A New Era of the Spirit Spirit Messiah

A New Era of the Spirit

Spirit - Messiah Sin Death Evil Satan PRESENT AGE Knowledge of God Love Joy Justice AGE TO COME

Signs of the Age to Come • God’s Spirit would be poured out • God’s people would have renewed hearts • The present evil age would draw to a close and God Himself would set all things right • God would act in power to restore the whole of creation and all of human life

Signs of the Age to Come • God would bring about a comprehensive and complete salvation from evil • This mighty act of salvation would be accomplished by a Messiah

A new era of the Spirit 1. The Spirit would COME UPON all of God’s people – Joel 2: 28 -29

Joel 2: 28 -29 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 28

A new era of the Spirit 2. The Spirit would be WITHIN God’s people to give new hearts

Jeremiah 31: 33 -34 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, ” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD, ’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, ” declares the LORD. 33

Ezekiel 36: 26 -27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 26

A new era of the Spirit 3. God will create a Spirit-filled community

Ezekiel 37: 14 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.

An unexpected twist • The beginning of the age to come

Mark 1: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. ”

An unexpected twist • • The beginning of the age to come Jesus is resurrected in the middle of history The renewing work of God is beginning The gift of the Holy Spirit is being given

Acts 2: 14 -18 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 14

Acts 2: 14 -18 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 17

New Testament Fulfillment Powers of sin death evil Satan PRESENT AGE Power of Spirit’s renewing work AGE TO COME

The new era of the Spirit HAS arrived! 1. The Spirit COME UPON all of God’s people 2. The Spirit WITHIN us, renewing us 3. God IS creating a Spirit-filled community

Yet. . . the present age remains

New Testament Fulfillment Powers of sin death evil Satan PRESENT AGE Power of Spirit’s renewing work AGE TO COME

The Holy Spirit as evidence the future has arrived 1. Down payment

Ephesians 1: 14 the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

The Holy Spirit as evidence the future has arrived 1. Down payment 2. First fruits

Romans 8: 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 23

The Holy Spirit as evidence the future has arrived 1. Down payment 2. First fruits 3. Seal

Ephesians 1: 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit 13

Ephesians 4: 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 30