A Church We Wish to Be – Acts 2:36-47

In Acts 2:36-47 we see the beginning of the true Christian church. In verse 47 we see the goal and result of a truly redeemed and biblical Church, ‘And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.’ At Bible Community Church, our desire is not just to grow numerically but growing with true saved believers. There is no guarantee of growth because God causes the growth (1 Cor 3:6-7) but there are timeless principles from the early church we be good for us to follow.

How did the early church start?

The church started with repentance. Repentance is the most important thing. In Acts 2:36 Peter indicted the people as murderers. They were perpetrators in Christ’s crucifixion. We are also murderers. In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus teaches that any type of anger is a murder. Romans 5:12, Eph 2:1. We are all sinners, that’s why we sin, and why we must first repent.

When they heard, they were pierced to the heart. Their sin was exposed and they felt their guilt and shame by the Holy Spirit. Like a water balloon pricked with a needle, their sin came bursting out. The cried out in desperation, ‘What shall we do?’ This wasn’t a fleeting guilt or a guilt easily brushed aside. It was a guilt wrought by the Holy Spirit. ‘What shall we do?’ was an admission of guilt and a surrender to the consequences.

Peter said to them, ‘Repent’. True repentance is an act of the heart. (Psalm51:16-17) Repentance means turning away, which consists of realizing your old ways are evil (Isaiah 55:7, Ephesians 2:2-3) and forsaking them. However, repentance is not just stopping immoral deeds, that’s just moral reform. True Repentance is turning away from sin and turning into Christ. Jesus paid the full penalty for our sins. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. Repentance is trusting the work and person of Christ. Our sin demands our death, yet Jesus died on our behalf, so our repentance can only redeem if it is in Christ. (1 Cor 15:1-4) The fruit of repentance is a change from before and after. The repentant no longer live for self but live for Christ. By the process of repentance, a true Christian knows the true horrifying nature of sin and will turn to the one who saves them from it, Jesus Christ.

How was the early church built?

After a genuine repentance, the early church was devoted, committed, even risking their lives for the following principles. The following four principles never change for the church.

1. The Apostles’ teaching (God’s word): The true believer loves God’s word and experiences their relationship through the reading and practicing of it (Psalm 119:2). The Holy Spirit uses God’s word to build the Church. You must see God Himself in the written Bible to sustain your faith.
2. Fellowship: Fellowship comes from the Lord, from the relationships in the Trinity. As a church, Biblical fellowship comes from Biblical understanding. Fellowship is companionship, sharing and being united, working together, being transparent, and stewardship of one another.
3. Breaking bread (Lord’s supper): The table is the picture of Christ and the church remembers its Savior. It reminds us that Jesus is with us and convicts us to live for Him pursuing sanctification because of His redeeming sacrifice.
4. Prayer: Knowing that God is omnipotent, omniscient sovereign and good, then we should always pray. Prayer is our humility and walking according to God’s will. This is how our Lord prayed (Luke 5, Psalm 116:3-4, Luke 18:7). We must realize God hears our prayers and answers them (Matthew 15:27-28). The church is full of the weak and helpless which is why we devote ourselves in prayer to the almighty God.

How did the early church live?

They enjoyed holy fear and wonder (Acts 2:43). But how are we to experience this exciting environment without miracles? By faith through the Bible. The willing Christian can see what God is doing every day as they read God’s word. The Bible is more exciting and more powerful than miracles because miracles cannot save people but God’s word does. This is a serious problem in the church. How long will church remain routine without the awe of God? People are changed by the presence of God and His word.

The early church also practiced what they learned (Acts 2:44-45). They helped each other (Acts 2:46) and they were of one mind. They wanted to be together and they risked their lives worshipping together. Unlike what is going on in the current lockdown where churches are willingly keeping their congregations at home without any community. The early church shared everything together, truly loving one another.

The early church was always praising God; it was their lifestyle. Their praise was such a stark contrast to their lives before repentance. They went from shame to praising God because in this world, there is no comparison or competition to the gift of redemption (Romans 8:32). As believers, we too, must be satisfied with Christ and have lives filled with praise, otherwise we debase God and His complete salvation.

The early church had favor in the sight of everyone. Not they were worldly or like the world, but because of their genuine love and sanctification. They were so different from the world that the world was interested.

At Bible Community church, we desire to be a part of the growing Church. It is our desire to apply the principles here and experience the work of God.