What is the observance of Christian Pentecost about? A quick answer is that Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit among the first disciples. While that answer is true, it does not include the main result of the descent of the Spirit. In Acts 2:11, we read the reaction of the crowd, "we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." The core message that the Apostles proclaim is not about the Holy Spirit; the heart of their proclamation is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A few verses later, Peter makes this clear. In Acts 2:22-24, he preaches about Jesus of Nazareth, a man who performed miracles, wonders, and signs before being crucified and raised from the dead.
So, although the Holy Spirit is very important, the uniqueness of the Christian message does not center on the Spirit. Christian preaching is motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit, but the heart of the Gospel is Christ-centered. The benefits of the Spirit are enormous for faithful individuals and the church, but the whole point of Pentecost is not about the mechanics of inspiration. The work of the Holy Spirit must not be separated from the work of Jesus Christ. The point is that the Holy Spirit testifies about and for the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Truth enables Christ's followers to be faithful witnesses to and proclaimers of the Gospel of salvation. The presence of the Holy Spirit brings faith in and witness to the saving work of Jesus Christ, the divine Word, God the Son
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