THE CHURCH

Acts 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

In the lesson text, "They" refer to all men and women that, on the Day of Pentecost, received God's message of salvation from the apostles of Christ, believed it, accepted Jesus, the Son of God, as their Savior. "They" also, in response to that message, repented and turned away from their past manner of life, and were baptized for the remission of their sins. Having done so, "they" were added, by the Lord to the church that was established, on that Day of Pentecost, to receive those that were obedient to the will of God. Here we have the results of the first sermon in which God's plan of salvation was extended to all of the Jewish nation that were assembled in Jerusalem on that day. Once hearing and obeying God's will, referred to here as the apostles' doctrine, they clung to it, continued steadfastly in it, and refused to forsake it. At this particular time, the revelation of God's commandants for mankind, specifically His church, was still in the process of being revealed and established through the inspired messages given to the apostles of Christ by Holy Spirit of God. These first Christians continued in the apostle's doctrine as it continued to be inspirationally revealed to them.

On this Day of Pentecost, this new revelation, this New Covenant law of God, was revealed and obeyed by them. And those that were baptized into the body of Christ continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine. "They" also continued in fellowship with one another. Their common interest and desire, to seek a home in heaven through obedience to the will of God, resulted in a strong, united fellowship with one another. These first followers of Christ banded together in order to assist and encourage each other to become and remain steadfast in their new-found Christian relationship with God and with each other. And finally, as it says in the lesson text, "they" continued in breaking of bread, and in prayers. I think it is significant that these first Christians, in obedience to God's will, included teaching the word of God, fellowshipping with one another, breaking of bread, and praying as acts of worship. These same acts remain today in the public worship of our Heavenly Father.

The outward display of joy, by these multitudes assembled on this day of Jewish celebration, seem to have been silenced by the inspired message of the apostles. Certainly those that had heard, believed, repented of their past sinful life, and were baptized into the body of Christ, seemed to have been speechless and awe-struck. And fear came upon every soul as they witnessed the many wonders and signs (that) were done by the apostles. Notice how they immediately responded. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

These first Christians had come to Jerusalem from all parts of the world. No doubt they would have returned to their homes immediately following the Day of Pentecost, which concluded the Feast of the Passover. However, with their new-found faith, they evidently desired to remain there for a while. In order to do so, it seemed necessary to pool their resources together so they could sustain their needs for this extended interim period. The necessity of communal living was unique to the first church of Christ founded on this day in Jerusalem. However, it was only for the convenience of sustaining their needs for a short period of time - it was not a commandment of God that Christians throughout the world do so. There is no New Testament record of communal living among Christians in any other congregation of the Lord's church other than in this necessary instance in the church first established here in Jerusalem.

It is further stated of these first Christians that they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God. Being united together, praise and adoration toward God was freely expressed among all brothers and sisters in Christ. And having favor with all the people, many other souls accepted Jesus as their Savior and were baptized into His body. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.