The Chosen People | MAY 2020 5
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I
sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin,
righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no
The Greek term “parakletos,” which is translated as
“Helper,” literally means “one who is called alongside” to
help, strengthen, and partner with each child of God in their
life and ministry. The Holy Spirit regenerates us, then He
power of the Holy Spirit unleashed in the early sermons of
the book of Acts, especially through Peter’s preaching,
this
heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of
The Holy Spirit also convicts those who hear the preaching
to repent of their sin and be saved. It is God’s job, through
His Holy Spirit, to convince others that Yeshua is the Messiah
and, by believing in Him, we receive the gift of everlasting life.
The Global Harvest
of the earth”
The festival of Shavuot/Pentecost reminds us of God’s
plan to bring the good news of salvation through the Messiah
to the world. When God told Abram that He would bless the
world through his descendants, it was clear that God chose
the Jewish people not for the sake of the Jewish people alone
but to be a blessing to the entire world.
He said to Abram,
His blessing through the Jewish people is the gospel—
the good news of Messiah Jesus, who died and rose for our
sins. Perhaps this is why many view Pentecost as the birth
of the church—the mysterious new-covenant community
made up of Jews and Gentiles. In his letter to Ephesus,
This mystery Paul is describing is the joining together
of Jews and Gentiles in God’s family, set apart through the
Holy Spirit.
During Shavuot, two loaves of bread are baked and
remind us that Jews and Gentiles, sinners redeemed by God’s
grace through faith in Yeshua, are made acceptable to God.
returns!
Through the miracle of Pentecost, Jews and Gentiles are
the world for Jesus by the power of His Spirit. Together,
empowered by the Holy Spirit, we have a common mission—
By Melinda Nagy | Shutterstock.com
/Shutterstock.com