| The Church: Her Birth Marks |
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The Church: Her Birth Marks
Acts 2:42-47
I remember quite well an experience that Patti and I had while in the Republic of Ireland. We took a train from the port city Rosslare to Dublin up the East Coast. While riding on the train, between naps, I noticed a number of little villages dispersed throughout the countryside, each complete with one central church spire rising above the horizon. The timeless architecture undoubtedly told the long and storied history of this ancient land that seems to pre-date time itself. In telling their histories, these villages reveal a somewhat astonishing, hidden secret of the people who originally built, and continue to populate, such quaint parishes: they thrive on interpersonal relationships. Isolation is not an acceptable alternative. They must be around other individuals within a community culture.
Certainly these Irishmen are not alone in this need or desire. People groups have lived and worked within a community from the garden until the present, nomadic and culturally civilized peoples alike. Holistically, humans draw strength, stability and comfort from the close communal attachments found within the parish culture. For this reason, we are not surprised to find God creating an environment of community throughout the story of his people, first in the garden and then throughout human history and eventually to the restoration community of Christ’s eternal reign. His community of holiness is represented in the Garden of Eden where we find God walking and talking with Adam and Eve, the nation of Israel established in the Promised Land and the New Testament Church initiated at Pentecost.
In our passage today, we have the clearest description of the first New Testament congregation, which gives us the characteristics that define the standard of the true Church. All local congregations must adhere to this standard for the nature of this fellowship, the Church, for which we were created, and of which we desperately desire to belong. Our strength, stability and comfort is drawn from within such a fellowship built on the strong principles of truth established and maintained in the faithful ministry of the Word and Sacrament (2:42) and the thankful sharing of prayers and possessions (2:42,45). This strong underpinning can’t help but to support a fellowship exemplified by commonality (2:44), generosity (2:46), awe-inspired worship (2:43,47) and influential favor (2:47).
- Faithful Ministry of Word and Sacrament
- “…devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…”
i. What? The Gospel as found in the Scriptures. The apostolic doctrine as written and preached by the apostles.
ii. Do Christian people come together for socials, dances, raffles, dramatic performances, lectures on politics, literature, and sociology?
iii. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (2:41). There would never have been an early church but for a particular teaching. So we are bound to emphasize that the teaching must come first because it was that which led to the conversions, the change. It was Peter’s preaching, his teaching and his doctrine that brought these people together. They “gladly received his word” and were baptized. And we are told in verse 44, “And all that believed were together.” What did they believe? The same teaching.
iv. Why? (1) They craved it -- The apostle Peter later wrote a letter to a number of Christian people, and this is what he said to them: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2). In other words, wanting to listen to the Word is inevitable if men and women are born again and have become Christians. A babe does not understand, but he has an instinct for milk. He wants it! (2) Become aware of their ignorance (3) Understand more about what had taken place in their lives (4) Learn more about the truth in order to help others (D. Martin Lloyd-Jones).
- “…devoted themselves….to the breaking of bread…”
i. Though there is some question as to the actual meaning of this particular phrase, it most likely refers to the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. They devoted themselves to the Table.
ii. Why? The answer to that question is two-fold: first, the Lord Jesus Christ’s commandment (Luke 22:15-20); second, the benefit of the Sacrament (1 Cor. 11:23-29).
1. The Lord commanded his disciples, in his institution of the Sacrament on the night in which he was betrayed, to continue in like manner, proclaiming his death until he returns. Here we have the New Covenant equivalent and fulfillment of the Passover.
2. The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace (WCF SC #93).
- The Thankful sharing of Prayers and Possessions
- They thankfully shared their prayers and possessions with one another in the community. This thanksgiving, which is driven by two factors, blessing and possession, manifests itself in the community’s devotion to one another as they care for individual and corporate needs.
i. The believers were grateful for their own possessions, which they saw as blessings from God and willingly gave of them to bless others within their community who were not as privileged.
1. They sought to meet the needs of those around them.
ii. The small groups of believers also robustly believed in the power of prayer.
1. They did not hesitate to pray for one another. In fact, they prayed about everything. Sharing their concerns among themselves and actively presenting their requests to God (Phil. 4:6), which was done in thanksgiving.
- An Exemplary and Grounded Fellowship
- “All who believed were together and had all things in common” – Commonality
i. This group inspiringly had a tremendous sense of commonality. We are told that they “had all things in common.” Interestingly, Luke, in much detail, tells us that they held a large majority of things in common, but the most important thing held in common was their devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, his word and his sacraments.
1. Verse 41 informs us that “those who received his word were baptized and…were added to their number.” They came together in the essential aspect of life, faith. When the essential things in life are held in common, amazingly the minor aspects seem to fall into place without exception. It is a matter of priority.
- “…day by day…with glad and generous hearts.”
i. As we have already seen, the community of faith can be identified by generosity. “They sold their possessions and belongings and distributing them to all, as any had need” (45). This was an extremely common characteristic of the true church communities.
1. In reference to this community, Luke again comments, “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold….and it was distributed to each as any who had need” (4:34-35).
2. It is not surprising that this would be the case with the community of faith named after Christ, especially given the manner in which their Lord walked and taught.
A. When asked, “What is the greatest Commandment?” Jesus responded, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength.’ And the second is like unto the first, ‘Love you neighbor as yourself”” (Matt. 22:37-39).
B. Jesus demonstrated his generosity and sacrificial heart on the cross. How could his community (his spiritual house) be anything but generous to one another and to the world?
- “And awe came upon ever soul…praising God…”
i. Awe-inspired worship. Worship is the reason for which we were created. WCF SC #1, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
1. The community not only involved themselves in worship, which we have already seen (preaching of the Word and Sacraments), but that worship was inspired through their reverence of God.
A. Worship begins with a fear of God. If that reverent fear is not there, then true worship of God is impossible. It begins with a right perspective on the greatness of God.
- “…and having favor with all the people.”
i. Remarkably, Luke speaks of the community’s influence in the world. They had favor that affected the hearts, lives and souls of all of those with whom they came into contact. The Church was engulfed with being the Church.
1. The surrounding community was so affected by their communal life that they were intrigued by the life of faith and some even came to faith (2:47) in Christ. The Lord used his church’s influence to advance his glory and name in the world as he added to their number daily.
HOW DOES OUR FELLOWSHIP SHAPE UP TO THE STANDARD?