Author: Bible Community Church

The Consequences of the Scary Lie, Part 2 – 1 Corinthians 15:16-19

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 1Cor 15:16-19

On the third day after Jesus died, while the disciples locked themselves in out of fear of Jewish leaders, the risen Lord came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19) By His bodily resurrection, Jesus proved He was the Lord of all, the Savior and Head of the church. This was the victorious gospel testified by the Scriptures, the church, and several eyewitnesses along with Apostle Paul. Yet despite the evidence, certain members of the Corinthian church denied the bodily resurrection. To them, Paul presents these hypothetical consequences if Christ were in fact not raised.

Without the resurrection, our faith would be worthless. Without the resurrection, there would be no salvation. Faith that excludes the resurrection is idolatry. It is a dead faith, having nothing to do with the God. Our faith is true because of the resurrection. The disciples were completely transformed after they saw the resurrected Lord. Before it they were afraid, but after seeing Jesus raised from the dead, they were filled with boldness and power by the Holy Spirit to go and make disciples of all the nations.

Without the resurrection, our sins would remain. If Christ were not raised, we would live and die in the wrath of God. There would be no salvation without the resurrection, because Jesus would’ve been like any other false messiah who rose and fell away. (Acts 5:38-39; Rom 4:25) But Jesus was raised because He is God. Jesus is the Christ who came to fulfill the eternal plan of God for the redemption of man, by dying in our place for our sins, and being raised for our forgiveness. (Rom 6:3-4) His resurrection makes it possible for us to walk in the newness of life, because we are alive to God in Christ.

Without the resurrection, we would perish. Without the resurrection, believing in Christ would profit nothing. You would still die in your sins. We follow the path of Christ by faith. Only the gospel can save- the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection. (Rom 6:23)

Without the resurrection, Christians would be the most pitied. The resurrection is not to be believed for the sake of this life only- it is for eternity thereafter. If your aim is to gain the world, you will truly be pitied when Jesus returns. On the other hand, those who follow Christ will be pitied by the ignorant world- you will face scorn and derision for believing in the resurrection. But we look to Christ, who never sought man’s favor, but received all His glory from God. (Phil 2:8-9)The risen Lord has made us God’s own possession, called out of darkness into His marvelous light to proclaim the gospel to the lost. (1Pet 2:9-11) We now see the hopelessness and deceit of the world, as well as the true treasure of the kingdom of God given to those believe.

Jesus is the risen Lord who comes to us with peace. His resurrection gives us power for godliness to be set apart from the world. Do you truly believe in the resurrection? Faith found and centered on the risen Lord is the only faith that saves.

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The Consequences of the Scary Lie – 1 Corinthians 15:11-15

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 1Cor 15:12-15

There is always a cost to believing a lie, but none compare to the consequences of believing that Jesus has not been raised from the dead. In these verses, Paul is incredulous at the Corinthians’ denial of Jesus’ resurrection. After all, Jesus’ resurrection was not hidden. In addition to the hundreds of eyewitnesses, the testimonies of God’s Word, His church, and Apostle Paul himself left no room for doubt to the reality of the resurrection. But there were still some who said there was no resurrection, and to them, Paul outlines the dire consequences of unbelief.

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised…

Those who deny the resurrection are false believers, because their gospel is false. You can not receive the crucifixion with the resurrection. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, He would have been like any other man who rose in power and fell away. But Jesus was in fact raised, because He is the self-existent Son of God. (Acts 5:34-37; Jn 1:14)

…and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain…

Without the resurrection, your message becomes meaningless. The message we have is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the message that brings eternal life to the sinner. Every teaching apart from the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection is solely moralistic- it becomes just another man-made religion, void of eternal life and spiritual fruit.

…your faith also is vain.

There is no life without Jesus’ resurrection, because true faith comes from the word of the risen Lord. (Rom 10:17) Those with dead faith can not enjoy the presence of God. They are ignorant of Jesus’ presence. They never seek Him or pray to Him, because to them, Jesus is dead. The message of Jesus’ death and resurrection results in living faith in the risen Lord.

Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God…

Those who deny the resurrection are the worst of sinners, because they misrepresent God. Just like the Pharisees who were cursed by Jesus for their falsehood, those who deny the risen Lord by living with self-righteousness and self-centeredness will face God’s severest judgment for practicing perjury before Him.

If Jesus’ resurrection is not yet central in your life, take heed- the consequences of dismissing Jesus’ resurrection is too costly. Examine the evidence, examine your faith. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

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Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 5 – 1 Corinthians 15:10

…and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1Cor 15:8-10

Paul writes this chapter to remind the Corinthians of the gospel: Jesus died, was buried, and was raised on the third day. One by one, he makes his case for the veracity of the gospel through the testimonies of the church, the Scriptures, and the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Last of all, he points to himself. Saul the Pharisee encountered the risen Lord, and was converted to become Paul the Apostle. By God’s saving grace, Paul received saving faith, which brought about his full commitment to Jesus as Lord.

But by the grace of God I am what I am…

Before Paul was saved by God, he lived in pursuit of salvation by his own good works. But he was a hopeless case from the beginning, because no matter what good work he did, Paul continually committed the worst sin against God- the sin of unbelief. Paul practiced unbelief because he was born depraved. He was desperately wicked, and unable to change himself. Paul was completely lost before God, and everything he did earned only God’s wrath. (Eph 2:3-5)

This understanding of God’s holiness and sin is crucial; without it, you will surely reduce the power of and need for forgiveness. As you truly know how wicked and helpless you are, you will see that grace is the only way. But far too often, we don’t surrender to God’s grace, because we still think we have it in us to offer something good to God.

What is saving grace? John MacArthur defines it as “God’s kindness toward those who are undeserving of His favor but who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.” We are saved by grace alone- sola gratia. God must save us for us to be saved. When a sinner is saved by God’s grace in Christ, His grace never departs from him. God’s grace places the sinner in Christ. In his relationship with the Lord, God’s grace continually works in his life. (Eph 2:8-9)

By God’s grace, you are what you are- He sees you with the righteousness of Jesus, because He has made you one with Christ.

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Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 4 – 1 Corinthians 15:8-9

…and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 1Cor 15:8-11

There aren’t many in the New Testament who persecuted the church as vehemently as Saul, but there are fewer others who loved and sacrificed their lives for the church like Apostle Paul. Paul had the testimony of testimonies. He testified to the world how he was saved, not by his works, but by the gospel. As a Pharisee he was set against God, but the resurrected Lord appeared to Paul to save him. The gospel is mighty, and those who are touched by it are transformed. Paul was an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus, and he became a new man upon his personal encounter with Christ. In these verses, Paul describes the impossible dilemmas he faced before the risen Lord saved him.

He was one untimely born. To be “untimely born” points to both Paul’s physical and spiritual problem. Based on Paul’s letters and historical accounts, Paul was physically unimpressive. He frequently referred to his poor bodily condition, and people within the church often spurned him because of his physical appearance. (2Cor 10:10; Gal 4:13-14) Spiritually, Paul was born dead in sin. He had absolutely no hope had God not intervened.

He was the least of the apostles. Paul felt inferior to the apostles. He had all the qualifications to be an apostle and was acknowledged by other apostles, but he referred to himself as the least. (Acts 18:9-10; 2Pet 3:16-18)

He persecuted the church. Paul thought he was not fit to be an apostle because he persecuted God’s church, a sin that he felt was impossible for God to forgive. (Acts 26:10-11) He was a blasphemer, who attacked the body of Christ in the name of God. (Jn 16:2) Paul was fully accustomed to the law- he knew the just consequences of his sins against the Almighty God.

In the depths of Paul’s dilemmas, Jesus shined light into Paul’s heart and appeared to him. Paul was completely transformed by the power of the resurrection, and immediately testified of the gospel. We will continue with God’s work of grace in Apostle Paul in next week’s sermon.

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Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 3 – 1 Corinthians 15:5-7

“…and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles…” 1Cor 15:5-7

God was in the world 2,000 years ago, and He left a trace that has been the resounding testimony of the church, Scripture, and as we will see today, several eyewitnesses. Jesus died on the cross, and rose again from the grave on the third day- Jesus Christ, the eternal God and man. Jesus’s resurrection proved that God was in the world to reconcile man to Himself, and all men must therefore repent, because He has fixed a day in which Christ will come again to judge the world in righteousness. (Acts 17:30-31)

Eyewitness accounts are powerful testimonies. They are from those who were physically present, who saw the event themselves. During the time Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, most of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’s resurrection were still alive. Nevertheless, there were still many who denied the resurrection. Some claimed the disciples hallucinated from intense grief over Jesus’s death. But Scripture shows that the disciples were not overcome with grief in any way- rather, they were filled with disappointment and fear. (Lk 24:15,21; Jn 20:19) The risen Jesus was not a hallucination nor a ghost- He showed His disciples His scars on His hands and feet; He even ate food. (Lk 24:38-43) Hallucinations could not have caused men to become martyrs- it is only by the actual resurrection of Jesus they were willing to lay down their lives for the sake of the gospel.

Why are the testimonies of these eyewitnesses valid?

They were freed from their guilt. Every man lives under guilt as a result of sin, and the guilty will be rejected and punished by God. (Rom 3:9) Peter, James, and the five hundred plus brethren all bore their own guilt. Peter denied Jesus on the night of His trial. He blasphemed and cursed Jesus out of fear of man, betraying His Lord just as wickedly as Judas did. (Matt 26:73-74) James was the brother of Jesus. He was a man of pride who did not believe, but mocked Christ. (Jn 7:2-5) The crowd of five hundred were those who followed Jesus during His ministry, awestruck by His miracles, who then turned and demanded Jesus to be crucified. (Lk 23:16-23; Acts 2:36-37) These guilty eyewitnesses were completely transformed after Jesus appeared. Peter and James became apostles- bold in faith, humble in heart- who were eventually martyred for their faith in Christ. The five hundred were converted to be the first church, living in devotion to the risen Lord. Their lives showed the fruit of being forgiven of sin and freed from guilt through Jesus’s death and resurrection. (Acts 4:18-20; 2:41-42; James 4:6,10) This is why their testimony was trustworthy.

There are many who saw the risen Lord. The Bible never accepts the account of one witness- there must be at least two or three. More than five hundred brethren saw Jesus resurrected. He didn’t reveal Himself secretly, but He stayed on earth for over forty days after His resurrection, appearing to many and teaching about the kingdom of God.

The Lord used the eyewitnesses effectively. The apostles who saw the resurrected Lord were carried by the Holy Spirit to author most of the New Testament. They became leaders in the churches, shepherding the flock of Christ. The five hundred brethren were eventually scattered because of persecution, but they went out to make disciples of all the nations. Without these works, the church would not exist today. Jesus’ resurrection brought hope and laid the foundation on which His church was to be built.

If we aspire to testify to the world of Jesus’s resurrection effectively, we must be transformed. There is no power in the testimony of he who does not love Christ and honor Him as Lord. As we meditate on Jesus’ resurrection, may the presence of the risen Lord be the power of our testimonies, so that we can be effective witnesses of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 2 – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures… 1Cor 15:3-4

Can we be assured of the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection? Yes. The church was born by the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and its relentless testimony to the unbelieving world is the gospel of the living Lord. (Acts 2:23-24) There is another that testifies of the resurrection- Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. We expound these verses in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to see how Old Testament Scripture testifies of the resurrection, and to learn why Scripture’s witness of Jesus’ resurrection is complete, perfect, and pertinent to us today.

“For…” Verse 3 begins with the conjunction “for” to explain a key component from verses 1 and 2. The Corinthians were saved by the power of the gospel. Verses 3 and 4 is where Paul outlines the gospel message.

“…I delivered to you…” The gospel does not originate from Paul- he is simply called to deliver God’s message. (Acts 9:15) Like Paul, we are all God’s servants, called to preach Jesus’ death and resurrection.

“…of first importance…” The gospel is the doctrine of doctrines. If you were to amass all knowledge about God, yet miss the gospel, you are nothing. Jesus never condemned the Pharisees for ignorance. Without the gospel, you can not be saved. We must be absolutely clear about the gospel. It is of first importance.

“…what I also received…” Before Paul delivered the gospel, he was a believer of it. He himself experienced God’s forgiveness in the gospel. Formerly a persecutor of the church, Paul was transformed and saved by the living Lord. (Acts 26:9-11; 9:20)

“…that Christ died for our sins…” Paul emphasizes each event in the gospel, beginning with Jesus’ crucifixion. He uses the title “Christ” rather than Jesus’ name to avoid any confusion. There were many men named Jesus in Paul’s day, and Paul wanted to clearly state that the Messiah Who was anointed by God was the One crucified and nailed to a cross. (Matt 1:1)

…and that He was buried…” Paul was faithful to historical facts. Jesus was buried in a tomb like a king after He was crucified.

“…and that He was raised on the third day…” In the gospel, God perfectly fulfilled His promise to save the world. (Jn 3:16) Jesus carried our guilt to the cross and His sacrifice was accepted by God because He was raised from the dead. We can be forgiven by God for our sins through Jesus Christ.

The common denominator in these two verses is “according to Scriptures.” We can know Jesus truly was raised from the dead because Scripture reveals it. Prophets in the Old Testament declared Jesus’ death and resurrection before it happened, and Jesus was raised from the dead in order to fulfill the God’s Word. (Is 53:5,9; Hos 6:2; Jn 5:39) Scripture’s testimony of the resurrection is sure, because God’s Word can not be broken. As Scripture says, God says. (Jn 10:35; Is 55:11) Any gospel that is not according to Scripture is not the gospel at all. Manmade gospels have no power to save, because only the Word of God has the power to save and transform sinners. (Heb 4:13) We must continually wrestle and meditate on the Word of God to be transformed. As Spurgeon declared, “No one ever outgrows the Scriptures.”

Why is Scripture trustworthy? Scripture never lies, because God can not lie, nor can He be tempted to lie. (Num 23:19) Scripture is trustworthy because it is inspired- God is the ultimate source of the Bible. It is therefore inerrant and infallible- it will never mislead or deceive you. (2Tim 3:16) God’s Word is authoritative. It is sufficient and contains everything we need to know and believe to be saved and to live a life pleasing to God. Believing in Scripture empowers believers to endure trials and suffering with love and joy. (1Pet 1:8) Christians who believe in God’s Word are in the world, but are not of the world. Their joy is rooted in Christ, not in emotions or circumstances. They live by faith, choosing to depend on Christ and His Word. They seek God’s presence as they go through trials, and are therefore refined by their sufferings because they abide in the Lord. The believer’s hope is fixed on heaven, and so he presses on in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth when Christ comes.

We must ask ourselves, Do I believe in Jesus’ resurrection as the Bible reveals? Jesus’ resurrection is according to the Scriptures. If our lives do not accord with the Scriptures, we must reexamine our faith. There is hope as we repent and have faith, because God’s Word is living and active today, tomorrow, and forever.

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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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