This six-week series, Fundamentals: The Basics of the Bible, outlines the basics of Christian theology, helping congregation members understand the main points of salvation history as shown in the Bible. From the fall of humankind to now, God had a design to bring humanity back to himself so we might know him for eternity.
In the first two chapters of Acts, we read about two major church events. The first is the ascension, when Christ bodily leaves the earth and rises into the heavens. The second is the arrival of the Holy Spirit on earth. In John 16, Jesus tells his disciples that the Holy Spirit must come in his place to complete the work of Christ on earth. The presence of the Holy Spirit with us allows the work of the kingdom of heaven to continue on earth.
The work of the Holy Spirit doesn’t end at the moment we accept salvation. The Spirit goes on to assist us in our daily lives as we experience the process of sanctification, becoming more like Christ. Just as Christ speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit in salvation in John 16, he also speaks about the Holy Spirit passing on to us teachings and things to come that he hears from Jesus and the Father.