In the last prophet of the Old Testament, God announced what would take place at the beginning of the New Testament (Mal 3:1). That was the first promise of the Old Testament to come to fulfillment with the heirs of the New Testament. It was fulfilled as the Lord sent His messenger ahead of His coming to prepare His way. In reference to John the Baptist, our Lord Himself said, “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” (Mat 11:10).

Luke summarized the purpose of the ministry of John the Baptist: “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. ... and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Lk 1:16-17; Mat 17:12-13).

All those who found favor with God at the first coming of Christ went to the River Jordan, believed the divine message, and were baptized. All who believed what John the Baptist said, namely, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and withfire …” (Mat 3:11), surely gathered in Jerusalem because there the promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit came to fulfillment.

The 120 were the first to experience the fulfillment when they gathered in the upper room, as the risen Lord proclaimed it in Acts 1:4-5 once again before His ascension: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Peter gave an account of the happenings for the people who had rushed together and explained in regard to the Redeemer: “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33). On the same day, about three thousand souls were added to the Early Church (Acts 2:37-41).

On the founding day of the New Testament Church, Peter also pointed to the promise of the Old Testament in Joel 2: “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh …” (Acts 2:16-17a). We are still living “in the last days” and therefore may likewise refer to the same promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The following still applies to all those who now believe the message of the full Gospel, repent of their sins, and are baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ: “… and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38-39).

As at the beginning, all true believers still experience even today what God promised: the conversion to Christ; the forgiveness of their sins; the renewal; the new birth; and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, all the way to the sealing by the Holy Ghost. Our brothers and sisters of the Early Church experienced the full salvation by His grace. The apostle wrote about what was given unto those who accepted the Word back then: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph
1:13-14). That was followed by the admonition: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph 4:30).

In the last prophet of the Old Testament, God announced what would take place at the beginning of the New Testament (Mal 3:1). That was the first promise of the Old Testament to come to fulfillment with the heirs of the New Testament. It was fulfilled as the Lord sent His messenger ahead of His coming to prepare His way. In reference to John the Baptist, our Lord Himself said, “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” (Mat 11:10).

Luke summarized the purpose of the ministry of John the Baptist: “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. ... and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Lk 1:16-17; Mat 17:12-13).

All those who found favor with God at the first coming of Christ went to the River Jordan, believed the divine message, and were baptized. All who believed what John the Baptist said, namely, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire …” (Mat 3:11), surely gathered in Jerusalem because there the promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit came to fulfillment.

The 120 were the first to experience the fulfillment when they gathered in the upper room, as the risen Lord proclaimed it in Acts 1:4-5 once again before His ascension: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem,but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Peter gave an account of the happenings for the people who had rushed together and explained in regard to the Redeemer: “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33). On the same day, about three thousand souls were added to the Early Church (Acts 2:37-41).

On the founding day of the New Testament Church, Peter also pointed to the promise of the Old Testament in Joel 2: “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh …” (Acts 2:16-17a). We are still living “in the last days” and therefore may likewise refer to the same promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The following still applies to all those who now believe the message of the full Gospel, repent of their sins, and are baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ: “… and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38-39).

As at the beginning, all true believers still experience even today what God promised: the conversion to Christ; the forgiveness of their sins; the renewal; the new birth; and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, all the way to the sealing by the Holy Ghost. Our brothers and sisters of the Early Church experienced the full salvation by His grace. The apostle wrote about what was given unto those who accepted the Word back then: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph
1:13-14). That was followed by the admonition: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph 4:30).