Perspectives on Pentecost (6)

“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death…” (Acts 2:24a, NASB).

“God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death…” (Acts 2:24a, ESV).

The Greek word translated above as “agony” and “pangs” is “birth-pains.” Why did Peter use this term in Acts 2:24?

It is, I think, a term that signifies the bringing forth of a new season, a new age, a New Man. It is also a term that can signify the passing away of an age, a season, an old creation. Consider its use in the following:

“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” (1 Thess.5:1 - 3, NASB).

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Matthew 24:4 - 8, NASB).

“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.” (Revelation 12:1 - 2, ESV).

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:19 - 23, ESV).

The New Man that came forth on Easter morning has “abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” (2 Timothy 2:10). Adam was left in the ground, for Jesus Christ was the Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). Those who come into a relationship with Jesus Christ experience the Great Transfer from Adam into Christ (Romans 5:12 - 21). We no longer trace our geneology back to Adam, but rather to Christ; this is one of many reasons why the New Testament terms “in Christ”, “together with Christ”, “with Christ” are critical to our understanding of the redemptive work of the Trinity in our lives and in the life of the Church. We have been invited into an organic reality in the Trinity, into union with God.

When Christ ascended into the heavens to be at the right hand of the Father, redeemed humanity ascended with Him, raised together with Him (Ephesians 1:20; 2:6), and Christ acknowledges us as His brothers and sisters:

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying,
“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”
And again,
“I will put My trust in Him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.” (Hebrews 2:11 - 13, NASB).

How sad when God’s people are robbed of their identity in Jesus Christ, when they are kept outside the veil of the Holy of Holies which was torn in two when Jesus died on the Cross. How sad when God’s people function and think as if they are still under the Levitical system of worship with its constant reminder of sins Sunday after Sunday, year after year. How sad when they live outside the Throne Room of their Father, never knowing how He yearns for them to come to Him - not as sinners, not as slaves, not as second - class citizens of His Kingdom, but as His sons and daughters.

Jesus Christ suffered birth pains as He was bringing forth the sons and daughters of His Father, as the First Adam was passing away and as He, our Last Adam, was bringing an end to the first creation and bringing forth a New Man in the heavens and the earth. The Incarnation was incarnating; the Birth was birthing, and the Book of Acts is demonstrating the continuing Incarnation of Jesus Christ on earth in His Body.

Why are we afraid to accept the glorious salvation and inheritance that our Father has given us in Jesus Christ?

We have received the Spirit of sonship, not of slavery, and the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8:12 - 17; 1 John 4:13). We are a supernatural people, a people born of the Holy Spirit - why do we run the race of life with cinder blocks in our pants? With heavy backpacks strapped to our shoulders? Why do we fear liberty and freedom in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17 - 18; Galatians 5:1)?

We are living in a “Christian” Jim Crow environment. Even though Jesus Christ has suffered birth pains for us, even though He has set us free to live as the sons and daughters of His Father, we are denying Christ’s Emancipation Proclamation and are kept under the functional slavery of a Levitical-minded sin-management system. At a time when our generation desperately needs to hear and see the Gospel, a message of hope and liberty and destiny and purpose, God’s people are earth-bound, having our thinking and lives rooted in earthly cities rather than in the heavenly Jerusalem - the City of God.

Who will proclaim liberty to the captives? (Luke 4:14 - 21).