THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST

THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST

Text: Acts 2:38-47.

Delivered on: July 6, 2008. Streetsboro.

Introduction.

1. Acts 2. Peter has just convinced many of those present that Jesus is the Son of God.

2. Furthermore, he points out that they had been the ones who crucified Him.

3. They are cut to the heart and want to know what they must do (to be saved).

4. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

5. “Remission” = a dismissal or release. So, Peter is telling them how to have their sins dismissed.

6. Let us see the results of Peter’s (and the rest of the Apostles’) sermon.

1. THE PROMISE IS FOR ALL. (Verse 39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
   
   
   

   1. God sent His son to die for Jew and Gentile.

      1. Hebrews 10:10. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

      2. John 3:16-17. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

      3. 1 Timothy 2:4-6. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
         
         
         

   2. The promise is for as many as the Lord will call.

      1. Who does the Lord call?

      2. Is it just a select few? Does God pick and choose who is going to be saved?

      3. There is a man-made doctrine called Unconditional Election which is the belief that God does pick and choose who will be saved.

         1. Some believe that Paul teaches this in Ephesians 1:4-5. Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

         2. To make this passage teach Unconditional Election makes it contradict what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:4.

         3. Ephesians 1 teaches that God has predestined His church to be saved. It says nothing about who is going to be part of that church. That is our free will.

      4. God’s call comes from the gospel. 2 Thessalonians 2:14. To which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

      5. That call goes forth into all the world. Mark 16:15. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
         
         
         

2. THEY GLADLY RECEIVED THE WORD. (Verses 41, 47) 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
   
   
   

   1. People receive the word in a number of different ways.

      1. Sometimes, it makes them angry. Acts 7:57-59. Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

      2. Sometimes, it makes people sad. Matthew 19:22. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

      3. Sometimes it is received gladly. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

         1. These people were truly converted.

         2. We can tell by their actions (which we will see soon).
            
            
            

   2. Their gladly receiving the word led them to…

      1. Pray the sinner’s prayer???

      2. Join the church of their choice???

      3. Ask Jesus into their heart???

      4. Be baptized!!

      5. How can anyone deny the necessity of baptism?

      6. Let us ask the question: “Added to what?”

         1. They were added to the church when they were saved (v.47).

         2. However, the wording of verse 41 makes it sound as if there were already some who were saved.

            1. I am of the firm belief that the disciples and others who had received John’s baptism (while it was still valid) did not have to be baptized again.

            2. Those who were baptized under John’s baptism while it was valid, were baptized for the remission of sins. Mark 1:4. John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

            3. Hence, they had already been added to the church by God.

      7. “Church” = the called out.

         1. The church is made up of people who have been called out of the world by the gospel.

         2. The people hear that call and receive it gladly.

         3. It is logically impossible to be a Christian and not be a part of the church!

         4. If your sins have been forgiven, the God adds you to the church.

         5. Sadly, many have the idea that they can be independent Christians.

         6. Not possible! Hebrews 10:24-25. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
            
            
            

   3. Sometimes though, the word can be received gladly and then fall away.

      1. Trials cause many to fall. Matthew 13:20-21. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

      2. Divided loyalties cause some to fall. Matthew 13:22. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
         
         
         

3. THEY CONTINUED STEADFASTLY. (Verse 42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
   
   
   

   1. “Steadfastly.”

      1. Pros – toward.

      2. Kartereo – to be strong.

      3. Hence… to be strong toward someone or something.

      4. Means to be continually steadfast with a person or thing, to endure, or persevere.
         
         
         

   2. They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.

      1. Doctrine = teaching.

      2. Doctrine is important!

      3. 1 Timothy 1:3-4. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ⁴ nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

      4. 1 Timothy 4:1. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

      5. 1 Timothy 4:6. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

      6. 1 Timothy 4:13. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

      7. 1 Timothy 4:16. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

      8. Try to tell Paul that doctrine is not important!
         
         
         

   3. They continued steadfastly in fellowship.

      1. I think that a lot of times, we think of fellowship simply as a time when we get together and have a meal.

      2. “Fellowship” is both a noun and a verb.

         1. As a noun, it means to be in communion, to share in common.

         2. As a verb it means to have a share in, or to give a share to. Philippians 4:15. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

      3. We will talk about some manifestations of this fellowship in our next point.
         
         
         

   4. They continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread.

      1. The term “breaking of bread” can mean either partaking of the Lord’s Supper or partaking of a common meal (v.46).

      2. A form of speech is here used called metonymy; where a part is stated for the whole.

      3. The fact that verse 42 mentions breaking of bread with prayers and doctrine, it seems that it is referring to the Lord’s Supper.

      4. They partook of it on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7. Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
         
         
         

   5. They continued steadfastly in prayer.

      1. 1 Timothy 2:1-3. Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.

      2. Philippians 4:6-7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
         
         
         

   6. In verse 42, we have 3 of the 5 acts of worship listed. Verse 47, with “praising” contains the fourth. Verses 44-45 contain the fifth.
      
      
      

   7. Do we realize the importance of these things???
      
      
      

4. THEY WERE TOGETHER. (Verses 44-45) Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
   
   
   

   1. “Together” = for the same.

      1. They were for the same things.

      2. They had the same goals and desires.
         
         
         

   2. This togetherness manifested itself through generosity and love.

      1. 1 John 3:18. My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

      2. They saw to one another’s needs.

      3. James 2:15-17. If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
         
         
         

   3. How are we about seeing to one another’s needs?

      1. In order to be able to help one another, we have to be “together.”

      2. I can’t help a brother or sister if I don’t know that they need help.

      3. We need to make time to be TOGETHER with our spiritual family!

      4. Many times the need will be physical but just as often the need is emotional.

      5. Let us not forget what pure religion is. James 1:27. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
         
         
         

5. THEY WERE OF ONE ACCORD (Verse 46). So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
   
   
   

   1. “Accord” = homos – same + thumos – mind. To be of the same mind.
      
      
      

   2. This is a necessity for Christ’s church.

      1. 1 Corinthians 1:10. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

      2. Philippians 2:1-4. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

      3. Philippians 3:16. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

      4. Philippians 4:2. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

      5. Psalm 133:1. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
         
         
         

   3. We cannot be servants of Christ and espouse the belief that division among God’s people is acceptable.

      1. In this chapter, we read of the establishment of the church.

      2. Christ established only one church!

      3. He desires His people to be of one mind.

      4. Hence, denominationalism is wrong.

      5. Let us go back to being just Christians.

Conclusion.

1. We need to follow the example of the first church.

2. They received the word gladly.

3. They continued in the word.

4. They were together.

5. They were of one mind.