Pentecost: A Biblical View
By Pastor Freddie L Beard
Our central text is found in the book of Acts chapter 2 verse 38 -39
I wish to start out with a word of wisdom given me by a precious "God-called" teacher so many years ago. They told me something I have remembered and I have shared with every new convert I have led to the LORD. And that word of wisdom is this: "do not believe everything you are told, simply because you are "taught it". But, Search the scriptures your self and, pray and ask the Holy Ghost to teach you THE TRUTH". I have found this to be a very important bit of adivce in my walk with the LORD. For one of the first things I found out about being a Christian, Was that many who claim to be "servants" of GOD are not at all servants, they are not even called, nor do they have anything that would benefit me. As a matter of fact if what they are trying to teach me is not found in the scriptures, they are trying to teach me a lie. For the WORD of GOD tells me to" Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world". {1 John 4:1}
Just because a person looks the part, and claims to be of GOD, Does not always prove to be so. There will be many things I will now show you in scripture to prove {according to scripture, not from a denomination, school, man, or even from my own mind}, The Pentecostal stance is not only Biblical, but is also the Bible standard for every TRUE child of GOD. I would have you to please stop for a moment and ask GOD to help you to see what HE has to say about this All so important issue, and just what you the disciple of Jesus Christ should do after He shows you. For it should be easy, You should "do" all He "commands" you to do.
PENTECOST: The Intoduction to the lesson
* Before I begin with the meaning of Pentecost, and the History of it, I want to dispell some arguments first. The word "Pentecotal" is not in the Bible, so do not do a word-search of the Bible and see it is not in there and assume it is thereby un-Biblical. You may say," why is that, I thought you were striving to remain Biblical", Well I am, But the word "Pentecostal" is merely a word used to describe the adherants of the said doctrine, ( which we shall consider in our lesson). Just an interesting fact, Did you know the word "Bible" is not in the Bible, Or the word "rapture"? which is a biblical doctrine. What we shall discover is that sometimes words not found in the Bible are used to describe something totally Biblical.
A word to the wize though, Do not merely attach yourself to a so-called "Pentecostal" church and think that is it, I've arrived, look at me, I am better that the rest, or any one of a host of other distractions many folks have been hood-winked by, and possibly ending up in a cult-like experience. Because what we must never forget is that some of Our LORD's greatest opponents in His earthly ministry were "religious People" Who had all of the cliché's, the "DRESS-CODE", the RULES, and many such like, These were they whom Jesus sometimes gave very strong rebuke, and condemnation. As a matter of Fact the True Jesus did not walk around like many suggest today as a, tip toe, skip-through-the-tulip, limp-wristed push over, NO, He was GOD manifested in the flesh. Who did everything exactly as The Father had spoke unto him. And yes this DID include speaking the truth to the religious hypocrites of His day. And He didn't hold any punches either. One reference that comes to mind is found in... John 8:44
Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
This is not the Jesus being declared in most pulpits today, No they paint a picture of a "tolerant, politically correct, any-way-you-view-him" kind of Jesus.
While it is true that many counterfeits do exist, This is by no means any reason to totally discount the Legitimate. Also think about it, this is one of Satan's greatest deceptions, to make a counterfeit for the real, and thereby causing many to assume there can be no such a thing (i.e. the Baptism in the Holy Ghost) There are a lot of, so-called "churches" who seem to be abiding in scripture, Who by a cursory view can be found to be "a cult" which is identified as any group, or sect setting forth as doctrine any set of rules, or ordnances that the "church" is to "blindly follow". Which totally goes against scripture. Paul the chief apostle even said...
" Follow me AS I FOLLOW CHRIST"...
We are never to blindly follow any man. And a true God-called preacher, or teacher will without a doubt hold true to this view. So... Many of the so-called "Pentecostal" churches of today are not of GOD, but are counterfeits, birthed by the mind of men, and are thusly the spawn of Satan. and are to be rejected. 2 John 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
With all of this in mind, Please begin this study and let The Lord show you Himself. May God bless you as you seek His Word.
PENTECOST; The History
Now The word "Pentecost" is the greek word πεντηκοστ ( transliteration pentēkostē) , and simply means "the fiftieth day".
In the Old Testament it was the second of the three great Jewish feasts, celebrated at Jerusalem yearly, the seventh week after the Passover, in grateful recognition of the completed harvest.
It was upon this great Jewish holiday that God poured out His Holy Spirit upon the disciples (followers of The Lord Jesus Christ). As recorded in Acts 2:1 -4
Easily it noticed what took place on the "day of Pentecost", Who was there, and the direct result of the experience. It is from these Divine text's that the term "Pentecostal" is taken from. And as we shall see this is not a "one time" occurrence but was the "norm" of all the "believers" after having been saved, "born again". The Bible is replete with references of the normality of the " Pentecostal experience". And as we work our way through each one we shall see this very clearly. And now to our CENTRAL TEXT, Let us read... Acts 2:
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Notice the Apostle Peter's ANSWER to the ones crying out for Direction as to "what to do".
1. He told them to "repent". = turn from their sins to God.
2. Be baptized, and this DOES NOT refer to "water baptism" as most teach, it speaks of the "new birth" experience, This is when the "repentant" is "baptized" into the body of Christ. The Word of God tells that there is only ONE "baptism"{Ephesians 4:5}, While there are several "baptisms" there is only one that places us into The Body, and it is by the Spirit, 1Cr 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit
A. Jesus said of the Born again experience John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, ( in a water baptism one CAN see clearly what is happening, and WHEN they DO IT! ) and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
B. Jesus also said, In response to the Pharisees question concerning the Kingdom of God...Luke 17: 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. ( so we clearly can not be able to say beyond a doubt when we baptize that "lo here, or lo there, one got saved", or else Jesus should have said:" It is at the water bamptisms, This is where One ENTERS The Kingdom, But He didn't)
C. Peter said plainly one is NOT saved by water baptism. 1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
D. And again, He tells us it is NOT BY "works of righteousness" that we are SAVED, but according to HIS MERCY HE SAVED US. Tts 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; , see also: 2 Tim.1:9, Eph.2:1-9, 1 Cor.1:18, 1 Peter 1:18 -19,23,John 1:29 (ALso Jesus plainly told John "water baptism" is a "work of righteousness"(Math. 3:15) and the Bible says we ARE NOT SAVED BY THEM {works of righteousness}, But by GRACE through FAITH)
E. Paul even let us know water baptism is not where salvation is found, as He said Jesus DID NOT send him to "baptize",( If "water baptism was an essential part to salvation, Paul would not have said this) But to PREACH THE GOSPEL...1Cr 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
I hope you can clearly see that the baptism the scripture speaks of is by The Spirit, Not by a MAN, or else that would make him a co-redeemer and basically saying the blood of Jesus Christ was not enough, How obsurd this type of thinking is, And also it is damnable doctrine. For it is by Faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, For the blood alone, Did fully atone!
This lesson is incomplete, I am working on it presently and hope to have it complete shortly. Please feel free to download it and use it freely for ministry. It may not be sold, or used for profit, but can with prior written permissin be used in books, or christian education. with the proper credits applied.
Article written by Pastor Freddie L Beard of Batesville AR 72501
Mailing address 1685 N Hill St Batesville AR 72501