The miracle of the Day of Pentecost was a signal that this new dispensation of Grace was going to be much more powerful than the previous five dispensations! In studying the dispensation of Innocence, we learned that the spirit of Adam died when he disobeyed God’s Commandment by eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Because of Adam’s sin, this spiritual death was passed on to each generation (Romans 5:12). This is why we do not have to teach our children to lie or disobey, it just seems to come naturally, because our children have dormant spirits passed on to them with the debt of sin that they inherit from our fathers. Romans 3:23 teaches us that “all have sinned,” even us today, because Adam’s sin was passed down through the generations! While the next few dispensations (Conscience, Human Government, Promise, and Law) provided a way for a man to find favor with God, the “rebirthing” or regeneration of man’s now dead dormant spirit was not provided. This regeneration did not happen because of imperfect sacrifices of lambs and goats, but Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, became the perfect sacrifice and paid the price for sin! This perfect sacrifice fulfilled the law and enabled for the first time since before Adam’s fall, that man could have the relationship with God that he was created to have: man’s spirit could now be regenerated. Man can now be born again! When a person receives the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues this regeneration is exactly what is taking place!

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus, Paul addressed what exactly happens when a person receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It is a washing of “regeneration,” in other words a new life is begun! The Dispensation of Grace is unlike the previous dispensations because it includes the revival of man’s spirit! Notice that Paul mentioned that he was too sinful in nature, but God through His mercy saved Paul by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Until a person receives the gift of the Holy Ghost, they still possess a dead, dormant spirit, but when God’s Spirit comes into a person’s life, it “renews” that person’s dead spirit and brings new life! This is why Jesus referred to the Holy Ghost as the “breath and wind of God, living water, and the second birth.” The Holy Ghost brings a change in our lives that cannot be equaled by any other experience. Believing in God and His Word will change us somewhat as we begin to follow God’s Word closely. Baptism in Jesus’ name will also change us by removing the weight of sin from our lives, but the greatest change comes after the Holy Ghost comes into our life!

Remember Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well in Samaria? Jesus told her about the soon coming hour when people would be able to worship God in a way that they had never possessed before: in spirit and in truth. To worship God in truth, we must realize who He really is. To worship God with our spirit, we must have the Spirit of God in our lives to regenerate our dead, dormant spirit! God is not seeking people to just worship Him, but a people that will worship Him in spirit (our spirit) and in truth. Many people attend churches and worship God in some form or fashion, but what God really desires, what He is seeking for, is for people to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The only was we can worship God in spirit is to have our own dead spirit revived through the infilling of the Holy Ghost. As we go through the events of the early church, we will see that every time someone received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance just as in the beginning. We must have the Day of Pentecost experience in our lives to fulfill the requirements of the Dispensation of Grace!

In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John chapter 3, Jesus made a startling statement! “Except a man be born of water AND of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” We know that the Spirit of God was not given until after Jesus had died and rose again (John 7:39), so Jesus was talking about the coming Dispensation of Grace. Being born of the water refers to water baptism in Jesus’ name. Being born of the Spirit is a reference to receiving the Holy Ghost into our life just as on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus said that both were a necessity to entering the kingdom of God! Not only are the words of Peter in Acts 2:38 relevant for us today, but they are necessary to be saved today because we are still living in the Dispensation of Grace. Before moving on in our study, let’s look at how the Dispensation of Grace and Peter’s message in Acts chapter 2 fulfilled Jesus’ analogy of the second birth in John chapter 3.

We have already discussed at great lengths at how Jesus’ favorite method of teaching was to use a natural example that everyone could understand and apply it to spiritual concepts. For every law in nature, there is usually a spiritual parallel. Jesus chose to teach Nicodemus on the Spiritual birth by pointing out the parallels with the natural birth. Nicodemus was thinking that Jesus was meaning that he had to be born of his natural mother again, but Jesus was merely showing how that the spiritual birth would be modeled after the original birth. This is why Jesus referred to it as being “born again.” When a woman conceives in the natural, a seed from the man is placed inside her. The new life that will eventually come is a product of this process. When a person hears and receives the Word of God, spiritually a “seed” is placed within that person (Matthew 13:1-23). The spiritual life that will eventually come is a product of this process. In the natural, a woman knows that the time of birth is near because the sack of water in which the baby is growing bursts. God made water very much a part of the natural birth process. Likewise, in the spiritual “second birth,” when a person obeys all of God’s Word and is baptized in water in Jesus’ name, water is present. When a mother’s water sack breaks does not mean that the birth is completed however, and neither is water baptism the stopping point for the second birth. When the baby is finally born to it’s earthly parents, there is a sign that allows everyone in the immediate area to know that the baby is healthy and alive. What is the sign? The baby begins to cry; we hear the sound of new life. The cry is not the new life but rather a sign to the mother and father that the baby is normal and breathing. In the spiritual birth, when the Holy Ghost comes into our being to bring to life our dead, dormant spirit, there is a sign that allows us and our heavenly Father to know that every thing is normal and healthy we begin speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. This happened on the Day of Pentecost, and every other time the Bible records and individual(s) conversion (Acts chapters 2, 8, 10, 19 -- we will study these stories in detail as we come to them). The tongues are NOT the Holy Ghost but are a sign that the Holy Ghost has come INTO a person’s life. Speaking in tongues when we are “born again” is the “sound thereof” that Jesus referred to in John chapter 3.

Many people today claim that the infilling of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues is only an added blessing and is not necessary to be saved during the Dispensation of Grace, but the Bible states otherwise. Jesus said that we must be born of the water AND of the Spirit (John 3:5). When the recipients of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost asked what they MUST do, Peter responded by telling them how to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-39). Paul in his letter to Titus said that he was “saved” by the renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:3-5). Jesus told His faithful disciples and family to go no further in their ministries and lives until they had received the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4-5). Paul also discussed another important reason why we must receive the Holy Spirit in our lives in his letter to the Roman church:

In verse 9 Paul states that if a person does not have the Spirit of Christ within them, then they are not Christ’s. So to belong to God, we must have His Spirit within us. Notice that Paul is talking about the Spirit of God dwelling IN us, not UPON us. Many people do not realize the difference. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God rested UPON many people (the prophets, the various kings, etc...). Not until the Holy Ghost was poured out do we find people able to receive the Holy Ghost INSIDE them. The Holy Ghost coming UPON a person will affect their behavior somewhat but will not bring new life WITHIN them. For example, it is possible for a person to be in a service where God is being freely praised and feel the presence of God UPON them but still reject God from coming into their life. Everywhere in scripture a person received the Holy Ghost INSIDE them they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance which is that “sound thereof” spoken of by Jesus and prophesied by the prophets.

Paul goes on to give another important reason why a person must have the Spirit of God INSIDE of them. Paul states in verse 11 that “if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells IN us, then that same Spirit will one day quicken our earthly bodies.” Paul then again states that is by God’s Spirit that “dwelleth IN you.” What is Paul talking about? He is talking about the future second coming of Jesus Christ when He comes back for His Church (referred to by Bible scholars as the “Rapture”). Remember that every dispensation begins with a promise and ends with a judgment, and the Dispensation of Grace is no exception. The dispensation began with the promised Holy Ghost outpouring, and will end with the Rapture of the Church. When the Rapture of the Church takes place, our mortal bodies will undergo a change into an immortal body that will live forever (I Corinthians 15:51-55)! We will then rise to meet Jesus in the clouds. What determines whether or not we go in this blessed event? Whether or not we have God’s Spirit INSIDE US (Romans 8:11)! We must have this Day of Pentecost experience in our lives because we must go in the Rapture of the Church in order to be saved during the Dispensation of Grace!

Before moving on in our study, let’s take a basic look at what exactly a person must do to be saved under the Dispensation of Grace. The Rapture of the Church has not taken place yet, so we must still follow these guidelines also. Remember how every dispensation’s requirements built upon another with each new dispensation building upon the other? The Dispensation of Grace is first dispensation to add the regeneration of man’s dead, dormant spirit. God does this when we receive the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as on the Day of Pentecost. Let’s see how that the Holy Ghost helps us to fulfill all other Biblical requirements:

In the Dispensation of Innocence, all man had to do was obey God’s Word, and we must still obey the Word of God today. Today we have much more of the Word of God available to us in the form of the Scriptures. We have been blessed to live during the Dispensation of Grace, where God has revealed himself to the church. We may have more scripture to understand and obey, but we also have more blessings and promises!

Unlike Adam and Eve, we have the Holy Spirit inside to guide us in obeying God’s Word! The Holy Ghost makes obeying God’s Word much easier!

In the Dispensation of Conscience, man had to learn to listen to their conscience:

If we walk after the Spirit, the Spirit will guide us and help us through every situation of life! Unlike Cain, Abel, Enoch, and Noah, if we have the Holy Spirit inside of us, we have the very Spirit of God speaking through our consciences! Man also had to have faith that God would do exactly what He had promised to do in order to be saved. We, today, must also believe that God can feel us with His Spirit when we obey what He said that we must do! If we do our part, God will do His! If the disciples had not obeyed Jesus’ commandment to go tarry in Jerusalem, then their would have not been a pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Because the disciples did their part, God did His! How many people today have never received the Holy Ghost power in their life simply because they have not done their part?!

In the Dispensation of Human Government, man was commanded to go forth, scatter, and replenish the earth.

After the Holy Ghost comes upon us, we are commanded to go forth and “replenish” the earth again, this time with spiritual children by being witnesses of the difference that the Spirit of God has done in our lives!

Man also had to obey Human Government and submit themselves to a higher authority:

Peter and John understood that they were to be under human authority except when it conflicted with the Word of God. When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we become responsible to spiritual authority in addition to human authority. We should obey the laws of the land as long as they do not contradict God’s Word.

When the Holy Ghost came the institution of the church was born. When we are filled with God’s Spirit, we become a part of the Apostolic church and should submit ourselves to the spiritual authorities in our lives. God ordained the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

During the Dispensation of Promise man had to believe that God’s promise were for him.

We must believe that the promises of God are still for us today!

Man had to also pay tithes under the Dispensation of Promise:

Jesus was not condemning the Pharisees for paying tithes but rather that they had omitted judgment, mercy, and faith. In fact Jesus told them that they “ought” to pay tithes! Some people do not grasp the blessings in paying tithes and try to say that we are not commanded to pay tithes under Grace and that is was just for Abraham and Law. We do know that Abraham paid tithes (Genesis 14:20). If we have received God’s Spirit working inside our lives through our faith in God’s Word, then we are considered children of Abraham (Galations 3:5-7). Jesus said that if we are the children of Abraham, then we will do the works of Abraham which included paying tithes (John 8:39). Also Paul taught extensively that we were to support the church and ministry with our finances:

The only plan for money and offerings coming to the ministry in the Word of God, was through paying tithes and offerings (Numbers 18:24). Paul told Timothy that the “love of money” was the root of all evil, causing many to err from the faith (I Timothy 6:10). We must not fall into the trap of not giving God His part of our finances. A “tithe” means a “tenth” of whatever we financially receive. An offering is giving beyond our first ten percent.

Abraham also had to separate himself from idolatry an heathen lifestyles during the Dispensation of Promise. Today we refer to this as holiness: separating ourselves from the world to become more pleasing to God.

We must have holiness in our lives and strive everyday to become more pleasing to Him!

Peter referred to the Spirit-filled church as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a HOLY nation, a people that should be different for the purposes of showing our praise and love for Jesus who has saved us! Our lifestyles, actions, appearances, and habits should all reflect our love for our Savior!

Also under the Dispensation of Promise, all males had to be circumcised:

Circumcision is now required of both male and female in the New Covenant, but it is now a spiritual circumcision called baptism! By being baptized in Jesus’ name, we are circumcised by the “circumcision of Christ.” When someone is circumcised physically, flesh is cut away and discarded. There is also blood present. When we are baptized our sinful flesh and past is cut away and discarded by the blood of Jesus Christ. This is why it is so important to be baptized “in the name of Jesus,” because it is His blood that cleanses our sins! On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached that baptism was for the “remission of sins.” “Remission” means forgiveness through cleansing. When a person truly repents, they die to their sins, but the sins are not removed from that person’s life until they are cut away through the spiritual circumcision act of baptism in water. Water baptism does not cause a regeneration of man’s spirit, however, the baptized person still must receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Under the Dispensation of Law, 613 commandments of the Mosaic Law were added to the requirements. We have already discussed them extensively in Lesson 6 of Dispensation Bible Study Part I so we will quickly do a review here. The Law was divided into three categories: Moral Law, Civil Law, and Ceremonial Law. The Moral Law includes the Ten Commandments and the various abominations against God. The Moral Law is still in effect today in Grace, and under Grace we are still expected to follow it’s precepts. The Civil Law were laws that related to the promised land and the governing of Israel. Subjects addressed in the Civil Law include the promised land boundaries, refuge cities, places of worship, etc... . We do not today live in the actual Land of Canaan so most of the Civil Law does not apply to us today. The laws of the nation of America and many other nations are based upon these laws. The Ceremonial Law is primarily found in the Book of Leviticus and outlines the various types of sacrifices, offerings, and procedures of the priests. The Ceremonial law applies to us in Grace but in a spiritual way. For example, instead of burning incense before the presence of God, we offer up a “sacrifice” of praise and worship:

Instead of giving a peace offering and eating it with the priest we come together in church services and other meetings with believers:

Of course the many trespass offerings for sin were fulfilled by the death of the Spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ upon the cross:

We celebrate the Passover by applying the blood of Jesus to our lives at Water Baptism. In Dispensation Bible Study Part I, we thoroughly discussed how Jesus completely fulfilled the Passover requirements. Jesus fulfilled the Day of Atonement requirements by first dying on the cross, and then ascending into heaven with His blood (See Lesson #20).

The Dispensation of Grace provided for the regeneration of man’s dead, dormant spirit by the infilling of the Holy Ghost. The Dispensation of Grace was the aim of all the other dispensations. That human beings could have their relationship restored with God and live with Him inside of them was what the people of the other Dispensations dreamed about:

Hebrews chapter 11 lists all of the heroes of faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and others. The chapter then goes on to state in verse 39 that these heroes of faith did not receive the promise! By receiving the Holy Spirit, we have received the promise for which they longed!

No longer does God dwell in temples made with hands! When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, our body becomes the temple of God! Jesus Christ had spent 3 and a half years with His disciples but He now resides inside His disciples. As we continue our study of the early church, remember that God wants to use you and I the same way!