Author: Bible Community Church

Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? – 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Now I make known to you brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 1Cor 15:1-2

Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians to address some troublesome issues that were arising within the church. He confronted those who were despising him and rejecting his authority in the church as their leader and spiritual father in Christ. (4:14-16) To them, Paul wrote, “let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.” (1Cor 14:36-38) Another major issue- of which ch. 15 addresses- was that some were challenging the veracity of Jesus’ resurrection by denying the resurrection of the dead. (1Cor 15:12) They were attacking the very foundation of Christian faith, the source of Paul’s hope, the conviction behind the apostles’ untiring sacrifice to the churches. In response, Paul wrote this portion of Corinthians with one goal: to assure the church of the doctrine of Jesus’ resurrection. He presented four witnesses that testify of the resurrection, and we will focus on the first witness today- the church.

Before continuing in our ongoing focus on Jesus’ resurrection, one might ask, is the resurrection more important than the crucifixion? This question is illogical. Without the crucifixion, there can be no resurrection; without the resurrection, there is no salvation through Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus’ resurrection proves that we are forgiven through His crucifixion- it is the complete gospel. Our goal is for Christ’s death and resurrection to be believed upon not only in our minds, but in our hearts and our daily lives. (Lk 24:17-25)

How do you know the church’s testimony of the resurrection is true? The church is full of truth because Jesus is the head of the church. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Just as God can not lie, the church does not lie- the church must testify of what is true. (Col 1:18; 1Pet 2:22; 1Tim 3:15)

How do you know the resurrection is the church’s testimony? Apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian church in these verses. They all were unbelievers, who were transformed and converted to Christ through the gospel to become the church. What is the gospel? It is the message that God is holy, and we are not. God is just, and He will surely punish the ungodly. We live under the law, and by it we are hopelessly condemned, for the wages of sin is death. But God is also love. He sent His Son- God incarnate, Jesus Christ- into the world to be punished in our place by dying on the cross as our substitute. God accepted His total sacrifice by raising Him from the dead, so that all who believe and trust in Jesus are justified by His life and righteousness. The gospel prepared the Corinthians church to testify of Jesus’ resurrection, because the Holy Spirit convinced their hearts that Christ was alive. (Acts 10:39-42) They received the gospel- it took root in their hearts, and they counted the cost to follow Jesus. (Luke 14:28-34)

How do you prove the testimony of Jesus’ resurrection is true? The church proves that the resurrection is true as they stand firm in the gospel. On the cross, Jesus endured the most excruciating pain and suffering because of the joy set before Him- His resurrection. Likewise, the church endures and rejoices through suffering and persecution because of the resurrection. (Heb 12:2) The church is saved by the gospel, and they can not help but testify of the resurrection, because they’ve been saved from God’s wrath, judgment, and hell, and saved to God’s joy and glory. The church is saved and sanctified to walk with God in holiness.

What drives the church to testify? The church must hold fast to the word that was preached to them- the message of Jesus’ resurrection. We must cling to God’s Word and bear fruit with perseverance. (Lk 8:15) We are to not merely acknowledge that Jesus lived and died, but like Paul, we hold fast by asserting He’s alive, lest we believe in vain. (Acts 25:19) Claiming to believe the gospel without the lordship of Jesus is to believe in vain. Jesus warns us that there is no salvation in outward religiosity. (Matt 7:21-23)

True believers in the Corinthian church did not believe in vain. They believed and lived out the gospel as Christ’s church. This is important and applicable to us today. Let us hold fast to Jesus’ resurrection to testify to the world of the gospel that saves.

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The Church that the Risen Lord Builds, Part 5 – Acts 2:47

…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

The early Christian philosopher Tertullian once penned, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.” He believed that persecution grew and purified the church, as faith was refined and doctrine was soundly tuned. Persecution was commonplace to the early church in the book of Acts. The Roman state cruelly persecuted Christians because of their faith in Jesus Christ, but rather than responding with retaliation and war, the church eventually won Rome over by truth and love. How was this possible? The answer has been the theme of our current sermon series- the church thrived under persecution because it was built by the risen Lord.

We conclude this series with two final principles in v.47 that describe the practices of the church built by the risen Jesus.

The likability of the church… (“…having favor with all the people.”) We live in a social climate where the church is generally held in disdain. The public image of the church is so tarnished that so-called Christians say they love Christ, but hate the church. This is Satan’s deception, and it is vastly different from how the world used to view the church. The early church had favor- or grace- with all the people. These people were the ones who witnessed their conversion, and the transformation that took place in the life of every one who was converted to Christ. Even though they themselves did not believe, they saw Christians as being ethical and moral, and so they respected them. It is similar to the way Abraham was honored by his neighboring Gentiles who saw that God’s favor was with him as he continually practiced faith in all his dealings. (Gen 23:6-7; 15)

What does it mean to be likable? There is a type of likability that most modern day churches eagerly pursue. They seek to be likable to the world, using every means to look just like the world. They are ashamed of the gospel, and regard man over God and His truth. The early church did not do this. From the beginning of their new life in Christ, they knew they were separate from the world. We must know that the church will be hated by the world. The only reason why the church of Acts was likable to the world is found in v.47. The church was praising God, and was having favor with all the people. Believers praised God because they knew the God who raised Jesus from the dead. (Rom 10:9; Acts 4:10). Those who know God love Him, resulting in obedience and fear. The early church loved the Lord with all their heart, and they therefore loved their neighbor as themselves. (Lk 10:27) This is why outsiders liked the church- the church’s love for God resulted in a sacrificial love for others. (1Jn 3:16)

The demonstration of God’s activity… (“And the Lord was adding to their number…”) This is a natural outcome to the church’s likability- people like them, and so they listen to what the church has to say. Christians must be sacrificial in love at whatever cost, because the world sees the love of Jesus through our sacrifice. God is at work in His church.

How can we know Jesus is present and working with our church?

– The Lord adds to faith and numbers. Every Christian shows growth, because they are living with the risen Lord. (Matt 13:23) It is God who adds to our faith, as well as to our numbers. We evangelize to share the gospel in our work of watering and planting, but it is only God who causes the growth of saving faith. Evangelism is man’s responsibility under God’s total sovereignty. (1Cor 3:6-7)

– Everyone has hope. The moment we begin to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we set our minds and seek the things of heaven, not on earth. (Col 3:1-2) This is biblical hope- in Christ, we confidently expect something good in the future. When believers become too busy with the world, their hope in heaven and in Christ diminish. We must therefore obey God and constantly set our minds heavenwards.

– People pray, and God answers. When the early church prayed, miraculous acts of God took place. This is the power of prayer- where the church gathers, the Lord is there. When we pray, anything can happen, because the risen Lord is with us, and we seek Him and depend on Him.

In all circumstances, the early church practiced their devotion to Jesus Christ. They gave themselves to Scripture, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, as God worked wonders and signs amongst them, converting souls to the risen Jesus. The church loved one another sacrificially, as they continually ate together in joy and sincerity. They loved God and loved their neighbor, and the Lord worked mightily through them to add to their number day by day those who were being saved. This is God’s blueprint for the church under the risen Lord. As we practice these principles by depending on the Holy Spirit daily, we will know that we are the church that the living Lord Jesus continually builds today.

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The Church that the Risen Lord Builds, Part 4 – Acts 2:46-47

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

Throughout this sermon series on the impacts of Jesus’ resurrection, our focus and goal have remained the same- we seek to understand how the risen Lord has built His church, to ensure that we too, are being built up by the Lord Jesus Christ. The church began with repentance and faith. The early church believers heard Peter’s sermon, and were pierced to the heart for rejecting Jesus. They repented of their sins and turned to Christ in faith for forgiveness. (Acts 2:23-24) Under the lordship of Christ, the church devoted themselves to true doctrine, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer. Through these daily practices God grew the church as He converted men and women to Christ by His divine power, working wonders and signs of salvation among them. (Acts 2:42-43) Lives were transformed as they were united as one body, loving another, gathering together daily to worship, break bread, and share meals in joy. (Acts 2:44-46)

In addition to all these, the church under the risen Lord had sincerity of heart, or in other words, they were childlike in nature. Every child of God is childlike at heart- Jesus explicitly described this characteristic as a requirement to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3)

What does childlikeness look like?

Sincerity. Childlike people are sincere- there is no pretense, deception, or hypocrisy. Adam and Eve were perfectly pure and sincere before the Fall, but after sin, man’s heart became deceitful and desperately sick. (Jer 17:9-10) Only Jesus can make you sincere in heart, because He shows you who you truly are and forgives you of all your sins.

Single-hearted. The fallen heart is always divided- there are many compartments of things to hide and things to seek. Unbelievers live in multiple modes, both private and public, to hide their sins and to please everyone before them. Christians are to be single-hearted in their devotion to the risen Lord. (Matt 6:24)

Humble-hearted. Jesus blessed those who are poor in spirit, referring to those who have absolutely nothing of themselves to depend on, but who are fully dependent on Christ alone. (Matt 5:3) Humble-hearted people have nothing to boast of, but simply receive all that the Lord gives.

Simple-hearted. To be simple is to live uncomplicated lives. Whatever happens, Christians seek the Lord and pray. Complications arise when man tries to go his own way apart from God. To live an uncomplicated and worry-free life is not based on circumstances, but it is to simply obey, have faith, and trust in the risen Lord.

The early church was sincere in heart because they had peace with God. They knew the risen Lord and His salvation- everything else in life became secondary to Christ. (Rom 5:1-5; Matt 4:4) With gladness and sincerity of heart, they continually praised God. Praise is the natural response to being in the presence of God. It is a telling test of one’s salvation- Christians cannot avoid praising God. The early church praised God because they knew the difference between life before and after conversion- they were lost and miserable before Christ, but after their conversion, life was full of joy and freedom. Jesus became their loving Provider, who died for their forgiveness, and was raised for their justification. He made God to be their Father, and sealed them with the Holy Spirit. The believers in Acts knew who God was and what He was doing amongst them, and so they praised. We must likewise be continually thankful to God for converting us to the risen Lord. As we live with sincere hearts in complete dependence on the Christ, we join the echos of the early church’s praise as the unceasing melody of love and worship to our risen Lord.

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The Church that the Risen Lord Builds, Part 3 – Acts 2:46

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart. Acts 2:46

As the year draws to an end, we tend to become more reflective of our lives- how we have lived, how we have spiritually grown. Everyone bears fruit; it evinces who we are, and to whom we belong. (Matt 7:17). There is a particular fruit that clearly set the early church apart from the world. Day by day, as they devoted themselves to Scripture, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer, loving one another and worshipping the Lord with one mind, they took their meals together with gladness. The church under the risen Lord had joy. Joy is a mark of every true believer. It comes from the Holy Spirit, independent from circumstances or emotions. Joy is an imperative- even amid suffering and trials, God commands us to rejoice. (1Thess 5:14-16)

To understand the early church’s joy, we must look to the context of v.46. The church was breaking bread from house to house– their daily gathering centered around a meal. They partook in the Lord’s Supper, remembering God’s forgiveness through Jesus’ death and resurrection. With God’s promises engraved in their hearts, they were taking their meals together, eating together every day in their homes. This simple act of sharing meals together was precious to believers, because the church became the only place of comfort for those who have repented, and denied themselves and the world to follow Christ. Taking meals together resulted in joy, which moved them to continually gather together. This joy is not a quiet and hidden joy; it is a dynamic, explosive, and powerful joy that is impossible to hide. It is like the joy that overflows when deep longings and hopes are fulfilled, or the divine joy that is described when God fulfills His plan for salvation. (Lk 1:13-14; Heb 1:9) Unlike the world, divine joy does not depend on health, wealth, or relationships. It depends solely and wholly on Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. We have this treasure- the gospel- and our joy is fixed upon it. It carries us through the threat of death and the darkest depths of suffering. Believing in the risen Lord brings joy that will endure forever, because we have been rescued and delivered by God.

We are rescued from the world. The world lies in the power of Satan, dead in sin that will earn the wrath of God. But God forgave us through His Son, pulled us out from the world, and set us apart for Jesus Christ. (1Jn 2:15; 5:19)

We are rescued from the power and threat of death. Our resurrection is complete and promised in Christ. He will raise us up just as He was raised from the dead. (Jn 11:42-45)

We are rescued from the future. Christians have a clear understanding of the future. There is no worry about tomorrow. In Christ we have peace, because He has overcome the world. Jesus’ future is our future. (Jn 16:33)

We are delivered into the family of God. We are God’s children. Our Father is the eternal God. There truly is nothing else we need.

We are delivered into possessing life. We should not see people by gender or race, but by whether they are alive in Christ, or dead apart from Christ. We have life because of our risen Lord Jesus Christ. We have the source of life within us, and are commissioned to share it with the world. (Matt 28:18-20)

God has given us an inheritance through salvation in Christ. We have everything, but why have we not experienced much joy? It is because we have not practiced much faith. Faith is depending and trusting God. When you practice faith, though you do not see Jesus physically, you believe in Him, which results in inexpressible joy. (1Pet 1:8) This faith is expressed through prayer. We must pray and desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit, because joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Lastly, we need fellowship that is based on genuine love. Just as the early church continually gathered together in the joy of the Lord, the same Holy Spirit who dwells in us will give us joy as we seek to live as the true church under the risen Lord.

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The Church that the Risen Lord Builds, Part 2 – Acts 2:45

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Acts 2:44-45

The church in the book of Acts lived under the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were united under the risen Lord, living as one body, and having all things in common. No one considered possessions as their own- instead, believers voluntarily gave up all they had to be able to share with anyone in need. How is this possible? The zeitgeist of individualism in today’s age might dismiss these verses as archaic and radical, but the gospel makes all things possible today, just as it did then. We continue our study in Acts to see how this incredible selflessness and love in the church were in fact the practical impacts of Jesus’ resurrection.

The church became one family by Jesus’ resurrection. Those who believe in Jesus’ resurrection become a part of the household of God. We have all been born again of God, adopted into His family through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We have one Father, whose will we obey to love one another. (Jn 20:17-18)

By Jesus’ resurrection we practice self-denial. Self-denial is more than mere discipline- it is the evidence of your salvation. (Matt 16:24) Self-denial is tested during the times we get offended, hurt, and angry. Without denying self, forgiving others is impossible. How do you know you’re saved and forgiven? By forgiving. Those who are forgiven will forgive. It is possible only in Christ. As we deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus, we will experience true fellowship with Him as we share all things with Him. (Eph 4:32; Jn 17:10)

Under the resurrection we become one body. Divisions, factions, and partiality will arise within the church when the resurrection is not central to every member’s life. We must understand that we are one body- if one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1Cor 12:26)

The church under Jesus’ resurrection lives sacrificially. No one in the early church was poor, because everyone practiced their faith sacrificially towards one another. God created sound doctrine to be applied and practiced, so that faith might be perfected by works. (James 2:22) A faith that is not practiced towards others is an incomplete faith- it is the type of faith Jesus hated. (Matt 23:23) The church followed Jesus’ example as their living head. (1Jn 3:16) They constantly pursued holiness and godliness, treasuring the kingdom of God above all else. (Matt 15:44-46) These believers were heavenly people, whose hope and citizenship were in heaven. (Phil 3:20) They knew how to spend their money wisely as faithful stewards of God, because they understood what was truly valuable. Nothing compared to Christ. (Matt 6:19-21)

Moreover, the early church knew how to be content. Though they were in need, they were confident, faithful, and sacrificial towards others because Jesus was Lord of all. In Him, they had all things- it was simply a matter of God’s provision. These believers were truly converted, because they practiced their love and faith in Christ towards the church. They had peace in their heart- a peace not dependent on circumstances, but on their eternal relationship with the risen Lord. If the resurrection is real, what else matters in this world? What is more valuable than having peace with God? It is the risen Lord Jesus Christ who has made peace between us and God. (Jn 20:19) Let us therefore ponder the ways of the early church, and live out the same faith that we confess, practicing the lordship of Christ in every area of our lives.

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The Church that the Risen Lord Builds – Acts 2:44

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common… -Acts 2:44
A gospel without the resurrection is an incomplete gospel. If Christ were not raised, our faith would be worthless, and we would still be in our sins. (1Cor 15:17) Jesus’ resurrection is the ringing culmination of God’s salvation, but far too often we fail to understand its impact on our everyday life. If you desire to live a triumphant life, you must live centered on the resurrection. It is practical, victorious, and working in the church today.

How does Jesus’ resurrection impact us?

The church’s faith endures. (And all those who had believed…v. 44) Faith rooted in Jesus’ resurrection will be victorious. The early church in the book of Acts didn’t merely endure persecution, but they grew stronger in faith because they were fixed on the risen Lord. (Acts 4:19-20) Though most believers in the early church of Acts did not physically witness Jesus’ resurrection, their faith did not differ from that of the apostles, because their conviction did not depend on sight, but on the gospel. How did the early church have this kind of faith? When we trace back to their conversion after hearing Peter’s sermon, we see that they repented. Repentance is not by man’s effort- it is not an attempt to be sad and sorry over sin. Repentance is a gift from God, effected by the Holy Spirit. True repentance will not leave a man to continually love sin more than Christ. The early believers believed they singlehandedly killed Jesus Christ, crying out, “Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:36-37)

Upon repenting, the church in Acts believed Jesus in their heart. The resurrection was more real and tangible to them than anything in the world. (Rom 10:9) Since they were now one with Christ by His substitutionary death and resurrection, they willingly denied themselves, choosing to faithfully walk the same path of Christ’s sufferings and persecution. They believed that Christ would be the ultimate Judge of all men, because God raised Him from the dead. (Acts 17:31) The empty tomb is the sure proof for our faith today. Our faith is not sustained by our own will and effort, but by the power of God. (2Cor 4:7-9) We live in the presence of the risen Lord- He is our strength and motivation to live faithfully until the end. (Phil 3:12; 2Tim 4:1,7)
The church was formed by the resurrection. (And all those who had believed were together…v.44) The first church began in the Book of Acts after Jesus was resurrected. The church is God’s most precious gift on earth for the believer, wholly planned and built by God. (1Pet 1:12) Man himself can not subjectively define the church. The Bible never refers to the church as an individual or a household, but it is a body of believers who devote themselves to God’s Word, fellowship, Communion, and prayer. (Acts 2:42) The church is where Jesus’ resurrection is central; it is the salt and light of the earth, commissioned by God to point this dying world to Christ. (Acts 2:13-14,23-24) Every believer is fully equipped to reach the lost. The gospel message that has saved you is the power of God that can save anyone, because Jesus is Lord over the living and the dead.
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The Church Under the Risen Lord, Acts 2:43

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. Acts 2:43

Can a verse about miracles and signs be relevant to the church today? The early church in the book of Acts was mostly made up of uneducated and lowly men and women, but they were full of the Holy Spirit, devoting themselves to biblical teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. (v. 42) They were set apart from the world, doing the same miraculous works that Jesus did in His earthly ministry- the apostles healed the sick, raised the dead to life, and did many other wonders and signs, shaking the world by God’s power working through them. (Acts 9:36-41, 19:11) Today, outsiders see the church differently- the church seems archaic and irrelevant, a mere relic of what once was. Most churches have settled for a little faith that stirs no awe, being content with accomplishing only that which can be possible for man. We must look to Scripture when we ask ourselves- what does the church centered on the risen Jesus look like? Can this verse be true for us today? We continue in Luke’s account in the book of Acts to renew our understanding of the church. As we trust in the Lord and His Word, we will find that this verse is indeed relevant, necessary, and applicable to us today.

Before expounding further on the topic of miracles, we must address the question, do the miracles of the apostolic church still occur today? There are generally two camps of thought when it comes to miracles. Cessationists believe the gifts of miracles ceased after the book of Acts, whereas Continuationists believe there are still miracle workers in the church. We, as Bible Community Church, fall under the category of Cessationists. We believe God is sovereign, able to heal and accomplish any extraordinary miracle, but He no longer does these by men. This is not new- miracles did not occur all throughout the Scriptures. God showed miracles during specific times of special revelation for the purpose of validating His Word and prophet. (e.g. when Moses delivered Israel, Jesus’ ministry) Therefore, miracles were no longer necessary after the New Testament era was complete.

Moreover, miracles and healing were never done by the power of man- it has always been by the Spirit of God, through the gospel. (Acts 14:8-11; Acts 3:11-12, Zec 4:16) Though we believe God no longer uses miracle workers and healers, verse 43 is just as relevant for us today as it was then, because God continues to work these wonders and signs within the church-

There is no fear of death. Death is a reality that man goes to all lengths to ignore and avoid, but every man is destined to die once, and after that comes judgment. (Heb 9:27) Jesus came as man to overcome the power of death, and He absolutely abolished it by His death and resurrection. Man may lose everything when he dies, but the Christian gains everything at his death through Christ- a perfect life in the presence of God. (Phil 1:21)

Healing. After healing the beggar who was lame from birth, Peter proclaimed it was by faith in Jesus that gave the man perfect health. (Acts 3:16) The gospel can heal anyone. It breaks the power of sin, changes the course of death, and makes us wholly new. Even if a man does not get cured of his physical illness, the gospel heals his perspective on all things- God, man, life, death. Only the gospel can penetrate and permeate the soul of man, making him to be in perfect health.

We can have victorious lives. Believers persevere by the power of the gospel. (2Cor 4:7-9) No man apart from Christ is able live victoriously over sin and death- only Christians are able to forgive because they have been forgiven; they are able to overcome evil with good, because the risen Lord lives in them. We are kept by God’s power, and our victory is won through Him.

Salvation. Salvation is the wonder of all wonders. God owed nothing to man- all have sinned, and earned eternal punishment in hell. Our spiritual death was as final as a physical death- there was no way to make ourselves right with God. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace we have been saved. (Eph 2:3-5) This wondrous salvation is truly the greatest miracle of all.

The church today has the same Scripture, same Spirit, same God. We fail to experience the wonders of Christ because of little trust in His Word. Distrust begets little prayer, which begets little obedience. We must trust the Lord with bold faith, depending on Him through prayer. As we obey Him, all things will be possible because of our risen Lord.

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Do You Have the Proof of the Resurrection? Part 6 – Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42.

This short verse from the book of Acts sums up the lives of Christians- we live by loving the church, the Word, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and finally, by prayer. By prayer, the church can live by God’s divine power. When the early church prayed, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, doing might works, and growing in love and faith as God added believers to the church. (Acts 2:43-47) Prayer is absolutely essential to Christians- our spiritual growth depends on it. (1Tim 4:5) What is prayer? Real prayer is communion with God, guided by His Word, so that His thoughts become our thoughts, and His desires become our desires. Devotion to prayer is the fruit of Jesus’ work on the cross. When the early church heard the gospel, they were pierced to the heart by their sin of unbelief against God. They repented and believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In light of the resurrection and God’s love and forgiveness in their hearts, they devoted themselves to one another, the Word, fellowship, Communion, and prayer. Here, we will see why anyone who truly believes in the risen Lord will devote themselves to prayer.

Those who believe in the risen Lord pray because they are a part of the church that Jesus had built. Jesus built the church that believes in His resurrection. His church is alive, and so they practice their devotion to pray. Prayer is the natural outcome of believing true doctrine. It is the test of genuine faith. (Lk 18:1; Acts 12:5)

They know prayer is a privilege. Only those who know the resurrected Lord can pray. No amount of money can buy access to the Father. Only believers have the privilege to pray. (Acts 8:18-19; Gen 20:7)

Priorities change after encountering the risen Lord. We have always prioritized everything and everyone else before God, but after meeting the risen Lord, He is supreme. Even when the disciples suffered under persecution for their faith, rather than pitying themselves, they turned to prayer. Prayer and praise to God were their utmost priority. (Acts 16:16, 25)

There is no more passivity. Believers always seek the will of God through prayer, with hearts ready to apply and obey. We can do all things for the Lord, because Jesus is alive.

There is no doubt that Jesus is real, and He is with them. You can not pray with doubt. God has given us the proof of the resurrection- He is alive, and He is within you. (Acts 17:31)

They have a clear understanding of Jesus’ resurrection. All of Jesus’ teaching became clear to the disciples after they witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. They understood that they desperately needed to pray. Jesus as a man prayed unceasingly throughout His earthly ministry, fully depending on God. To neglect prayer reveals a heart that is self-sufficient and proud. The disciples also understood that the Fatherhood of God was real. We have a Father who is always good, and on whom we can depend on through life and death.

They know God provides. Jesus died, resurrected, and ascended so that we could pray in His name. God is our Father- He provides for us everything that is necessary. (Jn 14:13)

They know their faith can only be sustained by prayer. Prayer and faith are inseparable. The faithful man is the man who is prayerful. Apostle Paul was able to keep the faith through overwhelming suffering because he continued to trust in God through prayer. (2Tim 4:7; 2 Cor 1:9-10)

They know Jesus is alive. God provided the powerful evidence of Jesus’ resurrection so that all would believe and be saved. We pray because the risen Lord hears us. To cease praying is to deny the resurrection. (Matt 28:18)

They have the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ resurrection is made clear by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gives us hope, and He intercedes for us to the Father when we do not know how we ought to pray.

They are walking with God. Walking with God implies walking on the same path, in the same direction, harmoniously and intimately. Whereas sin hinders prayer, holiness strengthens it. Therefore, as we pray and grow in holiness, we walk with Christ who prays unceasingly for us in heaven. (Rom 8:34)

Prayer is the unceasing expression of faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us love to pray- it is a privilege and necessity; it is the very breath of those who are alive in the Lord.

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Do You Have the Proof of the Resurrection? Part 5 – Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

We have been looking at this section in the book of Acts to think deeply about the effect Jesus’ resurrection had on the lives of early believers. The church lived with an absolute conviction that Jesus Christ was Lord of all, and they suffered and died for His name’s sake, counting it all as joy in the light of His resurrection. As we continue to consider the biblical repentance, conversion, and devotion of the early church, let us examine our lives under the light of Scripture to answer, Do I have the proof of the resurrection?

Saving faith begins with genuine repentance. (Acts 2:36-38) Repentance is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The sinner fully convicted by the Holy Spirit understands he sinned against God and heaven. He knows he deserves nothing but God’s wrath, and so he is fully content and thankful to simply be saved. He no longer cherishes self-love, self-worth, or self-will, but instead practices self-denial. The repentant sinner comes before God and confesses his sin, believing in his Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of his sin. (Acts 16:30-31) Without a starting point of this kind of biblical repentance, everything you do amounts to nothing. If you have been struggling in your sanctification, questioning why it is so difficult to change, it is necessary to examine whether you have truly repented to God.

After the early church repented, they continually devoted themselves to the Word and to fellowship. They loved Christ, and therefore loved the church. In addition to these, the church was devoted to the breaking of bread. They knew the significance of the Lord’s Supper, knowing that Jesus had commanded it before He was delivered over to be crucified. (1Cor 11:23-26) Communion was not a mere ceremony- it was directly related to Jesus’ resurrection. The church was to continually practice two things- remembrance and declaration. They took the Lord’s Supper to declare and remember that Jesus was Lord, and they went out to declare the gospel to the world.

What do we remember as we participate in the Lord’s Supper? We remember the bread. We remember who Jesus Christ is. He is the eternal God, by whom all things exist, who became flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:1-4,12) We remember the blood. We remember what Jesus did. He came to die on the cross. This is the power of sin- it requires a sacrifice to satisfy God’s wrath and to remove our guilt. As God and man, Jesus was the only one able to give the perfect sacrifice for our spiritual healing. (Is 53:5) We remember the new covenant. Instituted by Jesus’ death, the new covenant has no remembrance of sin. We are now the children of God in Him. (Heb 8:8-12; Gal 2:20) We remember Jesus’ obedience. Jesus obeyed to the point of death, even death on a cross. As Apostle Paul imitated Jesus’ obedience, and so must we. When we come to the table, we must remember how Jesus obeyed. (Phil 2:8; Acts 20:24) We remember that Jesus is the only Savior. We live in a pluralistic society based on relativism and idolatry. We must always remember and declare there is salvation in no other name but Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12) We remember the unity of the church. We come to the table believing in the same Lord who died and rose again. To come to the table with factions is sin. We remember to give thanks and praise. We know who we now are because of Jesus- children of God who are forgiven and loved.

As we remember these things, we speak out in truth and love. The early church went out to share the gospel, unable to contain the grace they had received. If you find yourself different from the ways of these early believers, you must once again trace back to your repentance, asking yourself, have I properly repented? Did I- by the Holy Spirit- properly repent of my unbelief? Do I have idols in my heart? (Jn 16:9) If we fail to repent, we will go nowhere in sanctification. We must examine ourselves every day- especially before coming to the table- by the Word and the Holy Spirit. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn 1:9)

The early church strived to remember and proclaim Jesus’ death and resurrection because they were fully convinced of Jesus’ imminent coming. (2 Pet 3:3,10) We must likewise set our minds on the things above, where Christ is. Set your hope fully on Christ and His unfailing promises. As we devote ourselves to the Word, fellowship, and the breaking of bread, our hopeful expectation of Jesus’ return will become the foundation to support our daily life of giving glory and praise to God.

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