For example, Matthew 28:18-20 records Christ’s Intention. He envisioned Christianity as an international Faith with Universal, Eternal results. And note: the entirely spiritual focus of his Intention. He commanded Preaching, a spiritual force; that convicted people of their sins, a spiritual problem; that moved them to repent from self- to Christ-centered lives, a spiritual solution; that ordered them to confess Christ’s Deity as God’s Son and their Savior as God’s answer to humanity’s alienation from God, a spiritual peace-treaty effected; that commanded baptism for the forgiveness of sin, offering a definitive spiritual divide between the unconverted and forgiven state.
All of the aforementioned introductory to a new spiritual life, originating in and fueled by the Holy Spirit who lived in individuals as Christian temples of God and in groups of Christians as corporate temples of God. Each Christian personally and Church as a local body of believers committed to teaching newly-baptized disciples in the ongoing truths of Jesus Christ. All of that involved Christ’s Intention. Acts 2:1-4 records the Action of Christ’s intent that has no finality until he Returns. On Pentecost the Twelve Apostles received the special Anointing of the Spirit—called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit—with each apostle, including Paul later, immersed in the Holy Spirit. It happened again only at the household of Cornelius. And Peter, noticing the bestowal, ordered the immediate baptism in water of all who listened and heard his sermon. Proving...that mortals needed water baptism for the forgiveness of sin even when favored with the same Gift granted only to the Apostles. The book of Acts records how faithfully that apostle-led generation obeyed Christ’s Intent. On Pentecost Jewish faithful from all geographical points of the compass came to Jerusalem. To their homeland they carried the Gospel message. Indeed, in expanding circles of evangelism, beginning in Jerusalem, Acts traced the spread of Christianity to the very heart of the entire Roman Empire, from which the Spirit would continue to envelop the nations Rome ruled. End Part II
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