THE STRIKING FEATURE OF CHRISTIANITY

I. Introduction

A. There are many doctrines of Christianity which are found even in some non-Christian religions.

1. For instance, blood offerings were made by heathen religions, certainly not in the way God intended or the way taught in the Hebrew faith.

2. But there is one striking feature of the Christian faith that differentiated it from all other religions.

3. Does anyone have any idea what it is? It is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

B. Just what is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit?

Fundamentally and in brevity it is this that the very life of the Eternal having become incarnated in the historical Jesus, is now

regeneratingly communicated by the Holy Spirit to all those who in simple faith become united to their Savior.

1. That is what distinguishes Christianity from all other religions.

2. It meant that Christianity is not merely a creed, code or a philosophy.

3. Christianity is a life; a life which if a person possesses it, they live even though their baby dies.

4. Christianity is not merely an ethic, it is a life changing, character transforming experience of God inwrought in us by the Holy Spirit.

11. It was the Emphasis of Christ

A. What was the subject uppermost in our Saviors mind just before He went to the Cross?

1. It was the imminence of the Holy Spirit (John 14.16, 26)

2. What was His first word to the apostles immediately after His resurrection? (John 20:22) He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit."

3. What was His last word before He ascended to heaven? Acts 1:8, "You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes on you."

4. What was the first exercise of His high priestly ministry when He entered heaven? Acts 2:33, "Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear."

5. What was the essence of the first sermon preached by an Apostle of Christ? Acts 2:38, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

6. What was the first test question asked to ascertain whether a person was saved and a genuine believer? Acts 19:2, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"

B. All of these factors accentuate the fact that Christianity is not merely a new law but a new life, not a new ethic but a life changing

dynamic.

III. A New Fellowship

A. Pentecost means not only a new life from God, but it means a new fellowship with God.

B. In the Garden of Eden that first human pair, without the slightest moral defect, had uninterrupted fellowship with God.

1. Over the brief period of time we could write emphasizing the preposition God with Man.

C. In the next period of Israelite theocracy we have God saying at its inception, make me a tabernacle that I may dwell among my people."

1. Over that period we could write God among Men.

D. Then ensued the national history of idolatry and apostasy the covenant people violated the covenant of their God.

1. A mid - that declension God raised up His messengers the prophets.

2. Over the period of the prophets we could write God through Man.

E. At last the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a virgin.

1. Over that matchless period, we could write God as Man.

F. Yet that is not enough; God would come closer still.

1. Toward the end of His ministry, Jesus began to tell His disciples of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

2. At that day, "You shall know that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, and ye in Me and I in you."

3. Again Jesus said, "We will make our abode within Him."

4, Pentecost is the Father and Son abiding in us by the Holy Spirit - GOD IN MAN.

IV. What a Beautiful Development

A. God with Man - God among Man - God through Man - God as Man - God in Man - making us His human habitation.

1. Well might we exclaim with the poet, "Oh, gift of gifts? Oh, Grace of Grace!

That God should condescend

To make my heart his dwelling place

And be my bosom Friend!"

V. A Filling from God

A. One of the important features of Pentecost is that it means a new filling from God.

1. Eph. 5:18 "Be filled with the Spirit."

2. This is meant to be the normal experience of the believer.

3. It is our duty, our need, our privilege.

4. The Holy spirit is desiring to interpenetrate our personalities with the love of Jesus.

B. Away with this idea that we have not had the Spirit's infusion unless we speak in tongues.

I. Speaking in tongues apart from transformation of our character is a counterfeit and a deception.

2. When the Holy Spirit fills a believer's life, four things will happen

VI. Things That Happen

A. First there comes a wonderful new consciousness of Christ.

B. Secondly, there comes a wonderful new liberty in prayer.

C. Thirdly, the believer begins to exhibit the graces of Christ.

D. Fourthly, there begins to develop in the believer a new joy and life that reflects the peace of God. This also includes a new power in serving and witnessing for Christ.

E. This is the fourfold blessing we all need and which we should all prayerfully seek.

F. Whatever else Pentecost was to mean to history, it certainly includes the things I have just emphasized.

1. A new life - a new fellowship- a new fullness.

2. What He takes, He cleanses; what He cleanses, He fills.

3. What He fills, He uses.

G. That is the threefold formula that always works.

1. Once we are yielded to the Lord then there comes a new power to witness and speak for Christ.

2. Amazingly people begin to listen and come under conviction. Many will come to Christ because it will be Him doing the work through me.

3. Let's make this our prayer:

Break through my nature, mighty heavenly Love,

Clear every avenue of thought and brain;

Flood my affections, purify my will;

Make all I am thy sanctified domain.

Thus wholly mastered and by Thee possessed,

Fourth from my life, spontaneous and free,

Shall flow a stream of grace and tenderness,

Loving because Thy love lives on through me.