The Birthday of the church of Christ
Acts 2:1-4 says, "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
The Day of Pentecost has finally come in its fullness. This day was an ordained feast day from the law of Moses. It was
otherwise known as the FEAST OF WEEKS. Its record is found in Leviticus 23:15-22, Numbers 28:26-31, Deuteronomy
16:9-12.
There is great prophetic significance in the day of the FEAST OF WEEKS/PENTECOST. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
establishing the church of Christ occurred on this day. It was on this day the people of Israel were to observe several
things similar to our Christian assemblies. This is very likely the inspired historical precedent for the “freewill” offering of
the Christian contribution each LORD’s day. The only specifications for the contribution during the FEAST OF WEEKS
were “as the Lord blesses you” and “freewill”.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may
prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
The same is true for Christian assemblies today. There should be no special fundraising events. Nor pleas for giving.
Those who wish to follow the New Testament pattern lay an amount aside as God has prospered them, and of their
choosing to contribute each LORD’s Day.
The second thing they were to do on this feast day is to rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!
Our assemblies are to be full of joy. The people of Israel were to remember that they were slaves in Egypt. Their
freedom from bondage was to be remembered, and the remembrance was to bring them joy.
We too have something to remember. We are to remember the LORD in his death.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He
comes.
So the day of Pentecost is the 50 th day after the Passover. This Pentecost is especially significant because Christ was slain
on the Passover immediately before. He is the final sacrifice for sin. There is no more sacrifice to be made.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains
a sacrifice for sins, Christ is our only sacrifice for sin. Christ ended the Old Testament system of sacrifice. He fulfilled the requirements of the law.
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to
fulfill.
Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, "A NEW COVENANT," He has made the first obsolete.
So, this day has fully come! And the disciples were all together in one place. This is indicative of the unity of the early
church.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house
where they were sitting.
This was a phenomenon of which had never been heard before. It does not appear that there was actual wind. Rather
just the sound of wind. Three carefully constructed parallel statements point to an aspect of the baptism of the Holy
Spirit.
THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
A sound came – it filled the house – vs. 2
2. Tongues of fire appeared on each of them – vs 3
3. They were given the ability to speak with other tongues – vs. 4
Wind is often used in the OT to signify the presence of God.
Psalms 104:3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who
walks on the wings of the wind,
It is unlikely that the “house where they were sitting” was in the Temple. This assembly seems to have been the same
assembly, same place, same people who had appointed Matthias.
Acts 2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
This could be fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist.
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh,
the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
First, they hear a sound like a mighty rushing wind. Then they saw the appearance of fire. God’s coming has often been
associated with wind, thunder, and lightening. Remember the events at Sinai:
Psalms 18:7-15 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken,
because he was wroth. (8) There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals
were kindled by it. (9) He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. (10) And
he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. (11) He made darkness his secret
place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. (12) At the brightness that
was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. (13) The LORD also thundered in the
heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. (14) Yea, he sent out his arrows, and
scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. (15) Then the channels of waters were seen,
and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy
nostrils.
Even some conservative scholars become foolish with their description of this event. Like the sound of wind, this is not
actual fire. But “as of fire”. The appearance of fire came, and a flame rested upon each of them. This was a sign of the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.
The sound of wind, the appearance of fire, the filling of the Holy Spirit. This was the main goal. The filling of the Holy
Spirit.
Acts 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to
wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me
in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
This event brought several remarkable things. One of which was speaking in tongues. There is a major emphasis on
tongues speaking today. One can hear entire sermons dedicated to this concept. But what does the word of God say?
Often called glossolalia. A Greek word for speaking in a language. Glossa – meaning tongue or language. Lalia – meaning talking, speech or dialect.
The modern conclusion that is rooted in this error can be traced back to John Wesley. Though he likely would have a
different opinion from the main sects today who practice “speaking in tongues.” Mr. Wesley placed great emphasis on a
second experience that he taught every Christian should have after conversion. He called this second work of grace,
“perfect love.” Modern followers of this concept usually call this experience “entire sanctification.”
Mr. Wesley lived and developed his theology in the 1700’s in Great Britain. About a century later an American by the
name of Charles G. Finney first identified “entire sanctification” with the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2. In the
mid-1800’s the Methodists who largely had espoused Wesley’s and Finney’s doctrine abandoned their emphasis on
“entire sanctification.”
As the doctrine declined in popularity a group of adherents began to leave Methodism and call themselves “holiness
people.” These “holiness people” with the exception of a few denominations soon embraced the principles of
“Pentecostalism”. Otherwise known as the “charismatic movement”.
They had and have a major emphasis on external evidences of one having been baptized with the Holy Spirit. There have
been several major sects developed and devoted to these doctrines and practices. However, Charles Parham, president
of Bethany Bible College in Topeka, KS invited his students to “seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And another
movement was born. This one highlighted by “tongues speaking.”
It is important to point out some interesting distinctions between this doctrine and practice and the Word of God.
1. Mr. Wesley and Mr. Parham led their followers to “seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
a. They called it different names.
b. They looked for different signs.
c. As many secondary leaders did and still do.
2. HOWEVER, there is no command in any passage of the Word of God that instructs God-followers to seek the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
a. NONE
b. NOT ONE
c. In the total absence of such commands, we should conclude that these men were adding to scripture.
d. In the total absence of such commands, we should conclude that these doctrines add to scripture.
e. Please see:
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:
If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
(19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away
his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book.
Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you
may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
It is a dangerous thing, in the service of God, to decline from his institutions; we serve a God, who is
wise to prescribe his own worship - just to require what he has prescribed - and powerful to avenge what he has not prescribed.
Tongues speaking as is conceived in modern minds is an addition to the Word of God. It is therefore to be avoided, not
sought.
3. The meaning of the word “tongues” as found in Acts 2.
a. Greek word for tongues – glossa – meaning “the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct
from that of other nations.
b. English is a tongue, Spanish is a tongue, French is a tongue, German is a tongue, Mandarin is a tongue.
i. I only know one tongue - English.
ii. Many only know one tongue – whatever it may be.
iii. Many know two or more tongues – Any combination.
iv. The word “unknown” is not in Acts 2:4.
4. The intention of this “gift of tongues” was to bring praise and honor to God, and to edify the brethren. Acts 2 is a
key passage on “tongues speaking”. It is clear that in the New Testament “tongues” had reference to FOREIGN
LANGUAGES. The tongues of the New Testament passages were unstudied foreign languages.
In conclusion, On the day of Pentecost, while the disciples were gathered in one place and assembled in one spirit the
Holy Spirit of God descended upon them just as Jesus had promised. He empowered them for preaching and spreading
the gospel. He gave them gifts of foreign languages which they had previously not studied. This birthday of the Church of
Christ formed the new Temple of God. A place where all people of all languages and all cultures are able to come to
worship the Creator.