The First Church Members
Rex Yancey
Acts 2:41-47
Jesus had promised his disciples that when he left the earth, he would send the Holy Spirit upon them. At that point in their lives their spiritual possibilities would soar beyond anything they could imagine. He reminded them that not only would their works equal his works; they would exceed them. ''Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. John 14:12
Peter had said a lot of things in his lifetime, but never had he spoken as he did on the day of Pentecost, in the power of the Holy Spirit. On that day, with one sermon, more people were won to Christ than were won by Jesus during his entire three-year ministry.
In one day, a congregation of 120 souls became a congregation of 3,120 souls. They stepped out of darkness into the light, out of meaningless rituals to amazing grace; out of deadly sin into the living Christ. Three thousand Jews stepped out of Judaism into the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first few thousand members of the church were all Jews. They became the believing remnant as the Lord called a true Israel out of all Israel. Remember Paul's words about the preaching of the gospel in those days. It was always to the Jew first and then to the gentiles. Romans 1:16
It wasn't until Peter went to Cornelius' house that Gentiles were added to the church. Shortly thereafter, the number of Gentiles far exceeded the Jews in the church, but it was all Jews who made up the charter membership of the early church.
I want us to see several things about these people when this church was as near perfect as it has ever been in the history of Christianity.
1.THEY WERE SAVED PEOPLE.
They didn't hear Peter's word, did they? Luke says that they received the word. He didn't say they joined the church. He said they were added to the body of Christ.
Peter preached and they receive ...
Rex Yancey
Acts 2:41-47
Jesus had promised his disciples that when he left the earth, he would send the Holy Spirit upon them. At that point in their lives their spiritual possibilities would soar beyond anything they could imagine. He reminded them that not only would their works equal his works; they would exceed them. ''Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. John 14:12
Peter had said a lot of things in his lifetime, but never had he spoken as he did on the day of Pentecost, in the power of the Holy Spirit. On that day, with one sermon, more people were won to Christ than were won by Jesus during his entire three-year ministry.
In one day, a congregation of 120 souls became a congregation of 3,120 souls. They stepped out of darkness into the light, out of meaningless rituals to amazing grace; out of deadly sin into the living Christ. Three thousand Jews stepped out of Judaism into the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first few thousand members of the church were all Jews. They became the believing remnant as the Lord called a true Israel out of all Israel. Remember Paul's words about the preaching of the gospel in those days. It was always to the Jew first and then to the gentiles. Romans 1:16
It wasn't until Peter went to Cornelius' house that Gentiles were added to the church. Shortly thereafter, the number of Gentiles far exceeded the Jews in the church, but it was all Jews who made up the charter membership of the early church.
I want us to see several things about these people when this church was as near perfect as it has ever been in the history of Christianity.
1.THEY WERE SAVED PEOPLE.
They didn't hear Peter's word, did they? Luke says that they received the word. He didn't say they joined the church. He said they were added to the body of Christ.
Peter preached and they receive ...
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