Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²⁰  “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”  Acts 5:18-20.

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Today’s Scripture, particularly the phrase “the whole message”, reminds me of The Apostles’ Creed.  But, I want to be even more general than covering just The Apostles’ Creed.  This devotion will focus on the general importance of creeds.  However, in passing, I will specifically refer to The Heidelberg Catechism as being very helpful to explain the meaning of each phrase of The Apostles’ Creed (to which there is a link at the bottom of this devotion).    

In summary, creeds systematically state “the whole message”.  Creeds eliminate the necessity of the Church “reinventing the wheel” every time a particular subject is encountered.  Creeds help the Church rightly understand Scripture.  Creeds help believers present and teach the points of their Christian faith.  Creeds help protect the Church against heresies. 

Here is a quote from what Rev. Ronald Hanko, in his article “A Plea for Creeds”, states about the importance of doctrine and creeds.  His article in full can be read at the following link – http://www.prca.org/articles/plea_for_creeds.html

“Here is a brief quote from the article explaining what happens when a denomination or church dismisses or minimizes the importance of doctrine:  ” …  by cutting herself off from the church of past, the church today says in effect that every generation must start all over in its searching of the Scriptures and pursuit of the truth. Thus she sets herself an impossible task – a task that is either set aside as too great so that there is little knowledge of the truth in the church, or which leaves her no time for other things.”

‘This is well-stated by the Presbyterian author, G.I. Williamson:

The Bible contains a great wealth of information. It isn’t easy to master it all – in fact, no one has ever mastered it completely. It would therefore be foolish for us to try to do it on our own, starting from scratch.  We would be ignoring all the study of the Word of God that other people have done down through the centuries. That is exactly why we have creeds. They are the product of many centuries of Bible study by a great company of believers. They are a kind of spiritual “road map” of the teaching of the Bible, already worked out an proved by others before us.  And, after all, isn’t this exactly what Jesus promised? When he was about to finish his work on earth, he made this promise to his disciples: “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). And Christ kept his promise. When the Day of Pentecost came, he sent his Spirit to dwell in his people. The Holy Spirit was poured out – not on individuals, each by himself, but on the whole body of Christian believers together ( Acts 2). And from that time until this, he has been giving his church an understanding of the Scriptures. It is no wonder that the church expressed itself from very early times through creeds (p. 3).4

He adds:

And right here we see one of the most important things about a creed that is true to the Bible – it remains true down through the ages. It does not need to be changed again and again, with each generation, because it deals with things that are unchanging. Thus, an accurate creed binds the generations together. It reminds us that the church of Jesus Christ is not confined to one age, just as it is not confined to any one place. In other words, there is a unity in what Christians have believed, right down through the ages. Just think of it: when we confess our faith together . . . we join with all those believers who have gone before us. Does not this demonstrate that there is indeed just one Lord and one true faith? (p. 3).”

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In conclusion, here are some links that may help the reader.

Here is a link to a web site titled “Daily Confessions” which contains a daily dose of a Reformed catechism, confession, or creed –

Click here: Daily Confession 

 

Here are links to four of the major creeds.  Don’t be intimidated by them.  They were written to be easily readable and understandable and inspiring and otherwise helpful to even children.  

 

Click here: The Belgic Confession of Faith

 

Click here: The Canons of Dordt

 

Click here: The Heidelberg Catechism

 

Click here: Historic Church Documents at Reformed.org  (The Westminister Larger Confession)

 

And, here is one final link to The Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics which has links the The Apostles Creed and other creeds –

 

Click here: Historic Church Documents at Reformed.org  (It appears to be the same link as above, but it links to the foregoing The Apostles Creed and other creeds.)  

 ³³  And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

 ³⁴  For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

 ³⁵  and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

 ³⁶  Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

 ³⁷  and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

¹  But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

 ²  and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.

 ³  But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?

 ⁴  “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?  And after it was sold, was it not under your control?  Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart?  You have not lied to men but to God.”

 ⁵  And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last;  and great fear came over all who heard of it.

 ⁶  The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

 ⁷  Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

 ⁸  And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?”  And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”

 ⁹  Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”

 ¹⁰  And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

 ¹¹  And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.”  Acts 4:31 to Acts 5:11.

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“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10  We tend to focus primarily on the believers and the common sharing, rather than focus on the Holy Spirit and the fear of the LORD that He wrought.

We tend to let our focus be determined by chapter divisions, rather than be determined by the context of the Scripture.  There is one theme in this Scripture for today, even including Acts 4:31 which we covered yesterday.  That is why these “bookends” of Acts 4:31 and Acts 5:1-11 are included.

We can’t understand the importance of sharing among believers without being reminded about Who caused the sharing.  Although we are inclined to start this daily devotion with Acts 4:32, that verse starts with “And” which is a conjunction which should prompt us to tie this verse to the prior verse.  Although we are inclined to wait until the next daily to start Acts Chapter 5, Acts 5:1 starts with “But” which is also a conjunction which should prompt us to tie this chapter and verse to the prior chapter and verse.

We also see so much parallelism in Scripture, particularly in the Psalms and Proverbs, but we also see parallelism in this Scripture for today.  In Acts Chapter 4, we noted that God is sovereign over even hostile men who intend to do evil, and God is sovereign over His servants who want to carry our God’s will.  God is so powerful and sovereign that He caused His servants to share so much.  God is so powerful and sovereign that He used the actions of Ananias and Sapphira to cause great fear over the whole church.

I am resistant to read about the sharing of the believers.  I am selfish.  I have got nothing, but I don’t even want to share the nothing that I have.

Maybe, I can resist that selfishness and teach that it is good to share everything.  But even then, there is danger in doing that apparent noble mission.  Thereby, we can establish a new law and trust our flesh to perform it and feel quite self-righteous when we think we succeeded.

We should be reminded of Galatians 3:5.  “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?”

In conclusion, this is exactly what happened in this Scripture.  God provided His Spirit and worked the miracle of believers sharing and worked the miracle of the fear of the LORD.

 ²⁵  who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
         ‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,
         AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?
    ²⁶  ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
         AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
         AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’

 ²⁷  “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

 ²⁸  to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

 ²⁹  “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,

 ³⁰  while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

 ³¹  And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”  Acts 4:23-31.

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Our situation today may appear dangerous and chaotic as the situation in Acts Chapter 4 may have seemed dangerous and chaotic to Peter and John.  But, we can focus on God and His sovereignty as Peter and John did in this Scripture for today.  We are reminded by verses 27 and 28 that God orchestrates even hostile men with evil intentions to accomplish His purpose.

Today, we can pray as Peter and John did pray then.  God chooses to use our prayers, and we are honored and pleased to pray.  “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;  Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.”  Psalm 32:6  And yet, we must also notice here that Peter and John did not primarily pray for safety;  although they asked God to take note of their threats, they primarily prayed that they would speak God’s Word with all confidence.

There is a certain logic that helps us believe and pray in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the true Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  For example, if we truly are “totally depraved” and dead in sin (the “T” in “TULIP”), then our only “chance” for salvation is God’s “unconditional election” (the “U” in “TULIP”).  As another example, if Christ died for everyone, then everyone would be saved.  We know by Scripture that not everyone is saved, therefore, Christ did not die for everyone (“limited atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”).      

There is also a certain logic in this prayer in Scripture today that may have helped Peter and John believe and pray.  The prayer starts with a focus on God and His sovereignty.  Here is how I choose to state these points.

1.  “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,”

2.  Because God created heaven, earth, and all that is in them, God is sovereign over all men and all their actions.  

3.  Because God is sovereign over all men and all their actions, God is sovereign over even hostile men who intend to do evil.

4.  Likewise, because God is sovereign over all men and all their actions, God is also sovereign over His servants who want to carry our God’s will.

5.  Because God is sovereign over His servants who serve God, God is sovereign over what His servants speak and how they speak it. 

6.  Because God is sovereign over what His servants speak and how they may speak it, Peter and John was led by this logic to believe and pray that God could and would grant their request that they speak the word of God with all confidence.  

7.  “And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”  Acts 4:31.

In conclusion, we certainly should not and can not manipulate God by logic.  But, we should and can “order” our prayer.  We should and can start the order with the confession even if it is as simple as God hates the wicked and punishes them and God loves the righteous and blesses them.  From that point, we can continue the prayer logically with faith that God will grant our prayer request.   

“³  In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
         In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
    ⁴  For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
         No evil dwells with You.
    ⁵  The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
         You hate all who do iniquity.
    ⁶  You destroy those who speak falsehood;
         The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.

…

¹²  For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,
         You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Psalm 5:3-6 and 12.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.  Logical! 

 ¹⁵  But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another,

 ¹⁶  saying, “What shall we do with these men?  For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

 ¹⁷  “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”

 ¹⁸  And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

 ¹⁹  But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

 ²⁰  for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

 ²¹  When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;

 ²²  for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”  Acts 4:13-22.

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There are those preachers and teachers who preach and teach in a certain way which draws attention to their own education and skill and their own piety and righteousness.  Some are outright flashy.  Some may pretend to be humble and self-effacing, but they love the laughs, and they intend to present themselves as cute and clever.  But, these preachers and teachers all love the personal attention, and they all seek their own glory. 

On the other hand, there are those preachers and teachers who preach and teach in a certain way which draws attention to God and His works and His lovingkindness, His justice, and His righteousness.  The listener almost doesn’t admire or notice or remember much about the personal attributes of the preacher or teacher.  The listener only sees Jesus.  These preachers and teachers seek God’s glory.        

First of all, Jesus set the example for His disciples and also for us today.  “But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.  The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?”  So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.  “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.  “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;  but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”  John 7:14-18.

Second, in today’s Scripture, we read about the apostles who were truly humble.  They did not hide their own lack of education and training.  They did not puff themselves up.  We remember the words of Peter.  “But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?”  Acts 3:12.  Rather, the apostles merely pointed to the healed man and gave credit to God.  And the result was stated in verse 21:  “… they were all glorifying God for what had happened.”  

Third, we read about Paul who focused on “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”.  “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

 ³  And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

 ⁴  But many of those who had heard the message believed;  and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

 ⁵  On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;

 ⁶  and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.

 ⁷  When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

 ⁸  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,

 ⁹  if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,

 ¹⁰  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

 ¹¹  “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.

 ¹²  “And there is salvation in no one else;  for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:1-12. 

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“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;  no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  John 14:6. 

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life;  he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.  1 John 5:11-12.

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:36.

Here is what The Belgic Confession states in part:

Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him.  For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him.  Therefore, for any to assert, that Christ is not sufficient, but that something more is required besides him, would be too gross a blasphemy:  for hence it would follow, that Christ was but half a Savior.  Therefore we justly say with Paul, that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works. However, to speak more clearly, we do not mean, that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness.  But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all his merits and so many holy works which he has done for us, and in our stead, is our Righteousness.  And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.

Here is what The Canons of Dordt states in part:

Article 4.  The wrath of God abideth upon those who believe not this gospel.  But such as receive it, and embrace Jesus the Savior by a true and living faith, are by him delivered from the wrath of God, and from destruction, and have the gift of eternal life conferred upon them.

Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states in part:

Question 29.  Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is a Savior?

Answer.  Because he saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins; and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other.

Here is what The Westminister Larger Catechism states in part:

Question 60:  Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

Answer:  They who, having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess;  neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body the church.

 ¹³  “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

 ¹⁴  “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

 ¹⁵  but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

 ¹⁶  “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know;  and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”  Acts 3:11-16.

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Even before I write these words, I was convicted about my lack of compassion for a wide range of people from the people of Japan to two neighbors to even one of my sons.  I tend to think that they caused their own problems.  I do not have power nor piety to decently live my own life with my own problems.  I don’t have faith to deal with my own bad attitudes. 

I get on my knees to pray.  But, even that is not enough.  I lie down prostrate with my face in the carpet, praying for help.

I get up and rush to the words “and the faith which comes through Him“, and I cling to them.  I don’t have faith in my own faith.  I must receive the faith “which comes through Him”.

I try to remember other verses.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9. 

2 Peter 1:1
“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:”

“For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,”  1 Corinthians 12:8-9. 

1 Corinthians 4:7
“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

“John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.”  John 3:27. 

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think;  but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”  Romans 12:3.

In conclusion, our hope and our salvation is not based on our own power, our own piety, or even just our own faith.  My own personal problems and attitudes remind me of my desperate need for a “faith which comes from Him”.  I look to Jesus Christ and fix my eyes on Him and what He accomplished as stated in the following The Canons of Dordt.       

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.

With a leap I stand upright and begin to walk, walking and leaping and praising God.

 ⁴²  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 ⁴³  Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;  and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

 ⁴⁴  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

 ⁴⁵  and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

 ⁴⁶  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

 ⁴⁷  praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:40-47.

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Yesterday, our devotion was on the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Today, our devotion is on the work of the Holy Spirit.  In today’s Scripture, it is thrilling to see so many action verbs ending in “ing” which I have put in bold italic.

What did we expect? 

The Holy Spirit does His work:  exhorting, convicting people of their sin, applying God’s Word so people receive it, baptizing, causing devotion, teaching, breaking bread in fellowship, praying, causing feelings of  awe and the fear of the LORD, showing signs and wonders, selling, sharing, unifying, praising God, having favor with the people, and saving. 

“…  I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:24. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23. 

In summary, “…  This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29.

 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.