By Timothy W. Burnett
Jesus Christ's instructions in John 20:22 first came to pass on the day of Pentecost (See Acts 2:1-4). The disciples were assembeled together in the temple. Around nine o'clock in the morning, everybody heard a sound that originated from above. It was like a strong rushing wind that literally filled the whole place. This sound must have been God's way to symbolize the pouring out of holy spirit. Immediately after holy spirit was poured out, the disciples were filled with holy spirit upon their next breath of air.
Having been filled with holy spirit, the disciples were next given a vision of cloven tongues that looked like fire. The vision sat upon each of them. It was the disciples' cue to act on Jesus Christ's earlier instructions to lay-hold of holy spirit. They began to speak in tongues as the spirit of God gave the words. By rightly dividing God's word, we know that when they began to speak in tongues, they laid-hold of that holy spirit which they were recently filled with.
According to Acts 2:6-11, everybody in the temple heard the disciples speak in their own languages the wonderful works of God. This was a fantastic miracle that was designed to propel the ministry of reconciliation with great dynamics. God sure knows how to get things started! The people were amazed and wondered what it meant. Some mockingly accused the disciples of being drunk. But Peter stood up with boldness and explained by the spirit what they saw and heard. They witnessed the beginning of a whole new administration which would end at the "gread and notable day of the Lord" (Acts 2:20). He finished the words of the prophet Joel as follows, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). This came to pass for the disciples who began to speak in tongues. It also came to pass for many others as recorded in the book of Acts. And it can still come to pass for people today.
In 1Corinthians 1:2, Paul distinguished between all the saints and those who call upon the name of the Lord, "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." To be a saint simply means to be filled with holy spirit. Many of the saints laid-hold of holy spirit when they began to speak in tongues. This is also when they began to call upon the name of the Lord and got saved from the terrible period of tribulation as recorded in the book of Revelations, which is yet to come. Since the rapture has not yet occurred, this unique salvation is still available today.
The word "with" in 1Corinthians 1:2 came from an earlier known Greek word which meant to be in close proximity with another. Paul addressed not only all the saints, but also those saints who had begun to call upon the name of the Lord.
Next we will begin a study of Romans 10:8-15 which shines more light on what conditions must be met in order to obtain this precious salvation that is only available during the age of the grace of God.
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