Tag: acts

  • From Palm Sunday to Pentecost

    From Palm Sunday to Pentecost

    No, your not looking at the wrong picture. 

    NEXT – Pentecost 2025 of the Common Era

    Doesn't Holy Week from Palm Sunday to EASTER look about the same every year? 

    I wrote a SERIES for Lent last year too — which of course culminated with Easter Sunday.

    Check it out (from Easter, 2024) if you'd like. 
    SON-MAN RISEN!

    And my LATEST POSTS in 2025 CE reflect an OLD TESTEMENT approach to LENT, also concluding with a look at Resurrection Sunday.

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN 3:16 green man

    Our focus for EASTER 2025 CE has been from the Gospel of John (just before your familiar memorized verse).

    Gospel of John 3:14 ESV

    But what did JESUS do next?

    IF you have READ my 2025 CE EASTER post (above), then you may realize that the GOSPEL — in John’s case — has been preached for a number of years.

    ~ A.D. 85 – the Gospel of APOSTLE JOHN

    Do the math and you will easily see that since Christ rose from death sometime around AD 30-33 according to most historical estimates, then EASTER had been celebrated by saints of The Way for OVER 50 YEARS by the time the Apostle recorded:

    • his Gospel,
    • three epistles to the Church and
    • the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John!
      • – with specific mention of the witness of saints of seven churches as examples to us.

    To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs,

    appearing to them over a period of forty days

    and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

    Acts of the Apostles 1:3 NASB95

    φανερόω – JESUS Manifested

    After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way:

    .. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

    Gospel of John 21:1 ,14 CSB

    The Apostle Peter writes:

    He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.

    1 Peter 1:20 CSB

    And last of all — as to the untimely birth — he appeared also to me, writes the Apostle Paul.

    1 Corinthians 15:8 YLT

    • JESUS’ historical crucifixion on a Roman cross is an undisputable fact.
    • Christ’s resurrection after three days — in His recognizable resurrection body, with the wounds of the Cross –– and in the very Spirit of the same JESUS of Nazareth the Son of Man known personally to hundreds of disciples and thousands of first century witnesses — is true and verifiable fact REJECTED by those who also deny the One Living God of all creation and all of its created.

    “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

    ..but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

    Gospel of John 17a,18b CSB


    “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

    Gospel of John 3:14-15 CSB

    Lifted up + Earthly things you do not believe


    Father, Son and Pentecost

    John closes his proclamation and witness of Apostolic Good News:

    JESUS also said,

    “..The one who has seen me has seen the Father. 

    AND as you know from our 2025 Easter post, the Lord challenged Nicodemus:

    “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”


    Now through the testimony of both Peter and John recorded by Luke in Acts of the Apostles we will glance at the Trinity and introduction of the Spirit on Pentecost ~AD 33.


    40 days, and then Pentecost

    And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

    .. they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

    [Two angels instructed the Eleven]

    ..” This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

    Excerpt from ACTS of the Apostles 1 BSB

    Are you who do not believe intimidated by that? 

    Perhaps you should believe in the Lord Christ Jesus, who will return finally for the Judgment.

    The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

    The following from Bible Hub Book Summary of ACTS 2: 

    Please consider its Gospel application in your own brief mortal life. - RH

    Acts 2 is a powerful chapter that introduces the Holy Spirit’s dynamic presence in the lives of believers and demonstrates the transformation it brings. The followers of Jesus move from being a fearful, waiting group to a bold, active community witnessing for Christ. The chapter underscores the compelling power of the Gospel message and the magnetic draw of a loving, unified, and Spirit-led community. This chapter serves as a timeless model for the Church, inspiring us to be led by the Spirit, devoted to God’s Word, committed to fellowship, and actively involved in meeting the needs of those around us.

    On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples are together when a sound like a violent wind fills the house, and they see what seems to be tongues of fire that separate and rest on each of them. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they start to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enables them. A diverse crowd gathers, bewildered because each person hears their native language spoken. Some are amazed and wonder what it means, while others mock the disciples, suggesting they are drunk.

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/2.htm


    πεντηκοστή – Pentecost = “the fiftieth day”

    WE love festivals, don’t we? Pentecost was another festival that brought the Jews to Jerusalem a little over a month after the Passover feast.

    more... 
    • ~ AD 33

    When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.

    ACTS of the Apostles 2:1 CSB

    • ~ AD 55

    Paul writes to the Corinthians,

    “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,

    • ~ AD 57

    For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.

    Acts of the Apostles 20:16 CSB

    The CHURCHES and their saints in every place have become dear to the Apostles — including Paul.

    But for those early years after the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ +++ Pentecost continued to provide evidence and witness of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

    Twenty years after Christ’s ascension now — twenty years after the first signs of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on Pentecost — and during the remaining years of the mortal lives of the Apostles PENTECOST provided the saints of The Way a gospel witness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ — who will come again in GLORY at the last Day.


    What’s NEXT in our witness to the world in 2025 CE?

    • Lord-willing, in MAY 2025 TalkofJESUS series from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians will continue.
      • (We will not continue in Paul’s second letter.)
    • 2025 CE Summer TOPICAL SERIES to be announced
    • August 2025 – some personal updates from Roger Harned, our author and moderator of TalkofJESUS.com
    • AND, of course, more DOCTRINE for your discernment
      • & SCRIPTURE as written with secure links to our sources from better theologians than me.

    Talk of JESUS . com

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

    (You who believe)

  • The Holy Spirit IS that I AM

    The Holy Spirit IS that I AM

    The Holy Spirit IS.
    I am the Spirit of God.
    I am the LORD.


    The HOLY SPIRIT of Trinity

    Glory be to God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit

    Who IS God?

    It’s a question we all ask and a familiar question asked by many souls before us.

    Moses said to God,

    “If I go to the Israelites and tell them,

    The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’

    and they ask me, What is his name?’ – what should I say to them?”


    JESUS asked His Apostles a rhetorically similar question:

    And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

    τὸν Χριστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ

    And Peter answered and said, “The [Messiah] Christ of God.”


    The Apostle Matthew’s Gospel witnesses this same relational answer of his fellow Apostle Peter:

    God our Father and Lord

    Trinity = God the Father + God the Son Jesus Christ + God the Holy Spirit

    We get it humanly – the relationship of a son (or daughter) to a father (or to our mother).

    Human AND ever-existing SON

    Mortal men and women can relate to a Son of THE FATHER.

    We understand, in part, that JESUS was flesh and blood, body and brain a perfect human son of man (Mary, actually: ‘man‘ as in human like all of us).

    John, the Apostle who speaks so well relationally in the witness of his Gospel tells us:

    But these [signs, proofs or miracles] are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

    The Twelve, having loved their friend and Master whom they followed willingly, understood a relational link between JESUS and each of His disciples personally.

    When the Lord in so many ways showed His Disciples His ever-existing relationship to Almighty God our Father — HIS Father from before the beginning — they could not have been more awe struck that GOD stood in their human presence.

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

    My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

    I and my Father are one.

    We get that - in a human sense of relationship.

    Jesus and Spirit

    Yet think from the witness of any of the Twelve of the impact of JESUS, the living Christ they follow, telling His disciples: “I and the Father are One.”

    Just like all faithful Jews, these disciples had recited the Sh'ma since their childhood:

    Sh’ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad

    שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד׃

    Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:


    Even so, the Disciples had heard their Master instruct Nicodemus, a leader of the Sanhedrin:

    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

    That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

    John’s Gospel continues with Jesus’ further explanation of the Spirit:

    • Although mankind is flesh and blood, created from dust and water,
    • and Man is created in God’s image;
    • Man, LIKE GOD, is also spirit.

    What is Spirit?

    John begins his Gospel with Jesus (the Word) and the Spirit.

    John’s clear reference is the beginning written in the word of Moses:

    בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ׃

    וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵי תְהֹום וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם׃

    JESUS, THE WORD, WAS WITH GOD AND WAS GOD — ‘hovering over ‘a waste and emptiness,’ in the darkness over a face of the deep



    Spirit [spirit] – rûaḥ – רוּח

    • The KJV translates Strong’s H7307 in the following manner: Spirit or spirit (232x), wind (92x), breath (27x), (various additional)
    • Two additional uses in Genesis show both the Spirit of God and His quickening spirit in His creatures, including mankind:
      • And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; – Gen. 6:3a NKJV
      • And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life.. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. – Gen. 7:15,22 NKJV

    COMMENTARY


    Man cannot grasp the whirlwind or the unseen breath of God, yet JESUS, who IS One with the Father tells us:

    God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”


    πνεῦμα – pneuma in the New Testament

    Spirit in the New Testament – basically has the same meaning AND is just as mysterious, illusive as the breath of angels. – RH

    spirit in a living soul
    • the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
      • the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
      • the soul
    How do you think of your own spirit? 

    “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    Gospel of Matthew 5:3 LSB from the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ

    Consider a mysterious ethereal truth: observable, yet beyond measure of man's contemporary thought. 
    
    spirits apart from your own mortal soul
    • a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
      • a life giving spirit
      • a human soul that has left the body
      • a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel
        • used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men
        • the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ

    spirit and soul alike, yet distinct

    Before proceeding to the more powerful and most mysterious Holy Spirit of God, 

    consider beyond flesh and blood, mind and spirit --
    that which is the same in Old and New Testaments, yet having subtle ungraspable distinction: spirit and soul.

    We hear it also in the heart of Isaiah, a Prophet of God:

    With my soul [nep̄eš] I have desired You in the night,
    Yes, by my spirit [rûaḥ] within me I will seek You early;
    For when Your judgments are in the earth,
    The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

    • soul – psychē – NT Greek
    • soul – nep̄eš – נֶפֶשׁ – OT Hebrew

    the HOLY Spirit

    Although related to spirit, we cannot examine the soul today as part of our brief topic of the Trinity and Holy Spirit.

    Spirit – rûaḥ or pneuma

    Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son

    1. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy
    2. as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning
    3. imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power
    4. as endowing men with various gifts
    5. as energy of life
    6. as manifest in the Shekinah glory
    7. never referred to as a depersonalised force

    Gospel of Matthew 1:18 NKJV

    Simply the human beginning of the son of man (Mary, a virgin, that is; bearing a second adam in the line of God’s created ones).

    Certainly mysterious, controversial to this day to the psyches and spirits of mortal men and women who resist the Spirit of God.


    πνεῦμα – pneuma – spirit OR ghost


    As mysterious as Ghost or the Spirit may be to mankind, its root word [Strong’s G4154 – pneō] directs our thoughts

    • to breathe hard, i.e. breeze:—blow (of the wind)

    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

    Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’

    The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

    The HOLINESS of God

    GOD IS HOLY text of Deuteronomy 6:13

    NO mention of Trinity is absent the key concept of HOLY in reference to the HOLY GHOST or the HOLY SPIRIT.

    We have examined the doctrines of Holiness previously:

    DOCTRINE: GOD IS HOLY

    I encourage you in the spirit to pray with ears to hear the Holy Spirit of the Lord God, who IS ONE with the Father and the Son our savior Jesus Christ.


    Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

    God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

    Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

    God LORD Father JESUS Son Holy Spirit

  • Paul’s Letters to Churches he Loved

    Paul’s Letters to Churches he Loved

    From time to time Talk of Jesus .com shares sermons from other media which may help connect our current series.

    Paul sends two Epistles to the Thessalonians from Athens
    Epistles to the Thessalonians
    TRUTH FOR LIFE PROGRAM  

    Faith, Hope, Love (Part 1 of 2)

    https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/faith-hope-love


    Listen to this helpful overview of the same journey of the Apostle Paul we have outlined in ACTS of the Apostles.

    Soon we’ll take a look at Paul’s next letter to the church at Corinth but READ this overview and listen to Alistair Begg’s description of where Paul has been so far in his introduction to I THESSALONIANS.