The impact of the gospel after obedience. Acts 2:39-42 The impact of the gospel after obedience. Part 1

In the last few slides we have studied how people became Christians as revealed by the historical book of Acts

We saw that about 3000 people responded to the Gospel message by GODS GRACE HEARING BELIEVING REPENTING CONFESSING BEING BAPTISED RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The first Christians were Jews But the same Gospel message was not for the Jews alone the same message was for the Gentiles also

The life of the first Christians. We cannot over look the statement made by Peter in v.39 "The promise is to you and your children - (Jews) AND TO ALL WHO ARE AFAR OFF…“ Who are THEY who are afar off?

(Notice that Paul is sending this letter to NON-JEWS.) EPHESIANS 2:11-13 tells us. (Notice that Paul is sending this letter to NON-JEWS.) "YOU GENTILES…….YOU WHO WERE ONCE AFAR OFF…have been brought near in the blood of Christ".

Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day”. Thus BEGAN the “Body of Christ,” or the “church as we know it”

Today “church” means: A place you go to A building with a steeple In New Testament times it was: EKKLESIA ek = out of kaleo = to call = “the called out ones” = an assembly of people

Our word “church” comes from kuriakon later kirk later church = dedicated to the Lord = a holy place, or temple

Acts 2:38; The concept: - Christ refers to the union of all his people with himself Romans 12:4+5 “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another”.

NO meetinghouse or church building NO wealth to speak of NO public esteem

IT was the FIRST congregation of the CHRISTIAN age IT was the LARGEST congregation of the CHRISTIAN age IT was the FASTEST GROWING congregation of the CHRISTIAN age

IT had the most ILLUSTRIOUS members of any congregation -ALL THE APOSTLES-

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42).

And they CONTINUED STEADFASTLY in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42).

Ecclesia (Gathered Community) An Ecclectic body Acts 2:39-47 Apostles Teaching Proclamation of Word Breaking of the Bread Prayers Kerygma Community Fellowship Breaking Bread Services Service Fellowship Prayers Koinonia Diakonia

The early church was incredibly dynamic! Why?

They HAD the Holy Spirit Were humans Conditions Then They HAD the Holy Spirit Were humans Lived in an ocean of people who didn’t know God God WAS God Wild culture Conditions Now We HAVE the Holy Spirit Are humans Live in an ocean of people who don’t know God God IS God Wild culture

Where does it say we have to be just like them Where does it say we have to be just like them? Nowhere But why shouldn’t we be like them?

Dedicated to learning God’s truth “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”. Acts 2:42

CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE (Acts 2:42). The NORM or STANDARD by which the church WAS GOVERNED was always the same APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY.

CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE (Acts 2:42). The APOSTLES were GUIDED into ALL TRUTH (John 16:13). They wrote and spoke the commandment of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 14:37).

CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE (Acts 2:42). Even an angel from heaven, were he permitted to preach, COULD ADD NOTHING to the TESTIMONY of the APOSTLES (Galatians 1:8). To THEM had been granted ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3; 1John 4:1-6;).

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

INNER PEACE Acts 2:42 God’s truth is LIFE TRANSFORMING WHEN God’s PERSPECTIVE begins to replace OURS