Acts

I always get a little excited when we start a new book.  The past 5 months we've stuck with this reading challenge daily...and surprisingly I've only had a couple times where I had to play catch-up.  I'm encouraged to know that you're still going through this with me!

Acts was written by Luke as a sequel to the Gospel.  My Bible describes it as not just an historical record of the early church, but a theological reference to living examples of the work of the Holy Spirit, church relationships and organization, the implications of grace, and the law of love.

This first chapter, in verses 4-5, mentions the Trinity.  I wanted to write what my study notes say about this, because I know sometimes it's hard to grasp the idea of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and what exactly the difference is.  So here it goes...I did paraphrase a little because it was a little long:

If Jesus had stayed on earth, his physical presence would have limited the spread of the gospel, because physically he could have only been in one place at one time.  After he was taken up into heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent to be present everywhere with followers of Christ.  We receive the Holy Spirit (are baptized with him) when we receive Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:9)  The Spirit is the power of our new lives. (Gal 3:3, Phil 1:6).  He begins a life-long process of change making us more like Christ.  When we receive Christ by faith, we begin an immediate personal relationship with God.  The Spirit unites the Christian community in Christ...can be experienced by all, and he works through all. (1 Corinth 12:11, Eph 4:4).