pontius Pilate the Roman governor. They all thought that they had authority over Christ in their day.   But where are they?

They are awaiting the coming final judgement reserved for all the enemies of God at His  descension. It did not occur to them that they who judged Him, would one day have to stand before Him, the righteous Judge.  The Emperor Augustus issuing  a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, requiring everyone to return to their town of birth,  did not  realize, that this  baby born under his rule would one day judge him.

5. The Ascension is a great comfort to believers who suffer persecution for righteousness sake. “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has gone through the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the Faith we profess.” Hebrews 4:14. Remember then  that,

·        We have an Advocate in Heaven.

·        He hears our prayers.

·        He ever lives to make intercession for us.

·        He will come again.

·        He will crush all His enemies.

Therefore, do not fear governments or evil systems. Like Daniel and his friends do not bow before idols. Do not compromise the essential principles of our Faith. Wait for Him to act. Though He  is physically absent from the earth, yet, by His Holy Spirit, He is spiritually present.  We must wait patiently, for “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” 1 Corinthians 15:25.

The Ascension is a wonderful reminder and assurance to us that “. . . the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

7. We remember this day, because it gives us gospel opportunities. Whenever people, or our children ask, “What day is this?”  tell them the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Such days stand out like the memorial stones  of  Joshua  4:6.  

The Lord God commanded Israel to observe a number of important days in Israel. The most regular one was to be the Sabbath (the 7th day). Apart from that Israel was  commanded to keep an additional 3 feast days (see Ex 23:14-17).  The Christian church also has memorial days:  Christmas, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost, and although the NT does not insist that we shall keep them (for  fear  that we make the day greater than  the person of Christ – Col 2:16,17), we do well to see Christ in them.  Whatever glorifies our Lord Jesus must be upheld by the Christian Church.  Thank God   for the remembrance of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus!

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Ascension-Day.html

[2] https://archpitt.org/the-feast-of-the-ascension-of-our-lord-according-to-the-byzantine-rite-tradition/

Romans 8:31,32: “IF GOD IS FOR US , WHO CAN BE AGAINST US ?”

 

We now approach the end of Paul’s great exposition on the nature of the doctrine of our salvation, which he began in Romans 1:16.  

In  Romans 9-11  Paul will  address the matter  of the position of the Jews  in the light of this  doctrine, and in Romans 12-16  Paul will  make some  practical applications in the light  of this doctrine i.e.  How then shall we live?

Paul wrote this letter with a very practical and pastoral purpose in mind. He wanted to help the Christians in Rome to understand the profound nature of their salvation.  

A QUICK REVISION OF WHAT WE HAVE COVERED SO FAR IN ROMANS 

• He begins with a thesis statement in 1:16,17 - a statement of confidence in the saving power of the gospel – the good news that God takes care of our  sin through  His Son Jesus Christ.  
• From there he explains why God’s wrath is towards mankind in 1:18- 3:20 is so profound. He shows that the whole world (Jew and Gentile) is guilty of sin. 
• He then makes known the answer to that dilemma: Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God (Rom.3:21-31).  Christ alone can justify us- make us righteous-  in the eyes of a holy God!  To achieve that, God Himself must take the initiative to justify us. We cannot do that.   
• Paul illustrates this by using the example of Abraham (Rom 4) who is the father of the Jews. How did Abraham become a righteous man in the eyes of God?  How was he justified?  It began when Abraham was sovereignly  called by God in Genesis 12. He believed God and the promises of God that foreshadowed Christ, so that Jesus could say in John 8:56, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad" .  
• Believing in God and His promises in Christ produces the peace with God which comes through faith alone in Christ alone (5:1-12). 
• Then in Rom. 5:12-21 Paul explains the nature and pervasiveness of sin which came through Adam and the grace which comes through the Lord Jesus Christ. 
• In Romans 6   Paul addresses some false conclusions that people come to concerning sin and grace. We cannot sin to make grace look better.  
• In 7: 1-6 the purpose of the law is explained. The law defines sin, but law-keeping itself can and will not save us. We MUST appeal to Christ. The struggle with sin is real, and only by looking to Jesus Christ can we deal with the pervasive problem of sin.  
• In Romans 8 Paul then deals with the great theme of Christian assurance: How do I know that I am truly saved? The chapter begins with this assertion: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” How do we know this? The Holy Spirit (mentioned 20 times in this chapter) helps us.  Paul says that the Holy Spirit confirms this in our spirits, giving us an inner assurance that we are the adopted children of God (8:2-16).
• In 8:18 Paul addresses the problem of suffering. Suffering is one of the greatest temptations to our faith. It easily robs us of our assurance.   How can we stay focused in the midst of suffering?  Paul says, (i) Through considering our heavenly future (8:18-25) (ii) Through the help of the Holy Spirit (8:26,27) and (iii) by understanding that our salvation is rooted in God’s doing. God is the one who saves from first to last - past, present and future (8:28-30). He predestines, calls, justifies and glorifies. Our salvation is all of God!

ROMANS 8:31-39

In 8:31-39 we come to the conclusion of the matter - a summary to the whole letter so far. The summary is provided in the form of 5 questions leading to one affirmation: 

If God is for us who can be against us?  

The  5 questions  are introduced by this leading question: "What shall we say to these things"?  

• Firstly, “If God is for us, who can be against us”? 
• Secondly, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?” 
• Thirdly, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” 
• Fourthly, “Who is to condemn?”  
• Fifthly, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ…?”

Following these 5 questions, Paul,  in the last three verses (8:37-39) asserts this glorious truth:  

All true believers will ultimately persevere ! 

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

In summary we learn:  

• 8:31 No conceivable power can stand against God
• 8:32 If God gave us His very best - Christ, will He not give us all things?   
• 8:33,34 No one can bring any charge   against or condemn God’s people. 
• 8:35 Nothing at all can separate a believer from the love of Christ. This glorious assertion is repeated in 8:39 :  “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

This is one great and powerful statement on Christian assurance –  This is how we may know that we have a right standing with God. 

If  Romans  8 is that great majestic mountain, called Assurance, then 8:31-40 is the mountain peak. 

This we  shall consider now  and  we will only deal with 8:31,32

ROMANS  8:31,32

1.       8:31 No conceivable power can stand against God!

When Paul asks, "If God is for us, who can be against us?", he is not saying that we have no troubles, no opposition and no enemies. In fact, Romans 8 has had a lot to say about Christian suffering.  The list in 8:35-36 leaves us in no doubt about that.

The question is this: Can our salvation hold up under these things? 

• Is there someone or something out there that  can  make us loose our salvation? 
• Is there someone or something out there that can undo the work of Christ on the cross for His people? 

Paul says, NO! No enemy can be against us when God is for us.  And since God is for us, to use the words of  8:28, then it stands to reason that all things work together for our ultimate good, even those things which our enemies  and Satan intend for our harm.

The God who foreknows, predestines, calls, justifies, and glorifies His people, He is for His people.   

And therefore, in ALL THINGS He is the Sovereign God who rules and overrules all things for the sake of His people. He is   their faithful God. He is the God whose love is steadfast.  “Righteousness and justice are the FOUNDATION of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” (Psalm 89:14). “With Him there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17).

• He is the God who said to Isaiah in 46:10,11b, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
• He is the God who holds the hearts of all the kings of the earth in His hands: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever He will (Prov. 21:1).  He does this ultimately for the sake of His people. He does it for the suffering church in Iran and in the Ukraine and in China and in North Korea and in northern Nigeria and in the entire African Sahel region.  The Ayatollahs, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, Boko Haram of Nigeria are on a long leash, while the sovereign God is purifying His church and making the church ready for His presence.
• He  is the God who in Daniel 4:34-35 turned the heart   of that wicked Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar  to  worship him : “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honoured him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”.  
• He is the God who hardened the heart of the Egyptian Pharaoh (Ex. 4:21;7:3,13,14 etc.). 
• He is the God who hands people over when they persist in their rebellious ways (Rom.1:24,26,28)
• He is the God of whom David said in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12: “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.    
• He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, weak and fallible in themselves, but mighty in His hand. He is the God of Daniel and of all the prophets. He is the God who called fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John and a tax collector called Levi (Matthew) and sceptics like Nathanael and doubters like Thomas    to become His apostles. Last of all He also called a violent persecutor named Saul to become His apostolic servant to the gentile nations (Acts 9).
• He is the God that opened the eyes of 3000 on the day of Pentecost (2:41). 
• He is the God that enabled a lame beggar to leap and praise God (Acts 3:8); 
• He is the God that made Samaritans turn in great numbers to Him (Acts 8:25). 
• An Ethiopian is converted  as God directs Philip to him (Acts 8:26-40);  
• A Roman centurion  called Cornelius heard the call of God (Acts10); 
• the  heart of Lydia was opened by God  (Acts 16:14,15) and  also that of  the Philippian jailer and his entire family (Acts 16:30-34); 
• Thousands were converted by the power of God  in the various apostolic journeys  undertaken by Peter and Paul and Barnabas  and  their many associates. Churches were planted everywhere. God was in it all, even in the midst of ridicule, rejection, hostility, being disliked, and being killed. 
• Stephen, being stoned by a mob saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55,56). Many early witnesses, including most of the apostles died in His service, they were ultimately not lost to death. They were immediately delivered into the hands of their Saviour, for to depart is to be with Christ, (which) is far better” (Phil.1:23).   
• Christians  must  be helped to think like  Hezekiah in 2 Chron. 32:7ff  when  he encouraged his people  with these words in the face of an overwhelming enemy :  "Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there is one greater with us than with them . . . with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles". 

No conceivable power can stand against God! If God is for us, who can be against us?

2.       8:32 If God gave us His very best -  Jesus Christ, will He not give us all things?  

"He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?”  The second point is powerful. God gave us His very best – His beloved Son (John 3:16). 

How on earth will He then deny you lesser things?   

If God loves you so much that He did not spare to give you His own Son for your sin,  then  how can you doubt that God’s love and providential care may be taken away from you in lesser matters?

·    Are you getting the picture?  What shall we say then? If God is so much for you, who can be against you?  You know the answer! Doesn’t this strengthen your faith with great assurance dear believer? And if you are not  a believer yet- I call you NOW to stop doubting and believe the gospel.

We will end here for now, and pick up  Romans 8: 33ff,  God-willing  on the next Lord’s day.