A Significant Time:  One of the Most Significant Periods of History

It is important that we understand the significance of this time in history.  Within a few short days, you see the unfolding of spiritual events that would change the future of the world forever.

Following is a brief summary of these events:

1.  God Now Speaks Through His Son:

In AD 30 (30 years after His birth), Jesus begins His public ministry.  In times prior to this, God had spoken in various ways through angels and prophets.  But in these last days...God speaks to us through His Son:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Hebrews 1:1-2 (NAS)

2.  Upon Jesus' Death, the New Covenant Begins:

In AD30 (~33 years after His birth), Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty of our sin (see Lesson 1).  With the blood that He shed on the cross, He inaugurated the New Covenant promised by God:

And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. Hebrews 9:15-16 (NAS)

When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NAS)

3.  Jesus' Death, Burial and Resurrection:

On the third day following Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus is raised from the dead.  From this point forward, the gospel message of His death, burial and resurrection and obedience to the gospel would be preached (see Lesson 1):

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NAS)

Prior to Jesus' death, the sins of people were forgiven in various ways (e.g., animal sacrifices, or Jesus' forgiving individual people such as the paralytic in Matthew 9, the woman in Luke 7, etc).

After Jesus' resurrection, salvation was made available to all mankind.  On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus' resurrection, Peter tells those in Jerusalem:

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." Acts 2:38-39 (NAS) 

4.  The Spirit Begins to be Poured Out on All Mankind:

On this same day of Pentecost, Peter and the apostles tell us how we can receive the gift (the indwelling) of the Holy Spirit:

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." Acts 2:38-39 (NAS)

"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32 (NAS)  

5.  The Lord's Church Begins - 3,000 Are Added to Their Number:

When Jesus rose from the dead, He was resurrected to sit on a throne at the right hand of His Father.  With Jesus as King of kings, His kingdom or church is established.  On the day of Pentecost, those that heard, believed and obeyed the gospel message were added to the Lord's church.  There were 3,000 added to the Lord's church that day and more each day thereafter:

And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.   Acts 2:40-41 (NAS)

And 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, 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 2:46-47 (NAS)

Summary:

In this period of about 50 days...as a result of the death of Jesus:

• The Old Covenant is replaced by the New;
• The gospel of Jesus is enacted...and is beginning to be preached;
• The forgiveness of sins is extended to all mankind (Jew and non-Jew);
• The Holy Spirit begins to be poured out on mankind; and
• The Lord's church is established.

Congratulations!  You have completed Section 2A. of this lesson.

Let's look in more detail at how the Spirit began to be poured out on all flesh. 

Click on Section 2B. below to continue: