More Troubles and a Conclusion

We all know that false brethren can beguile our sensibilities and gain access and in time find a platform for their doctrines. But what should be the church’s response? Here in the fifteenth chapter of Acts we have an example of what should be done and how it should be handled.

Spreading the Gospel and the Winds of Change

Some say that Jerusalem was not a missionary church and that it did not do its part in sending out evangelists to the surrounding areas. But the record says they worked until they could work no longer. The apostles even remained there until some good time after the persecution that followed the death of Stephen, and it says those members who were scattered “went everywhere preaching the word.”

Church Discipline

The makeup of this church was also demonstrated in the incident just previous to the one discussed in the last essay, where Ananias came in and laid a bag of silver at the feet of Peter for distribution. Now if the disciples of that day had the same bearing as some and were as irreverent as people in assemblies called churches today, there would have been catcalls, hand clapping and shouts like, “You go Ananias, you’re the man” and such like. But that is not what happened.

Dealing with problems

As you probably know, as good as the unity was in Jerusalem it was not without problems. In time a number of Hellenist widows complained about being ignored in the very things we noted and praised the church about in the last two outings. By explanation, those who were known as Hellenists had acquiesced to and adopted Greek culture, though they were not Greek themselves.

Christian Union

From time to time, there is talk about Christian union in religious discussions. We should steadfastly pray for it. But here we need to note that at that time and for that time – Christian union had existed in this first congregation of God’s people. The record tells us that this mass of men and women were “of one mind.” They were this way to such an extent that it states that they “held all things in common” and that none had any need that was not met.

With the principal points introduced in the first essay understood, let us take a brief look at the example and make up of the church in Jerusalem and how it operated in its early days in Palestine.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And in time, in the course of creation, he created both man and woman who, as with the rest, were created in perfection. The reason why I know that this is so is because the word of God tells me that God had created them in his own image, and so they had to be just exactly as intended and designed. In fact the record states that God saw what he had created and said that it was “very good.”

This article was given me by William G. Bass many years ago. Its author was not identified, but it is clear that it was taken from a publication of the day. I have tried to locate it on the internet and in librarries, but have not been successful. I believe that it might be from […]

(Many of you have heard lessons about the establishment of the church, and many of those lessons follow the same detail as found in this one. While this is a composite of several of these it is based primarily upon a lesson by N.B. Hardeman. I hope you might find it useful.)
Most of the mighty […]

In the previous section the apostle had condemned factions within the church at Corinth and closed with a long admonition to follow his example in avoiding such things. He had stated, “Let no one glory in men,” ( 3: 21 ) “And you are Christs and Christ is Gods” ( 3: 23 ), and also, […]