39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Acts 2:37-39.
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What is this promise in Acts 2:39?
Is this promise forgiveness of sins? Is this promise salvation? Is this promise that our elect children are included in salvation?
As glorious as these actions are, and although these actions are included and caused by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we need to remember the context of this Scripture. Where Scripture is more specific, we should be more specific.
When I looked back at the Scripture from the beginning of the Books of Acts, I saw seven references to “the promise” as being the gift of the Holy Spirit. I will quote them from the beginning.
“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;” Acts 1:4.
“for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:5.
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Acts 2:4.
“17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18.
“Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” Acts 2:33.
“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38.
So, what is the benefit of being specific in understanding this promise?
When we are so specific in understanding this promise as the gift of the Holy Spirit, we then better understand the actions that follow as being consequences of the gift of the Holy Spirit, rather than being man-caused actions. When we are so specific in understanding this promise as the gift of the Holy Spirit, then we trust the Holy Spirit more and are more inclined to “walk by the Spirit”.
For one example, when we read the following verse of Acts 2:42, (“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”), we view these actions as caused by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
As another example, when we read about repentance in Acts 2:38, we view this action as caused by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We better understand repentance as caused by “Irresistible Grace” (the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism) rather than caused by some free-will action of man.
In summary, the Book of Galatians focuses on the need to “walk by the Spirit” rather than walk by the Law. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Galatians 5:16-18.
Let us review the very strong language of Galatians 3:1-14.
“1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.”
9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”–
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:1-14.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 