The arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost confirmed God’s promise of both forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus.

Peter preached the first sermon of Jesus’ Church in explaining God’s plan of salvation and the fulfillment of the Passover in Jesus’ death and resurrection, as well as the Pentecost and the promise of the Holy Spirit. The people present heard and believed and sought to be a part of the Faith that Peter had invited them to.

 Acts 2  (NLT)   

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Peter’s sermon focused on Jesus purpose as the Messiah, His rejection by His people and God’s fulfillment of his plan of salvation. Christian belief on this seems straightforward yet we often overlook the importance of Pentecost as a pillar of our faith.

•           We believe on Faith in the Virgin Birth – God
•           Jesus Life, Death and Resurrection – Jesus / God
•           Promise of the Comforter – Holy Spirit.

God’s confirmation in the Trinity ( Father, Son and Holy Spirit )

 These 3 beliefs in our Faith are clear markers of how we are a chosen people.

1 Peter 2:9  (NLT)

⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

If we are Chosen or in the translation “owned” by God then there should be some differences in how we confirm our Faith.

The easiest way to better understand this is to look at a few of the other major beliefs, their basis and the Faith they require.

• Hinduism – A belief system based on deeds with no specific founder. The soul is immortal and upon death It migrates into a new life here on earth and the life being better or worse is based on one lives in this life.

• Buddism – Living by 5 precepts set out by Siddhartha Gautma. After life based on deeds in adhering to the 5 precepts.

• Islam –  As prescribed by Muhammad in the Koran based on the 5 pillars of Islam. Deeds based Faith

• Judaism – Follow the Torah ( First 5 books of the Holy Bible ). Reject Jesus as a “False” prophet and do not recognize the Virgin Birth, Life, Death or Resurrection of Jesus. Follow Abraham, Isaac & Jacob and are still looking for the Messiah. Eternal Life based on Faith and Deeds under God’s judgement.

• Christian – Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah (or Christ) whom the prophets of Judaism had spoken about in the Hebrew Scriptures. Christians also believe that Jesus was the incarnation of God unique in history.  His death on the cross is seen as an act of atonement for all the evils that are done in the world and his resurrection from the dead is seen as offering new life and hope to the world. For Christians, the Spirit of God is present in the world working for forgiveness, healing, peace and moral challenge. The Spirit calls believers together for worship and community in the world-wide church.  Christians profess and live the Love and Peace of Jesus Christ.