What lessons should we learn from the biblical Holy Day of Pentecost? There are many. One of the most important, revealed by Jesus Christ, is that Christians today can have a foretaste of life under the New Covenant, the covenant that will be offered to all human beings—not just a few “firstfruits” as is the case today—when the Kingdom of God is established on planet Earth.
The “Old Covenant”—the agreement God made with ancient Israel—did not include the granting of the Holy Spirit to all the Israelites. It included no promise of eternal life. The rewards God promised for obedience to the Old Covenant included physical health, prosperity, national safety and victory in battle (Deuteronomy 28:1–14). Failure to comply with the provisions of the agreement would result in poverty, sickness, war, national slavery and death (vv. 15–68).
This original contract between the Creator and His chosen people was unique in all history. Though it would not grant the Israelites God’s Spirit, it was the most marvelous set of promises any carnal nation could receive at that point in God’s plan for humanity. The Apostle Paul, even while extolling the benefits of the New Covenant, reminds us of this about the old, that “the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away” (2 Corinthians 3:7).
Even what Paul called the “ministry of death”—which warned Israel of its sins—was glorious. Yet we in God’s Church have been promised a far better and more glorious covenant, introduced to us by Jesus Christ when He came as the only begotten Son of His Father. That covenant, the New Covenant, was not for a particular ethnic group or nation, but rather would be offered to all whom the Father would call to become members of His royal family. A sign of this covenant would be the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. “How will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels” (vv. 8–10).
For those individuals who are not striving to practice obedience to the law of God, the Old Covenant—which Paul called the “ministry of condemnation”—is still their lot. Those who practice disobedience reap the consequence of that disobedience, receiving from God the penalty of that law. By contrast, Christ’s followers are commanded to put away sin, come out of the world and avoid fellowship with those whose corrupting lifestyle is contrary to the way Christ would have us live. “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3–4).
Paul made plain what must be done (and not done) if we are to partake fully of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them [those living according to the flesh] and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:14–18).
God’s Love Expressed
Some mistakenly assume that the Old Covenant—given to ancient Israel through Moses—did not express God’s love. In truth, however, it reveals how we are to relate to our heavenly Father and one another, so we can live in peace with both our Creator and neighbor. Sadly, just as a little child will often continue to misbehave after being punished for his misdeeds, Israel again and again would stray from God’s protection, seeking God only after calamity struck the nation. “In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works. Therefore their days He consumed in futility, and their years in fear. When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God” (Psalm 78:32–34).
Of course, just as with a little child who is sorry for being caught, rather than truly repentant, the Israelites would make a show of sincerity and give a surface impression of changing their ways, while still harboring rebellion in their hearts. “Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue; for their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant” (vv. 35–37).
Despite their continual backsliding, God never gave up on His plan to save them—and, indeed, to save all who would accept His covenant. “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” Therefore prophesy and say to them, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord’” (Ezekiel 37:11–14).
God created human beings with free moral agency. We can—and must—decide for ourselves whether to do good or evil. Yet, while God wants us to do good, He is not some tyrant eager to “zap” us when we fall short. He is merciful. “But He, [God] being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again” (Psalm 78:38–39). Why does God treat us this way? He has a plan for us. He cannot by force give us His holy and righteous character. Rather, He created us in such a way that our human weakness could be overcome through the indwelling of His own power, the Holy Spirit. By using the Holy Spirit, Christians have the power to surmount the obstacles caused by self, society and by Satan.
A Better Covenant
In this, the New Covenant surpasses the Old. Consider what Paul wrote about the two covenants. “For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord [living in us though His Spirit], are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:11–18).
The Logos—the Word of God—became flesh, and lived a perfect human life as Jesus Christ. He had the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34). His death and resurrection qualified Him to rule over the coming Kingdom of God, and opened the way for all of sinful mankind ultimately to have the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit and practice obedience to God’s holy and righteous law. Yet it is up to each of us whether or not we will do so. Those who are reading this article, and who have been baptized, have entered into a covenant to receive the Spirit and through that Spirit to receive the blessings of the New Covenant—culminating with entrance into the very Family of God upon the resurrection when Jesus Christ returns.
So, we need to ask ourselves as Christians: Are we “between the two covenants”? Or are we living the fullness of both covenants, through our obedience to the New—which in fact is what makes possible true obedience to the Old?
Ultimately, in the most basic sense, there are just two ways in which anyone can live—one way that leads to death, and the other that leads to eternal life. “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Those who have in this age accepted baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit have accepted God’s calling to prepare to become His actual sons, but it is up to each of us whether we will accept His offer zealously, whether we will accept it in a lukewarm manner, or whether we will turn away and reject that marvelous opportunity.
Between Two Opinions?
Why, then, does it seem that some are “straddling the fence” spiritually, resisting God’s command to obey Him? This is an age-old problem. “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21). Through the Living Church of God, this Elijah-like Work, God is asking us the same question today.
Unlike those who are blinded, we have no excuse. Those who are blinded—the majority of human beings alive today—exist without knowledge of God’s truth, unrepentant of breaking God’s law, and bereft of the Holy Spirit. Their way would lead to destruction and death, were it not for the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20).
We, however, have an opportunity even now to experience the blessings that have not yet been extended to most human beings. “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17–19).
We are not like that, anymore. Now we know better, our minds having been opened; having been granted the understanding of God’s plan for us through His mercy and grace. “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (vv. 20–24). True righteousness and holiness come from Christ living in us.
Until we become literal sons of God at the resurrection, even baptized Christians will continue to contend against the flesh. However, to the extent that we practice righteousness and yield to the Holy Spirit within us, we will find available the same power the Father gave to Jesus Christ. How can we gain that power? Christ told us plainly. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper [to] abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, [that] the world cannot receive… [which] dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:15–18).
If we fully surrender to God, tremendous power is available to Christians. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 10:7–8). We are even promised power to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Indeed, obedient Christians can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (Philippians 4:12–13).
We Need Christ
Certainly we must exert all our human strength and effort as we strive to obey God. But we who have the Holy Spirit must ask ourselves, are we vainly striving through nothing more than our pitiful human strength, like those under the Old Covenant? Or are we fighting the good fight with the essential help of the Spirit of God? We must not make the mistake of thinking that we can succeed on our own strength. We need Christ if we are to bear the fruit God seeks of us. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:5–8).
And what is the fruit of that obedience? Consider what Jesus said to the lawyer who came to Him asking what would be required of him. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. and the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40). Our Father in heaven never asks us to do the impossible. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
Why is this so? “For whatever is [begotten] of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (v. 4). As begotten sons of God, we have the Holy Spirit within us, through which we can have the very faith of Christ (Galatians 2:20). As we prepare to observe Pentecost, let us remember to stir up this amazing gift of God’s Spirit and be grateful for the New Covenant.