Our New-Covenant Birthright
Under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit is available to all, and our double birthright as children of God includes being saved from sins and baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Zac Poonen emphasizes the significance of the new covenant, highlighting that while the Holy Spirit was once limited to specific individuals under the old covenant, now He is available to all believers to reveal Jesus' glory and transform them. He points out that the New Testament begins with two essential promises: salvation from sins and baptism in the Holy Spirit, marking a new era in God's relationship with humanity. Poonen urges Christians to embrace their full birthright as children of God, which includes both salvation and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, as many have overlooked this vital aspect of their faith.
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Under the old covenant, the Holy Spirit came only upon certain people, to enable them to fulfil a specific task for God. Under the new covenant, however, the Holy Spirit can be received by all. He has come to show us the glory of Jesus and to transform us into His likeness.
John the Baptist pointed to two ministries that Jesus would fulfil - one was to take away sins and the other was to baptize people in the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:29,33). We need to experience both of these.
The first promise in the New Testament is: "He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). The second promise in the New Testament is: "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 3:11).
It's significant that the New Testament opens with these two promises. This was the beginning of a new era in God's dealings with man - the new covenant. This is then our double birthright as children of God - to be saved from our sins and to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And God certainly wants to give us our full birthright - not just half of it.
The first five books of the New Testament each begin with the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Mk. 1:8; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:33; Acts 1:5). Yet so many Christians have neglected to claim this for themselves.
Sermon Outline
- The Holy Spirit's Ministry Under the Old and New Covenants
- The Two Ministries of Jesus Christ
- Our Double Birthright as Children of God
- To be saved from our sins
- To be baptized in the Holy Spirit
Key Quotes
“He has come to show us the glory of Jesus and to transform us into His likeness.” — Zac Poonen
“And God certainly wants to give us our full birthright - not just half of it.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- We need to experience both the ministry of taking away sins and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
- We should claim our full birthright as children of God, not just half of it.
- The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a promise that is repeated throughout the New Testament.