Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part Two

Notice that those who gladly responded in faith, repentance and baptism were "added". To what and by whom were they "added"? We find the answer in verse 47: "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Lord's church (His "ekklesia"). This "called-out" assembly or group was created when the gospel was proclaimed and people responded to it.

At first, the church existed only in Jerusalem and then expanded through preaching of the gospel. As the gospel spread, and people responded to it, groups of these saved people in various
cities met together. Each group became known as a church in a local sense (in contrast to the church universal which is made up of all those saved throughout the world). For example, during Paul's first missionary journey, many such churches were established - Ac 14:21-23 "Paul and Barnabas preached the good news in Derbe and won some people to the Lord. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. They encouraged the followers and begged them to remain faithful. They told them, "We have to suffer a lot before we can get into God's kingdom." Paul and Barnabas chose some leaders for each of the churches. Then they went without eating and prayed that the Lord would take good care of these leaders." By simply teaching the gospel of Christ, a local church was formed when those who obeyed the gospel joined together in their work and worship.

These local churches were then edified through the Apostle’s doctrine. Though united in Christ, these local churches were independent of any human association or federation of churches. Christ directed them through His inspired apostles, as they taught them how to worship and work together - Ac 2:42 "They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together." Sometimes this teaching by the apostles was done directly, other times by appointed emissaries - 1 Co 4:17 "That's why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church." Just as often, the teaching was done through the epistles or letters written by the apostles - 1 Co 14:37 "If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded."; 1 Ti 3:14-15 "I hope to visit you soon. But I am writing these instructions, so that if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth."; 2 Th 2:14-15 "God used our preaching as his way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. My friends, that's why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters."; 3:14 "Be on your guard against any followers who refuse to obey what we have written in this letter. Put them to shame by not having anything to do with them." When we read what the Bible says us about the Lord’s church, we learn that by responding to the gospel and paying close heed to the "apostles’ doctrine" (cf. Ac 2:42), people in the first century were able to be Christians only, without all the confusion prevalent today.

Is it possible for us to do this today? Yes! Here is how. First, the way out of religious confusion is to accept the call of the gospel. Remember, Christ calls us into His ekklesia (church) through the gospel. Therefore, we can begin by obeying the same instructions that Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit." Repenting of our sins, and being baptized for the remission of our sins, we then receive the same blessings as did the 3000 on that day: salvation! By being saved in this manner, we know that the Lord truly adds us to His church just as He added them - Ac 2:47 "while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved."

-- What then...? Follow the example of the early Christians. The early Christians continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine - Ac 2:42 "They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together." They joined no other religious organization, and neither should we! In Christ, we are automatically united with all others who are in Him! As members of the Lord's church, we should study carefully the New Testament description of the church that continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. This description is found in the Book of Acts and in the Epistles which follow it. It is here that we will find instructions from the Lord's apostles on how:
To worship the Lord acceptably.
To be scripturally organized as local congregations.
To live and work together as Christians, spreading the gospel of Christ through.word and example.
Since the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, we may be sure their instructions were exactly what Jesus wanted them to be! If we duplicate the early churches by following the apostles' instructions, we will simply be "Christians", and we can be certain the Lord is pleased with us. As Jesus said to His apostles about those who would receive or reject their instructions:
"He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." - Lk 10:16

Simply being a Christian, and duplicating a New Testament congregation is not as difficult as one might think. There are literally thousands of such congregations throughout the world. There is likely one in your area right now! (Feel free to contact me if you would like to try and locate the nearest one.). There is also the option of starting a congregation in your own home by following the example and teachings of Jesus, as revealed by His apostles, we can be led out of
the religious confusion that dominates the religious world today! Do you want to be simply a Christian, a member of the Lord's church we read about in the New Testament...? If so, then I plead with you to first render obedience to the gospel of Christ as proclaimed by Peter and all the apostles - read Ac 2:36-38. You have the assurance of God's Word that you will then be added by the Lord Himself to His church - read Ac 2:47. Then, you have the responsibility to learn and follow the apostles' doctrine as you serve the Lord Jesus in your life - read Ac 2:42. If you have not yet responded to the commands of the gospel as put forth by Peter in Ac 2:38, why not let the reaction of those who did on the Day of Pentecost describe your actions today:
"Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." - Ac 2:41