The
Grace
of
Pentecost
by
Bishop
Sam
G.
Jacobs
The
Grace
of
Pentecost
is
part
of
the
essential
aspect
of
the
plan
of
God
and
of
the
paschal
mystery.
It is
rooted
in
the
vision
of
God,
which
is
explicitly
revealed
in
the
Letter
to
the
Ephesians.
"Praised
be
the
God
and
Father
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
who
has
bestowed
on us
in
Christ
every
spiritual
blessing
in
the
heavens!
God
chose
us in
him
before
the
world
began,
to be
holy
and
blameless
in
his
sight,
to be
full
of
love;
he
likewise
predestined
us
through
Christ
Jesus
to be
his
adopted
sons-such
was
his
will
and
pleasure--that
all
might
praise
the
glorious
favor
he
has
bestowed
on us
in
his
beloved"
(Eph.
1:3-6).
What
was
in
the
mind
of
God
in
eternity
became
a
fact
of
reality
in
time
through
the
creative
power
of
God.
Man
and
woman
by
nature
were
human
beings
and,
by
grace,
sons
and
daughters
of
the
all-loving
God.
In
this
ideal
state
there
was
no
need
of
either
the
paschal
mystery
or
the
grace
of
Pentecost.
Unfortunately,
this
ideal
state
of
unity
and
love
was
shattered
because
of
the
misuse
of
the
gift
of
free
will,
which
resulted
in
the
introduction
of
sin
and
alienation
from
God
and
one
another.
Because
of
sin,
human
beings
lost
that
privileged
relationship
with
God.
Thus,
the
need
for
the
paschal
mystery
of
which
the
grace
of
Pentecost
is a
part.
Where
the
first
creation
did
not
respond
properly
to
the
grace
of
adoption,
there
was a
need
for a
new
creation,
not
through
annihilation
but
redemption
and
reconciliation.
This
new
creation
comes
through
the
paschal
mystery.
Jesus,
through
His
blood,
brought
the
forgiveness
of
sin
and
reconciliation
with
God.
The
Spirit
poured
out
upon
the
new
creatures
who
would
believe
and
accept
God's
plan.
As a
result,
we
became
a new
creation.
But
to
live
this
life
of
holiness,
blamelessness
and
fullness
of
love,
Jesus
and
the
Father
poured
out
the
Spirit
upon
those
who
would
believe
and
accept
God's
plan.
Thus,
the
role
of
the
Spirit
is to
sanctify
and
empower
those
who
are
redeemed
and
reconciled
so
that
they
may
witness
and
minister
as
disciples
of
Jesus
in
the
power
of
the
Spirit.
This
grace
of
Pentecost
was
first
experienced
by
Jesus
as a
foreshadowing
of
things
to
come
at
the
time
of
his
baptism
in
the
river
Jordan.
"When
all
the
people
were
baptized
and
Jesus
was
at
prayer
after
likewise
being
baptized,
the
skies
opened
and
the
Holy
Spirit
descended
on
him
in
visible
form
like
a
dove"
(Lk
3:21-22).
This
grace
of
Pentecost
was
officially
experienced
by
the
one
hundred
and
twenty
in
the
Upper
Room
in
Jerusalem
as
the
reality
of
God's
promises
and
plan.
But
this
grace
of
Pentecost,
in
the
words
of
Peter,
was
not
meant
just
for
them.
"It
was
to
you
and
your
children
that
the
promise
was
made,
and
to
all
those
still
far
off
whom
the
Lord
our
God
calls"
(Acts
2:39).
The
grace
of
Baptism
is
the
grace
of
redemption
and
the
sharing
in
God's
divine
life.
We
become
the
temples
of
the
Holy
Spirit
and
are
called
to
live
in
the
Spirit.
The
grace
of
Pentecost
is
the
activation
of
the
power
of
the
Spirit,
already
given
to us
in
Baptism
but
now
energized
and
released
for
ministry
on
behalf
of
the
Kingdom
of
God.
Through
this
gift
we
are
called
to
follow
the
lead
of
the
Spirit.
The
grace
of
Baptism
is
given
that
we
might
grow
in
holiness
as
disciples
of
Jesus.
The
grace
of
Pentecost
is
released
that
we
might
fulfill
our
mission
of
witnesses
for
Jesus
with
signs
and
wonders
as
our
credentials.
Thus,
through
this
special
favor
from
God,
we
will
be
able
to
fulfill
the
mandate
of
Jesus:
"I
solemnly
assure
you,
the
man
who
has
faith
in me
will
do
the
works
I do,
and
greater
far
than
these"
(Jn
14:12).
The
grace
of
Baptism
incorporates
the
individual
into
the
Body
of
Christ.
The
grace
of
Pentecost
empowers
the
individual
to
act
in
the
name
of
Jesus
on
behalf
of
the
Body
of
Christ
and
for
the
sake
of
the
upbuilding
of
the
Body.
The
grace
of
Baptism
enables
us to
say
"Jesus
Christ
is
Lord"
by
the
power
of
the
Spirit.
The
grace
of
Pentecost
enables
us to
exercise
the
gifts
of
the
Spirit,
to do
various
ministries
in
the
Spirit,
to
complete
the
works
of
the
Spirit,
all
of
which
are
directed
to
the
fulfillment
of
the
plan
of
God.
Since
God
wills
all
to be
saved,
so
the
grace
of
Baptism
is
meant
for
all,
even
though
not
all
will
accept
this
grace
or,
if
accepted,
not
all
will
respond
fully
to
it.
In
the
same
way
the
grace
of
Pentecost
is
meant
for
all,
though
not
all
will
receive
it,
or,
if
received,
may
not
understand
the
scope
of
the
grace
given
and
the
responsibility
incurred.
The
grace
of
Baptism
and
the
grace
of
Pentecost
are
given
once,
but
because
of
our
human
nature
need
to be
stirred
to
flame
again
and
again
so
that
the
full
intent
of
God
may
be
achieved
in
our
lives.
Such
was
the
understanding
of
Paul
to
Timothy
when
he
wrote:
"For
this
reason,
I
remind
you
to
stir
into
flame
the
gift
of
God
bestowed
when
my
hands
were
laid
on
you"
(2
Tim.
1:6).
