The usage of Biblical Fellowship

At the time regarding Pentecost following ascension of your own Lord Goodness, particular three thousand souls have been added to the newest chapel as they heard Peter state God’s prophetic Word; incidentally, such converts was indeed all the Jewish; basically the very early chapel is completely Jewish. He states from inside the Serves 2 –

They continuously loyal themselves on apostles teaching and you can tofellowship, with the breaking regarding cash in order to prayer. And you can everyonekeep perception a sense of aw; and some miracle and cues was basically takingplace from the apostles. As well as individuals who had experienced weretogether, and had all things in prominent; and began attempting to sell theirproperty and you will possessions and you may have been discussing her or him all the, once the someone mighthave you want. And every single day continuous having you to attention on the forehead,and you can cracking money of house-to-house, these were bringing its mealstogether with gladness and you can trustworthiness off heart, praising God, and you can havingfavor together with the people. As well as the Lord try adding to their numberday in the day time hours those individuals who had been becoming stored. (Serves 2:42-47)

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The very first evidence Luke mentions of the Spirit’s presence in the church is that “they faithful themselves into the apostles’ knowledge.” The early disciples sat at the apostles’ feet, hungry to receive instruction, and they persevered in it (also see Acts ) – the life-giving content for the church is revealed truth. As John Stott says in his commentary on the book of Acts, “Anti-intellectualism and the fullness of the Spirit are incompatible, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth” (Stott, p. 82). A commitment to the apostles’ teaching is foundational to the growth and spiritual health of every believer. Peter wrote, “Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet 2:2). And to the Romans Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). John MacArthur says in his commentary on Acts, “Scripture is food for the believer’s growth and power… there is no other” (MacArthur, p. 83). Such words should remind us what the Lord said to the prophet Hosea – “My personal individuals are missing to possess lack of knowledge” (Hos 4:6). The church cannot operate on truth it is not taught… furthermore, believers cannot function on principles they have not learned. Despite the hate, ridicule and persecution the early disciples suffered, they remained faithful to the apostles’ teaching. It should be noted, contemporary devotion to the apostles’ teaching means submission to the authority of the New Testament.

Christian caring

Luke goes on to say that these early disciples also faithful themselves so you’re able to fellowship (knononia); Koinonia comes from the word koinos meaning “common.” As believers we share in common the “longevity of Christ” – and as Christ was in this world, so we are also to be His eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet in the world. Luke immediately goes on to describe the way in which these first Christians “common their possessions” with one another as anyone had need (vv. 44-45). Many of the early Jewish Christians lost their livelihoods due to their profession of faith in Christ, and the rest of the fellowship stepped in to meet their needs. It is interesting to note that the Essene leaders of the Qumran Community (an ultra conservative, monastic, ascetic Jewish community near the Dead Sea), were committed to the common ownership of property; any candidate who was accepted into its membership was obliged to hand over all of his property to the community. The issue of “preferred assets” has been debated at various points throughout the history of the church as to whether or not this “injunction” is one that all believers should heed. It is important to note, however, that even in Jerusalem the sharing of property and possessions in the early church was “voluntary” – the fact that “they broke bread in their homes” clearly suggests that many believers had obviously not sold them. No where are we told that the church sold everything and pooled the proceeds into a common pot. Furthermore, such a principle for Christian living would have obviated the responsibility of each believer to give in response to the Spirit’s prompting (cf. 1 Cor 16:1-2). The message conveyed in Acts 2:45 is that people sold property due to the fact some one might have you desire. Regarding the sin of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 – it was not one of greed or materialism, but one of deceit; they simply pretended to give everything they had so that others would revere them and think more highly of them. The “injunction” given to believers in Scripture is that of being generous toward the poor and the needy; essentially Christians are called to “kindness.” Thus Christian fellowship is and Religious revealing.