And They Continued Steadfastly In the Apostles' Doctrine - Part 1188

An analogy worth sharing is that of a university professor presenting course material to the students. Within this particular curriculum, there is a text assigned as the course reading. Some students did not want to read the course text, so decidedly searched supplementary reading material for the class. The problem emerged when the final exam was given. As outlined in the course syllabus, the exam was based on the text. But the students here did not read the text. What did you think happened?

Well, the same outcome happens when we choose not to read/study the Word of God. We fill our minds with supplementary knowledge, but not the much needed wisdom that our Lord God and Saviour knows will support us in our day to day faith journey. And, sadly, as a consequence, we miss many of the treasures and insights that the Lord wants to give us -- because we did not read the text -- His Word. We did not get to know Jesus personally through the instructions given in His Word.

The same God who was in the flesh and dwelt among us. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto Hi)s own but His own received Him not. (John 1:1-18) But it does not have to be this way.

According to the Biblical scriptures, the Church is His body. We are the body of Christ. We are His bones. We are His flesh. We are the temple in which He is pleased to dwell. Because Jesus is the Head of the Church, we are the people called by His name (the Jesus people).

And just as the early believers continued steadfastly in the teachings of the Spirit of God, they in turn delivered the same message to us. As the scriptures state, "For another foundation can no man lay other than that which has been laid." (Galatians 1:8)

This is the apostles' foundation with Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone. (Acts 2:37-42)

Further, Jesus said this is My Church and the gates (teachings of hell) shall not prevail against it. The Holy Spirit of Jesus Himself will lead and guide believers into all truth. As it is written, believers will all be taught of God. Christ alone is the Head of His Church (body). In essence then, this Church is not a two headed church. This foundation verifies yet again that there is only one mediator between God and man. (I Timothy 2:5-6)

That is, the man Jesus the Christ who is the only begotten Son of the Spirit of God. It is in this body that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in the man Jesus. (Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16) This makes God alone the Father and Mother of the man Jesus.

But doesn't the roman catholic church teach that Mary was the mother of God?Yes, they do but anyone who has studied the scriptures know that there is no foundation for this teaching. In fact, Mary was a surrogate mother of the Son of God. Does Mary intercede on our behalf? Absolutely not. Mary said that her spirit rejoiced in "God her Saviour."

Can a believer be more blessed than Mary? Indeed, yes. As the scriptures state, more blessed are they that hear the Word of God and do it.  Blessed much more than the womb that bore Me! Who is Jesus' mother and father then? They that hear the Word of God and do it. Is anyone infallible? No. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one.

But the good news is that whosoever sins that you remit, they are remitted. Whosoever sins that you retain, they are retained. When Jesus bore our sins on a tree, He allowed the people -- sinners -- to call upon Jesus so that they would receive forgiveness and remission of sin. But the apostolic message did not end there. In this context, other questions are asked. Am I really baptized if I am baptized in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit?

As outlined in earlier posts, these are relationship titles with no applicable name attached. By being baptized in the titles and not the name of Jesus (who is both Lord and Christ), one is substituting man’s rendition of Matthew chapter 28:19 without including the practical applicability. How did the apostles baptize? How were new believers baptized in the Bible? Note here that the apostles did follow Jesus' instructions when they baptized believers in His name -- in the precious name of Jesus Christ!

It is the same when, during communion, countless congregations of people are told that the wafer or bread and the wine are miraculously transformed into the blood and body of Christ. Would I be committing an unforgivable sin if I participate? We would if we did not acknowledge that Jesus sacrificed Himself once and for all so that we could be saved.  As such, there is no longer a need for churches to offer a repeat performance.

The scriptures are clear on this point. Jesus made the sacrifice. Jesus said "It is finished." Note that the sacrificial death of Jesus is present tense, meaning that the words of Jesus extend to you and I today.

Moreover, there is only one high priest. That is Jesus, who is a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. Is the new testament a continuation of the old covenant? No. The new testament is a testament between one party. This one relationship is between God who is Spirit and between God Himself as a Son. Grace testament. Whereas the old covenant was between two parties -- a covenant of life and death -- the new testament is about grace! This is why the scriptures ask new believers to search the scriptures so that they will know and understand the plan of salvation too.

What were the first believers told to do? The first 3000 people who believed in Jesus repented and were baptized into the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. (Details of this encounter can be further explored by reading Acts chapter 2 below).

So, instead of following a man-made religious construct, why not take this opportunity to delve into the Word of God. Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with His wisdom and knowledge. Be inspired. Be strengthened. Become everything that God intended when He first put His purpose in you when you were formed within your mother's womb.

Most of all, stand firm in the apostles' doctrine. Repent (ask the Lord Jesus for forgiveness for your sins), be baptized in the name of Jesus and expect to receive His gift of the Holy Ghost living within you.

Stand in the offering plate.

Acts 2: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, "What meaneth this?" Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words, for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; "And it shall come to pass in the last days," saith God, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke, the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come."

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know -- Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.

For David speaketh concerning Him, "I foresaw the Lord always before My face, for He is on My right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore, did My heart rejoice, and My tongue was glad. Moreover, also My flesh shall rest in hope ... because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to Me the ways of life. Thou shalt make Me full of joy with Thy countenance."

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on His throne;

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but He saith Himself, "The LORD said unto my Lord, "Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." 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.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.