II. A simple way to distinguish these two experiences is to compare the event of
two Sundays, as each is uniquely important in the history of the Christian church.
The first is Resurrection Sunday; the second is Pentecost Sunday.
A. On Resurrection Sunday Jesus appeared to the apostles in a group for the first
time after His resurrection.
John 20:22:
“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”
B. The word “breathed” in the Greek “enephuseasen” means to “breath on/in” or “blow on,” as playing a flute. We get the English word to “infuse” from it.
Jesus’ breathing on/in the apostles was suited to the words that accompanied it: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” In the Greek text the same word pnuema means both “spirit” and 'breath." Thus, the words of Jesus could be translated: “Receive Holy Breath.” And at that moment they actually did receive the Holy Spirit within them.
C. In this first encouter with the resurrected Christ, they passed from “Old
Testament salvation” to “New Testament salvation.” Prior to this encounter,
OT believers looked forward through prophecies and types and shadows to a
redemptive act not yet taken place. But with Jesus’death and resurrection,
their salvation was made complete.
D. Romans 10:9-10:
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
The two requirements are to confess Jesus as Lord and to believe that God raised Him from the dead. Prior to Resurrection Sunday the apostles had already confessed Jesus as Lord. But now, for the first time, they also believed that God raised Him from the dead. Again, their salvation was complete.
At this point they had just experienced the New Birth/Born From Above/Regeneration. Jesus had breathed into them the Holy Spirit imparting to them a totally new kind of life -- eternal life -- that had triumphed over sin and Satan, over death and the grave.
III. Fifty days later on Pentecost Sunday, after Jesus' Asension, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit upon the waiting disciples in the Upper Room:
Luke 24:49
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
Acts 1:5
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Almost all interpreters of the Bible agree that this promise of being Baptized In or filled with the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on Pentecost Sunday.
Thus, it was on Pentecost Sunday after His ascension that Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the waiting disciples.
A. On Resurrection Sunday it was:
- The resurrected Christ
-The inbreathed Spirit
-The result; eternal life
B. On Pentecost Sunday it was:
-The ascended Christ
-The outpoured Spirit
-The result: Supernatural Power
From Pentecost Sunday onward ( Acts 2 in the Scriptures), "receiving the Holy Spirit" was applied to and only for the second experience: namely, The Baptism in the Holy Spirit -- not the New Birth experience.
IV. Evidence of this second experience was shown by the disciples speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance as shown in:
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
