Auxano Ministry
By the grace of God I am what I am:
1 Cor. 15:10a
Consider What I Say!
Acts 2
2 Timothy 2:7
Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
“Consider” is noeo in the Greek and means to think through, put forth the mental effort, to ponder. In this case, ponder Pentecost, put forth the mental effort to understand Pentecost.
Understanding is the Greek word synesis which means a flowing together as in two rivers flowing together and becoming one mightier river. In the case of 2 Timothy 2 it is speaking of different pieces of knowledge flowing together into a greater understanding or awareness as these individual pieces of knowledge flow together into one.
So, allow the knowledge you already hold to flow together with any knowledge you acquire through this teaching to increase your understanding and comprehension of the feasts of Israel and specifically the day of Pentecost when it had “fully come.”.
Acts 2:1
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
There are a few different ways theology looks at the day of Pentecost.
It is perceived as the start of the New Covenant. We will consider this later.
It is considered the start of Christianity as opposed to Judaism. This too we shall consider.
It is perceived as the start of the Church Age, or the Administration of Grace. We will also consider this thought pattern.
Now, we begin our considerations.
Jewish tradition states the first celebration of Pentecost took place approximately 1473 years prior to this recorded event in the book of Acts. When Israel left the nation of Egypt, during the exodus, they walked out as twelve tribes. With the giving of the Law to Moses God established seven Feasts to be a foreshadowing of things the Messiah would accomplish for Israel.
These feasts are best understood first by understanding Israel had two separate calendar versions for a year. They had a Spiritual calendar and a Civil calendar; both relate to the coming Messiah and his accomplishments.
The Spiritual calendar begins with Nisan and the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits in early Spring and the Feast of Weeks in late Spring. Then in the Fall their Civil calendar has the Feasts of Trumpets, called Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Atonement, called Yom Kipper, and the Feast of Booths, sometimes called Tabernacles.
You also must remember that Israel recognized their days according to Genesis chapter 1 whereby their day began with the evening and ended the following day at sunset. For example, the Sabbath to Israel began Friday evening and ended with the setting sun on Saturday.
We will look at this considering the Law and Jesus fulfilling these feast days.
Exodus 12:2
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
When Israel left Egypt, this month was called Abib. However, when Israel returned from their Babylonian captivity Abib was known as Nisan, a change due to their years in captivity and the influence of a foreign language.
Exodus 12:3
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
On the 10th day of Nisan Israel was to select the lamb to be sacrificed for the upcoming Passover.
Matthew 21:1-5
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
This was the sabbath before the Passover, the 10th of Nisan what today we call Palm Sunday. It was the day to select the Passover lamb. It was the day God selected Jesus as the final and true Passover lamb.
Matthew 21:8-9
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
On Monday evening Jesus had his last meal with his apostles, sometimes referred to as his last supper. It was at this meal that Jesus drew for his apostles the connection between his sacrifice and the New Covenant and set a memorial for them to remember his sacrifice until his return.
Matthew chapters 21 through his last meal in chapter 26 are the things he taught and the actions he took from Saturday evening through Monday evening. The confusion about Jesus eating his last meal on the Passover have entered because of the corruption of the text and a mistranslation of the text in two verses of Matthew 26.
Matthew 26:17-19
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, my time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
The words in bold and red were added to the text. The word “came” in the Greek is proserchomai. A compound Greek words consisting of pros and erchomai. Pros, when governed by the genitive case, means "in consideration of" and erchomai means "to come." In the text “came” is the verb for “unleavened” not the disciples.
More accurately translated Matthew 26:17 would read:
“Now in consideration of unleavened bread coming, the disciples said to Jesus, where would you that we prepare to eat the passover?”
Because the question, “where would you that we prepare to eat the passover” was asked in the subjunctive mood, the mood of possibility, the answer should also be understood as a possibility. So, in verse 18 when Jesus says, “I will keep…” should have been handled also as a possibility, “I desire to keep…”
Jesus had just stated, “my time is at hand,” he knew he would not eat the Passover meal.
Why then did he allow his apostles to prepare for the meal?
First, he desired to eat the meal with them. Second, he still had a request to make of God, a request he made just a short time after this conversation.
Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
The answer to his prayer was simple, there is no other way, you must drink from this cup. Had Jesus known this answer, his apostles would not have prepared for him to eat the Passover meal.
So, with the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread coming soon, two apostles prepare for the Passover meal. Then Jesus, with the 12, eat their evening meal of Monday, the 13th of Nisan.
Matthew 26:20-21a
Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat…
Notice they sat down to eat. The Passover meal was to be eaten while standing because it was to be eaten in haste. The Passover meal was never eaten while sitting down.
So, to recap.
On Saturday, the 10th of Nisan Jesus entered Jerusalem and is selected by God as the real and final Passover lamb. As the sun sets it becomes the 11th of Nisan and from this point until the discussion, we just considered, we have all the teaching from Matthew 21 into Matthew 26. These teachings take place from the evening of the 11th of Nisan until the Monday evening, which begins the 13th of Nisan. This meal, on the 13th of Nisan, is the last meal Jesus will eat before his arrest, torture, and execution on the 14th of Nisan, the feast of Passover.
The confusion of Matthew 26:17-19 could have been avoided with a refresher of God’s commands in the Mosaic Law concerning these three feasts.
Exodus 12:3
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
The Passover lamb is selected on the 10th of Nisan.
Exodus 12:5
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
A lamb without spot or blemish. We have already seen how Jesus fits this in several teachings.
Exodus 12:6
And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
The lamb was to be sacrificed on the 14th of Nisan. Tradition set the time to kill the lamb at three in the afternoon.
Exodus 12:11
And thus, shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.
This is a standing position as in an expectation of leaving quickly. Israel is never instructed in God’s Word to change the eating of Passover to a sitting position. That Jesus and his apostles sat to eat their meal in Matthew 26 tells you this was not the Passover meal.
The 14th of Nisan ends at sunset and the Passover meal is to be eaten in the evening of the 15th of Nisan, the start of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread.
It is helpful to understand how God uses leaven in His Word to understand the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Matthew 16:6-12
Then Jesus said unto them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, it is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Here leaven is used in respect to the influence of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. These religious leaders promoted a doctrine of tradition over the words of God. This influence leads to sin.
Paul declares the same thing to our administration.
Galatians 5:7-10
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
Paul is saying, just a little of the wrong doctrine, wrong influence, can infect all the doctrine.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread showed us two aspects of influence God wanted Israel to remember.
Deuteronomy 16:3
Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
This verse in Deuteronomy shows us both aspects of God’s symbolism in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. First, you left in haste from the affliction you endured in Egypt but also, you go forth in freedom, you are no longer slaves. Realize the deliverance you have received and the freedom you have now. Remember this dual influence leaven can have when we come to Pentecost.
How long shall Israel observe this feast and standing to eat the passover meal?
Exodus 12:17
And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore, shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever.
The Hebrew word translated forever is olam. It is the equivalent to the Greek word aion and should be translated age. This feast should be observed for the age of the Law given to Moses.
Since the Feast of Unleavened Bread goes for seven days it is obvious that there will be a sabbath day sometime during this feast. It is that sabbath day that determines the Feast of Firstfruits and the count to the Feast of Weeks, or as we know it, Pentecost.
Leviticus 23:5-10
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
When that regular, weekly sabbath day occurs, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the very next day shall be an offering of the harvest. This would be an offering of their barley harvest. To our understanding this would take place on the Sunday after their weekly sabbath.
Leviticus 23:15-16
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
From the Feast of Firstfruits begins the count for the Feast of Weeks. Seven sabbaths or seven weeks, and after those seven weeks, on the next day, or the fifty day, Pentecost. We have the name Pentecost because of the Greek word for 50, pentekoste.
Leviticus 23:16-17
Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
At the end of the Feast of Weeks, or the day of Pentecost, part of the offering was to be two loaves of bread baked with leaven. Before I explain the purpose in the two loafs let’s recap once more these Spring feasts and how they applied to the final week of the life of Jesus.
The early Spring feasts are Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits. Followed by the late Spring Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.
The sacrificial lamb was selected on the 10th of Nisan, it was sacrificed on the 14th of Nisan at 3:00 in the afternoon. As the sun set ending the 14th of Nisan, they would begin the 15th with the Passover meal and the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The day after the regular weekly sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread they would celebrate the Feast of Firstfruits of the harvest. This same day would also set in motion the Feast of Weeks to end seven weeks later. The day after which, the fiftieth day, they would celebrate their wheat harvest.
Now how does all of this apply to the final week of the life of Jesus.
On the sabbath before Passover Jesus entered Jerusalem, on this day God selected him as the true and final Passover sacrifice. On Monday evening, Jesus had supper with his apostles, afterwards they sang some hymns and he taught them on their way to a garden, where he took time to pray to his Father. After praying and understanding there was no way to pass on the cup that was set before him, Jesus was betrayed and arrested late Monday night, the 13th of Nisan. For the next approximately forty hours Jesus was interrogated, beaten, tortured, and finally executed. Giving up his life at 3:00 PM on the 14th of Nisan, the exact time the passover lamb was to be sacrificed. He was laid in a tomb and stayed there for seventy-two hours, from late Wednesday afternoon until late Saturday afternoon. The regular weekly sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On Sunday morning he presented himself before God as the Firstfruits from the grave.
John 20:16-17a
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father…
This was early Sunday morning, the Feast of Firstfruits before Jesus had presented himself to his Father, not in the Temple but in the Heavenlies. Because he had not yet presented himself, he could not allow Mary to touch him, like the High Priest, once cleansed could not be touched before he entered the Holy of Holies.
As I started earlier, we have the name Pentecost because of the Greek word for fifty, pentekoste. Israel called it the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot. God does not give it a name in Leviticus 23, He just tells you how to identify the feast.
Numbers 28:26
Also, in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
Here God calls it the Day of Firstfruits, and the emphasis is on the offerings.
Exodus 23:16a
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field…
Here God calls it the Feast of Harvest and puts the emphasis on the labor involved.
Deuteronomy 16:16
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
Here God calls it the Feast of Weeks but puts the emphasis on the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship.
Tacitus, a Roman politician, and historian wrote about Jerusalem during Pentecost.
Tacitus wrote, “The Holy City, with a population then about six hundred thousand, exploded into between two and three millions because of the pilgrims.” This was the effect of God’s command for the males of Israel to be in Jerusalem during the three feast days He designated.
Exodus 23:16-17
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the LORD God.
Three times in the year all males were to appear before the Lord God. This helps us understand Acts 2:8-11.
Acts 2:8-11
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Judeans from around the world were commanded by God to return to Jerusalem for the Feasts of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles).
We have seen how Jesus fulfilled Passover as the perfect sacrifice; how he fulfilled Unleavened Bread by his deliverance from the Adversary; how he presented himself in the presence of God as the firstfruits from the dead into eternal life. Likewise, Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Weeks as he carried out for all of mankind the Law given to Moses at Mount Sinai.
There is no exact date given as to when God gave the Law to Moses. However, consider Exodus chapter 19.
Exodus 19:1
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
The third month in the Hebrew calendar is Sivan.
Exodus 19:2-10
For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, all that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee and believe thee for forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses, go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes,
They had set up their camp in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. The first day Moses goes up the mount to speak with God. The next day Moses returns to the camp to communicate what God has said. The third day Moses returns to the mount to tell God the response of the people. Three trips up and down Mount Sinai, possibly three days. Then God declares.
Exodus 19:11
And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
In three days, God will come and speak with the people. What God speaks is in Exodus chapter 20. God delivers to the people the ten commandments.
If this count is accurate, then God delivered the ten commandments to Israel on the 6th of Sivan.
It is amazing how God arranged the exact dates and times in relationship to what Jesus needed to accomplish with the early Spring Feasts. The Feast of Firstfruits occurred on the 18th of Nisan, beginning the count of the Feast of Weeks. There are 30 days in Nisan, and 29 days in the second month Iyar. This places Pentecost in 27 A.D. on the 6th of Sivan! Possibly the same month and day on which God originally spoke His commandments to Israel.
Traditionally, Israel celebrated Pentecost as the day they received the Law from God.
As God selected Jesus as the lamb on the exact day prescribed by the Law; as Jesus gave up his life on the day and at the time the lamb was to be sacrificed; as Christ, early in the morning on the day of the Feast of Firstfruits presented himself before God; on the day God gave the Law to Israel, 1473 years later God gave His gift of holy spirit in recognition of Jesus Christ accomplishing the Law for all who believe.
Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.
Far too often people have ignored the end of this verse of scripture. It clearly says, “…to everyone that believes.” It does not say, “to everyone.”
The accomplishments of Christ did not save everyone on the earth!
His accomplishments could save everyone.
God’s plan was equal to His desire, “…to have all men saved…” but ALL men do not believe.
What did Tacitus say of the population of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost?
Acts 2:40-41
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Three thousand is wonderful and amazing but far short of 2 to 3 million. Consider the parable of the gates in Matthew chapter 7 and the sower and the seed in Matthew chapter 13. Three thousand is wonderful but the other gate is wide.
I will remind you again of the Law given to Moses being two-fold.
Deuteronomy 30:15
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
God IS life! His Adversary brings death!
Hebrews 2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he [Jesus] also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.
John 6:63a
It is the spirit that quickeneth…
The compound Greek word for “quickeneth” is zoopoieo. From zoon which means life and poieo which means to make. The spirit makes alive, the spirit gives life! On the day of Pentecost, to all those who believed, God gave spirit, God gave LIFE through His grace and by the accomplishments of Christ.
Therefore, Hebrews speaks to us about the Old Covenant, the Law given to Moses.
Hebrews 8:13
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
The Old Covenant “decayeth” and “waxeth old” and is ready to “vanish away.”
The New International Version handles Hebrews 8 this way: “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”
It is old, and obsolete, and outdated because Jesus Christ brought its promise of life to a spiritual conclusion. But to be true and faithful to His Word, God must now allow all those who refused to enter through the narrow gate to receive their Just reward. Therefore, Acts chapter 2 begins the Revealing Administration.
It is a time when the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, concerning the King from heaven, will be proclaimed throughout the world. That is the commission Jesus gave to his apostles.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing [baptizo – identification] them in the [my] name. of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The words in bold and red are an addition to the text in the late fourth or fifth century. Quoted by Eusebius 18 times in early fourth century but always as, “in my name.”
The same commission is given in Acts 1 just prior to the Ascension.
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Witnesses for me unto the uttermost part of the earth. To this end Israel needed to learn two lessons. First, they needed to remember the diaspora, those of Israel that were scattered abroad, beginning with Assyria’s conquest of the Nation of Israel and the ten tribes. Continued later when Babylon conquered Judea taking them into captivity. This is why Peter writes his epistles from Babylon. We will unpack these things in other teachings. The second lesson Israel needed to learn was accepting proselytes at the gate as true believers in the eyes of God.
The commission the apostles received from Jesus were to be a witness of him, identifying those who believed with Jesus by baptism in holy spirit.
Was this the New Covenant as some have said?
Well, let’s read about the covenant and you decide for yourself what God is declaring in His Word.
Hebrews 8:9-13
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
This is the context leading into the verse in Hebrews 8 we read earlier. You can read the same in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Is the Word of God written in their hearts?
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Those who believed were steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine, not what God had written in their hearts. And even this, steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine, was only temporary. Consider Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, or the Grecians in Acts 6, or Simon in Acts 8, or Philip in Acts 8, or the leadership in Acts 11.
If God writes His Word in your heart so that, “…they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest…” then the apostles can stop teaching those who have believed and just witness to those who have not yet believed.
Further, God said he will remember their sin no more.
Daniel 9:24
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
The Revealing Administration has within it the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy. It is at the conclusion of this time that the world will see a “finish to the transgression and make an end of sins.” Until that time sins must be dealt with in some form.
For the Revealing Administration, the remedy is confession of sin.
James 5:15-16
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
1 John 1:8-10
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Obviously, sin is still an issue after the day of Pentecost for the nation of Israel, for all these verses and books are addressed to them.
Notice also, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, is the only feast that has a sin offering. It is then followed by an offering of two loaves. It is the only offering of all the feasts made with leaven. Remember leaven is used symbolically as influence. The Revealing Administration has the influence of the anti-christ and there is no greater influence to commit sin.
Where then is the New Covenant?
It waits for the return of our Lord and Savior when He begins his Kingdom of Heaven upon earth, the Millennial Kingdom Administration.
What about Christianity beginning on the day of Pentecost?
Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The Apostle Paul did not begin to teach the gospel of God’s grace until Acts chapter 13. Therefore, those who believed in Antioch, who were the first to be called Christians, were Judeans following the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven being preached by the 12 apostles.
Romans 16:7
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
How could someone be “in Christ” before Paul? By being steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine as in Acts 2:42.
Remember, the baptismal identification was to be in Christ verses being in John or something else.
1 Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
“Conversation” is the Greek word anastrophe and means conduct or behavior. Those who believed in Christ after the day of Pentecost according to the doctrine of the twelve apostles were to conduct their lives according to what Jesus Christ had taught the apostles. They were to be more Christ-like.
1 Peter 1:14-16
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [anastrophe = conduct, behavior]; Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy.
The final consideration from the opening of this teaching, did Acts 2 begin the Administration of Grace?
The first aspect to consider is Ephesians 3:9
Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship [oikonomia = administration, Critical Greek Text] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things. by Jesus Christ:
If the Administration of Grace was hidden in God, then we will not find it in any scripture other than the scriptures written by the Apostle Paul. For the meaning of Pentecost, a feast given to Israel, in the Law given to Moses, to be the start of the Administration of Grace is to proclaim God hid our administration in the Mosaic Law.
If the Word of God has any integrity, then our administration cannot be found in any scripture of the Old Testament.
We just finished reading how Israel is told to be holy.
Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The words “saints” is the same word translated “holy” in 1 Peter 1. The words “to be” are not in the text but added by a translator that does not know or understand the Administration of Grace. Each of the Church Epistles, meaning those addressed to believers in our administration, are all addressed identifying us as already “holy.”
What about sin?
Romans 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
When you believe in the Administration of Grace you are justified, something Israel will not see until the resurrection of the Just. We are justified NOW, and we have been, past tense, made as righteous as God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
How righteous is God?
Not one verse addressed to believers in the Administration of Grace speaks about us confessing sin for we are identified in Christ having received the nature of God.
Titus 3:4-5
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Remember Matthew 19:28 when Jesus speaks to his disciples about following him in the regeneration? That is exactly what Israel will do in the resurrection of the Just.
But believers in the Administrations of Grace have already died and were raised again with Christ. Our regeneration takes place the moment we confess and believe.
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
How are we, in the Age of Grace, dead to sin?
Romans 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized [baptizo = identification] into Jesus Christ [Christ Jesus in the text] were baptized [baptizo = identification] into his death?
We died when he died! We are identified with Jesus in his death.
Romans 6:4
Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism [baptisma = ritual] into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
What was our ritual?
Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
There is no confession of sin in these verses! We confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised him from the dead. That is our ritual. Then God goes to work. Immediately we are justified and made as righteous as God.
The Administration of Grace is the purpose of the ages.
Ephesians 3:9-11
and to enlighten all [with the knowledge of] what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things, in order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the assembly the all-various wisdom of God, according to [the] purpose of the ages, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Darby Translation
What God accomplished for Israel under their covenant relationship is wonderful and amazing, but it is not the Administration of Grace.
© Auxano Ministry 2021
All verses quoted in this teaching are from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.
A Journey through the Book of Acts
