THE
Acts 2:37-47
The
This week we continue to look at the living church. Many churches are dead today. If we are not
careful we could join their number. So,
we want to make sure that we imitate the early church which was indeed a living
church!
CONVERSION - Vss. 37-41
Vs. 37 -
Notice the conviction here! Where does
that kind of conviction come from?
Yes, the Holy Spirit! Unless the
Holy Spirit convicts, there will be no true turning to Christ. Let us ask God
to pour out His Spirit when any preacher preaches!
Repent - They needed to change their attitude about Christ. They needed
to see Him as their Messiah.
They needed to be sorry for the sin of rejecting Him.
Today people need to repent and have a change of attitude about Christ.
They must turn from their sin and trust Christ.
They must turn from any other method of salvation and trust Christ
exclusively.
Be Baptized - In the early church Baptism immediately followed salvation.
When a person was publicly baptized, he was making a life-changing stand.
Opposition would often follow. In
my opinion, Baptism was a test to see if a professing believer was for real.
"for the remission of sins" - I hold that it was the belief in
Christ that gave the remission of sins.
The vast majority of salvation verses talk about faith in Christ alone as
the way to Heaven.
CONTINUATION - Vss. 42
When a person has been truly born again, he or she will continue in the
faith.
And notice how these new believers continued - steadfastly!
If there is anything that we believers, old and new, need it's
steadfastness.
1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover it is required in stewards, that a
man be found faithful.
It's so easy to give up! It's so easy to let down. What we need to do is
to continue or "hang in there" in these four areas.
·
Doctrine
Doctrine is teaching.
There is so much that we need to learn.
General Bible knowledge is important, but we need to take what the Bible
teaches us to do and to actually do it.
We need to be Bible Students like the Bereans.
Acts 17:11 - These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
In his writings Paul emphasizes the importance of doctrine.
2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.
·
Fellowship
Fellowship is sharing.
·
Breaking
of Bread
Why is the Lord's Table important to you?
·
Prayers
Now I believe the reference here includes praying together.
From Scripture and through experience, God has shown that He answers
corporate prayers.
We should be a people who pray together even if not everyone feels they
want to pray out loud.
CONDUCT - Vss. 43-47
·
Fear, Vs.
43
·
Miracles,
Vs. 43
·
Sharing -
Vss. 44-45
1 John
3:17-18 - But whoso hath this world's
good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us
not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
·
Unity - Vs.
46
·
Gladness -
Vs. 46
·
Praise -
Vs. 47
·
Testimony -
Vs. 47
·
Salvation -
Vs. 47