PENTECOST -- A REVEALING BEGINNING The workings of God are always according to His purpose and will. As it is written, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph 1:11). That being the case, God is not simply resolving human problems. His government has certainly not been established so that men – even godly men – may have what they want. Particularly in Christ Jesus, God is not primarily identifying with men, but is establishing a righteous means by which men can be identified with Him. -- Tomorrow:
Devotion 8 of 28
An understanding of this significantly alters the manner in which men live, why they live, and how they approach the work of the Lord, or serving God. It ought to be apparent that the alteration of man's physical condition does not require the Word becoming flesh, suffering, dying, and rising again from the dead. God can supply earthly needs without the sacrifice of Christ. He can keep men well without an atonement for sin. If this were not the case, a sinner could never be well or rich. Happy homes and successful business enterprises do not require redemption or justification. This is so elementary that it seems like there should be no need for it to be said. If this was not true, then sinners could never have happy marriages or successful businesses.
In fact, Asaph once pondered the earthly condition of wicked men. They experienced "prosperity," had "no struggles," were "healthy and strong," were "not in trouble as other men," and were not "plagued like other men." They had "more than heart could wish," "prospered in the world," and "increased in riches" (Psa 73:3-12). If we are to believe the modern televangelists, such people are being blessed by God. Asaph, however, had the privilege of going into the sanctuary of God and obtaining a proper view of these prospering, trouble free, and happy people. He found that God had actually "set" these people in "slippery places," and would "cast them down to destruction." They would be "brought to desolation in a moment," and would be "consumed with terrors" (Psa 73:18-19). They were not at all in an enviable state!
Surely Asaph will rise in the day of judgment against those who preach health and wealth as a New Covenant benefit. Such teachers have affirmed the centrality of men, teaching that God's will revolves around their worldly condition. Such men will have nothing to say after they die, and will certainly have nothing to contribute in the world to come. They "mind earthly things," and thus betray their alienation from God (Phil 3:19).
In the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, the Divine will had to have been satisfactorily accomplished in three realms. There could be no flaw in what was done. What God desired for these realms must be effected in the accomplishments realized in Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and enthronement.
HEAVEN. There could be no discontent in heaven concerning what the Son had accomplished. God must see the travail of His soul and be "satisfied" (Isa 53:11). In God's assessment, sin must have been satisfactorily put away (Heb 9:26). Satan must be destroyed (Heb 2:14), and a place for him and his angels no longer found in heaven (Rev 12:7-8). The Law as a means to righteousness had to be terminated (Rom 10:4). The Savior must be exalted to the place of absolute preeminence (Phil 2:9; Col 1:18). Heavenly realms must be "purified" – prepared, so to speak, for the reception of justified men (Heb 9:23). What Jesus did must result in these things happening.
EARTH. On earth an effective ministry must have been accomplished in the midst of darkness, so that men may be delivered from the powers of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of Christ (Col 1:13). An efficacious death must have been achieved whereby reconciliation to God is realized (Col 1:21), and peace is made (Col 1:20). The confirmed resurrection of Christ must take place, through which He would be declared to be "the Son of God with power" (Rom 1:4). There must also be a visible ascension into heaven through which Jesus triumphantly was received into heaven (Eph 4:8-10). On earth there must be a way through which men can be justified, or made righteous, that allows God to be "just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus" (Rom 3:26). That is, it must be right for God to save sinners.
SATAN'S DOMAIN. In the world of darkness, Satan had to have been destroyed (Heb 2:14). A blow must have been dealt to his base of operation, so that he can be overcome by redeemed men. Principalities and powers from this dark domain must have been "spoiled," or plundered, so that those within their grasp could be liberated, and their resources diminished (Col 2:15). Death must be defeated, and that defeat confirmed by the presence of a Man death could not retain (Acts 2:24).
If God's "eternal purpose" (Eph 3:11) is not accomplished in these three realms, it makes little difference what seemingly good things men may appear to experience. Here is also a marvelous example of God working "all things" "together "for good to them that love Him, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28, NIV). If these works had not taken place at the foundational level, as they did BEFORE Pentecost, nothing could have been worked together for eternal good at the individual level.
A SANCTIFYING VIEW
Having been myself exposed to a suffocating legalistic approach to the book of Acts, I can testify to the refreshment that is ministered by the "fully come" view. This is the view that sees the events taking place on the day of Pentecost as having a firm and unmovable foundation. A considerable amount of Divine activity preceded this day, when "the day of Pentecost was fully come!" It is only as this book is seen against the backdrop of Divine accomplishment that it will minister grace to the hearers. We will find the book of Acts is the chronicling of the effects of an exalted Savior. On this day He started a work that is continuing to this day. God be praised that when the day arrived, everything was ready!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that You are pleased with what Jesus has done, and that Your good pleasure has to do with an "eternal purpose," not merely my life in this world.