This Sunday, June 5, many Christians will celebrate, Pentecost, remembering the events recorded in Chapter 2 of the book of Acts. But sadly, there are lots of Christians who do not realize the great significance of what happened that day.

What happened on that day?

Perhaps you’ve noticed “Pentecost” is not even included on most printed calendars?  Other important Christian remembrances are, but not Pentecost. And yet,  just 8 days before it happened,  Jesus specifically spoke about about it. In fact it was the last thing he spoke about before he ascended into heaven.

So what exactly are we remembering that warrants celebrating?  Some say that day was specifically and only about the Apostles receiving the holy spirit.  Some say it was a unique event relevant only for those living in the first century.  Others say that it is something about speaking in tongues.

But could that event have an even greater significance than most realize? Is it possible it was the greatest event to date in the history of mankind? What is the real significance of what occurred that day?

What Happened In The Garden?

In order to gain a greater appreciation of what occurred on the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2, one needs to understand what happened with Adam and Eve in the Garden. God had told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and if he did, he would surely die. If you’re familiar with the record in Genesis 2 and 3 then you know both Adam and Eve ate of that fruit.

God had said, “In the day you eat, you will surely die,” meaning that very day. Yet, if you continue reading, they both lived for many, many years. Was God wrong?

In taking a closer look at Genesis 1 & 2,  you see how God originally designed human beings. Adam and Eve were formed, made, and created with two life forms: soul life, and spirit life.

The absence of life is indicated by the word, “death.” What died that day for Adam and Eve was the spirit life God intended for all human beings to have. They lost spirit life.  It was the spirit life that enabled them to have a close personal relationship with God.

They Lived On Physically, But Had No Spirit From God

When they lost spirit life, they still had a physical body and soul life. But they lost their connection with the Creator. And, this loss of spirit life was passed on to all men and women. This was a cataclysmic event, with devastating consequences for all of mankind.

Through the centuries there have been hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, wars and other devastating events, including the recent pandemic. But what happened in the Garden when Adam sinned was the worst disaster for human beings that has ever happened.

Even though there were only two people immediately affected, the consequences would be felt by billions and billions; the consequences would affect every single human being ever born, with the exception of Jesus Christ.

God’s Plan

Not understanding what happened when Adam sinned is one of the main reasons there is a lack of understanding the great significance of what happened on the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts, Chapter 2.  People fail to see the connection. But after the fall in the Garden, God set in motion a plan to redeem mankind, which would include restoring His spirit to human beings.

During the process of God’s plan, you can read in the Bible about how God gave certain individuals His spirit on a temporary basis; but it was not available to any and all human beings. For God to restore what Adam lost, it would require the completed work of Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind, to fulfill all that was necessary.

The Savior Carried Out God’s plan

God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly did His Father’s work in carrying out God’s great plan of redemption.  He laid down his life, a ransom, a full payment for the sins of the whole world.  And God raised him from the dead to die no more.

Jesus taught his followers on many occasions about the coming of holy spirit. It was a major topic at the last Supper.  The first time he got together with his disciples, after he was resurrected, he talked to them about receiving the holy spirit. On the day of his ascension, right before he left, the very last thing he talked about was receiving holy spirit.

A New Beginning!

In Acts Chapter 2, shortly after the twelve received the holy spirit and began manifesting one of the nine manifestations, namely speaking in tongues, Peter stood up and preached.  He taught them about Jesus Christ, the savior, and how God had made Jesus both lord and Christ, and that God raised him from the dead.

Peter also talked about God’s gift of holy spirit. He concluded his message by exhorting those listening to, “repent” (change their minds), get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and that they too would receive “the gift holy spirit.” About 3,000 accepted the invitation.

Part of the great significance of that day was that it was the beginning of holy spirit available for all of mankind. That was the day when God officially made His holy spirit available to anyone who accepted Jesus as lord and believed God raised him from the dead. Peter in fact, later referred to that day as, “the beginning.” It was truly a new beginning for mankind!

And while Adam and Eve could and did lose the spirit of God, this time around, God made it permanent. He has given those who believe in Jesus (that he is lord and that God raised him from the dead) eternal life, which means you cannot lose it. The reason God wants everyone to have His spirit is so that we could not only live forever, but also have a close personal relationship with Him by way of His spirit in us, just like He had with Adam and Eve in the Garden before the fall.

God Has Leveled The Playing Field!

Today we hear a lot about equity, equality, advantage, disadvantage, privilege, etc.  But beginning on that day of Pentecost, God leveled the playing field for anyone who believes in Jesus.  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

God is offering tremendous advantage and privilege to “whosoever!”

In the Old Testament, only certain people had the spirit of God.  But today, each and every born again believer has the spirit of God, and the ability to operate all 9 manifestations of the spirit.  God made that reality available beginning on that day of Pentecost.  No wonder Peter later referred to that day as “The beginning.”

In the Old testament, the bloodline from Abraham, were God’s people, by His choice, and He promised to be their God. And we can read about some absolutely astounding things God did for His people.

But since that day of Pentecost there is a new arrangement.  The Bible clearly states that for those who are born again, God Almighty is not only our Father, but He is our God.  That day marked the beginning of what is called, “the Church of God.”  It is God’s Church!

What a great day in the history of mankind that day of Pentecost really was!  God opened the door for anyone and everyone to receive His gift of eternal life, His gift of holy spirit, and, a great number of rights, privileges and abilities that go with it. The Bible declarers we have all received all spiritual blessings, that it is all in all!   Every born again believer receives it all.

How thrilling to read and believe what God has written to us in the New Testament Church epistles about who we really are and all God has freely made available to each and every one of us!  From God’s Word we can learn how to utilize and operate this gift of holy spirit that God has freely given to each one of His children.

Talk about having privilege!  God’s children, the born again ones, are truly the most privileged people on the face of the earth!

That day of Pentecost really was a really big deal!  It truly was the greatest event to date in the history of mankind!

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