Apostolic Salvation 4

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The presence and power of Jesus revealed in the Pentecostal theophany
establishes an eschatological  community of salvation.  This community
continues the ministry of Jesus through the proclamation of the name of
Jesus in mission and by a demonstration of Jesus' power.  The
proclamation of the name of Jesus is the "first major constituent of the
Word of God as preached by the apostles"  (O'Reilly 1987:93).  The use
of the name of Jesus establishes a continuity between the past ministry
of the earthly Jesus and the present ministry of the exalted Lord.
	The reign of God is the central theme in the ministry of the earthly
Jesus. The content of the proclamation of Jesus is the good news of the
reign of God (Lk 4:43; 16:16).  In the person of Jesus the reign of God
is a present reality (Lk 17:20-21).  The power of the reign of God is
demonstrated by healings, deliverance, and exorcisms (Lk 11:20;
13:10-17; 14:11-19).  The character of the reign of God is evidenced by
Jesus' concern for the poor, women, and children (Lk 6:20; 10:38-42;
18:16).  The preaching of the Gospel by Jesus and its visible and
tangible demonstration through miracles and social actions are signs of
the presence of the reign of God.
	The purpose of Luke in writing Acts is to show a continuity between the
ministry of Jesus and that of the heavenly Jesus through the Church
created on the day of Pentecost.  Luke begins Acts with the statement
that his first work, the Gospel of Luke, recorded "all that Jesus began
to do and teach"  in the days of His earthly existence until His
ascension (Acts 1:1).  The implication is that Acts is to record the
continuing presence of Jesus in ministry.  The risen Jesus is now
present through his Spirit.  Although the expression "the Spirit of
Jesus" is utilized only once in Acts, (16:7), it is reflective of the
Jesus centered theology of Luke.  God who was manifested in the Old
Testament through the Spirit, is now revealed in Jesus.  The Spirit of
God which at times in the Old Testament is portrayed as an impersonal
force, is now identified with Jesus.  "From now on, the Spirit will
always be the Spirit of Jesus, carrying to completion what he had begun
to do and teach"  (Neill 1976:125).  The power and character of the
reign of God evidenced in the life and ministry of Jesus is to be
continued in the life and ministry of the new people of God created by
the Spirit.
	The proclamation of the name is one way way Luke demonstrates the
continuity between the ministry of Jesus and that of the new community. 
In Acts the proclamation of the reign of God has been replaced by the
proclamation of Jesus.  The proclaimer of the reign of God becomes the
proclaimed.  The work of redemption accomplished by Jesus and its
present significance for all of humankind now constitute the essential
content of Christian proclamation.  The reign of God is no longer a mere
theological phrase.  "There is now a name and a human face"  (Newbigin
1981:32).  This is the name and face of Jesus!  The message of the reign
of God cannot be separated from the person, presence, and power, i.e.
name, of Jesus.  In Acts the phrases are used synonymously.  Philip
"preached the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus
Christ" (Acts 8:5,12).  During his ministry to Rome Paul "declared to
them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus" and is
said to have "preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord
Jesus Christ"  (Acts 28:31).  Throughout Acts new converts profess faith
in Jesus as Lord and are baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:14;
10:48; 16:31; 19:5).  The baptismal confession of faith that Jesus is
Lord is the equivalent of the acknowledgment of Jesus as King and is the
point of entrance into the realm of His Kingdom (Kusmic 1988:525).
	The Church continues in the ministry of Jesus through the proclamation
of the "name".  The reign of God which was present in the person of
Jesus is now present through the proclamation of His name.  Christian
life and ministry in Acts is patterned after the life and ministry of
Jesus.  The preaching of the Gospel is accompanied by signs, wonders,
and miracles (Acts 2; 3; 8; 9; 10; 12; 19; 28)  The experience of the
baptism in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the breakdown of social
barriers between young and old, men and women, rich and poor, Jews and
Gentiles, and Christians and the disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 2;
10; 19).  In the presence of God differences of gender, class, and
culture are eliminated.  The experience of the Spirit produces
demonstrable social and ethical actions by the Church.  The theophanic
Pentecostal event accompanied by a revelation of the "name" in both word
and sign is repeated throughout the book of Acts during the course of
missions.  "The name is...indicative of the living power of Jesus at
work in the church" (Marshall 1970:179).