-The New Testament Church In Apostolic Times

The New Testament Church In Apostolic Times THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IN APOSTOLIC TIMES
J. P. Crenshaw A Cross Section
On the first Pentecost, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, in the city of Jerusalem, the Spirit-filled apostles preached the gospel of Christ for the first time. Some of them that heard, gladly accepted the word, and were baptized. And the Lord added them to his church. Thus the New Testament church in apostolic times came into existence—a per­fect institution—a God-given means of joining Chris­tians together in an association that truly means much to us as we attempt to develop in the “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Can we find in our world of to-day the same church ? May we hold up before us to-day this New Testament church and examine it? Look right through it. See a cross section of it. Then see if one just like it can be found among men to-day. The Doctrine: Jesus had told his disciples to “go teach all nations,” “Go preach the gospel to every creature.” They understood that the salvation of men and women was absolutely contingent upon their hear­ing the gospel. Not only so, but the apostles realized that this gospel of Christ was the only thing that peo­ple did have to hear to be saved. So today if we see the New Testament church,—-that church will not only be preaching the gospel of Christ, but will be preach­ing absolutely nothing else—no politics, no book reviews, no sermons or prayers designed to make people believe that they may be saved in some way apart from this Word. Hear Peter, “Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe” (Acts 15:7). This hearing had to produce faith in the heart of the hearer, as a condition of his salvation, when the apostles preached. It is so today. This church, if we find it now, will be preaching that people must have faith to be acceptable to God (Hebrews 11:6); and teach­ing that this faith comes only through the word of God and from no other source, and in no other way. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). “Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book, but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John 20:30-31). And when an individual hears in this gospel how wonderfully good God has been to him, he will be moved to repent of any and all of his sins. Listen! “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). And again, “Except ye repent ye shall all like­wise perish” (Luke 13:3). Once I come to see and meditate upon what God and His Son suffered to bring to me the opportunity of my salvation, I will truly repent of having transgressed his law in any particular.

Confess: And, oh, how happy I shall be to confess His name before men and claim of Him his promise to confess me before his Father when such identification will mean more than all the world to me. Jesus said : “Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). When Philip listened to the eunuch confess his faith, he asked no large number of questions as is the modern custom; he asked for and heard just one great fact, brought to the heart of this man by listening to the preaching of Christ to him: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).

These same apostles, when they heard Jesus say “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16), realized that they were listening to the author of eternal salvation, state the conditions upon which he would save. Thus we find that in every case re­corded in the Bible of anyone being added to the New Testament church in apostolic times, that individual was a penitent, baptized believer. They at no time intimated that one could be saved without being bap­tized into Christ (Galatians 3:27).

This, my friends, is a brief statement of the doctrine of the New Testament church in apostolic times. Any religious body to-day, claiming to be this same church, must be found, upon close examination, to teach exactly this same doctrine.

New Testament Church in Worship. In this matter, as in all other teaching, the Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth.
The Lord’s Supper. The New Testament church assembled on the first day of the week to eat the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). The eating of this supper was direct command of the Lord (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). The day of assembly, and all the items included in this worship were divinely ordered. This supper commemorates the tragedy of Calvary. With our minds fixed on the price Jesus paid for our redemp­tion, thinking of the awful loneliness of his soul when there went up from his broken heart the cry, “My God, my God! why hast Thou forsaken me,” we partake of this loaf and this fruit of the vine in memory of him, and proclaim to the world the fact that he is coming again. No martyr ever had to die for the faith, with the face of the Heavenly Father turned from him; but Jesus had to do that. What were the pangs that Christ endured? I cannot tell you. Terrible was the physical side of it; but much more heart rending is the fact that when Jesus took upon himself sin, God could not look with any pleasure upon him. The height, the length, the depth and breadth of what Jesus endured, no heart can guess, no tongue can tell, nor can imagination picture. God only knows the grief to which the Son was brought. Is it any wonder that tears come to our eyes and our hearts overflow when we avail ourselves of this blessed privilege of meeting with him at his table?

(b) Fellowship. From 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and Acts 2:42, and other passages, we learn that an important part of the worship under inspiration, was the giving of their means to the furtherance of the Lord’s work. From all that God had given them they gladly and with forethought—and with deliberate purpose in their hearts faithfully laid by in store a generous por­tion of their money, into a common fund for the preach­ing of the gospel and the helping of the poor saints. Beloved, do we to-day portray faithfully before the world the New Testament church in this particular?

(c) Prayer. They made great use of the God- given privilege and indispensable Christian duty of prayer, in worship to God. “We ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). And again, “Be anxious in nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests to made known unto God” (Php_4:6).

(d) Praise in Song. Christians are commanded to praise in song. These very familiar scriptures on this subject (Ephesians 5:15-20; Colossians 3:16) show beyond ques­tion that this music of praise is purely vocal and speaks, teaches and admonishes. We must sing with the spirit and with the understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15). Did you sing your last song that way?

(e) Preaching. Preaching of the gospel was the prime purpose of the church in apostolic times and, of course, this statement needs no argument, or expla­nation as an item of worship. Jesus had told these men to “Go teach all nations .......go preach the gospel to every creature” (Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16). This preaching was never neglected in the New Testament church, even though you may find it neg­lected now by our brethren, to the hurt of Christian people, and the eternal loss of souls round about them. Thus we find the worship as well as the doctrine of the New Testament church in apostolic times, clearly set forth in the word of God. But may we pause just here to observe: Worship, is to be acceptable to God, must be in spirit as well as in truth (John 4:24). How wonderfully well suited to our hearts are these items of worship. Each thing done, lifts our hearts closer in tune with the great heart of God. A king once built a beautiful mansion and at one end of the long dining hall, had a magnificent harp built. Some years later the prince moved into this castle and when the strings of the long unused harp were struck, it was found that discord resulted. It was hopelessly out of tune. From all over the kingdom the best musicians were brought and, one by one, they attempted to tune the harp. After each effort the re­sult was the same,—still out of tune. One evening about sundown, an old man stopped at the gate of the castle and asked for food and shelter. He was kindly received by the Prince and invited into the dining hall. After the supper, the old man looked at the great harp, covered and still, and asked why it was kept so cov­ered. The Prince replied it was out of tune, and that despite his best efforts, no one had been found who was able to tune it. The old man asked permission to try his hand at it. Some hours later, the Prince and his family were called in, and the old man began to touch the strings, and tone after tone, melody and perfect harmony filled the room. In amazement the Prince demanded to know how this old traveller was able to accomplish what so many others had been un­able to do. The old man said: “Young man, I made that harp, I built every string in it, I put it there where it stands.”

Beloved, we need worship to keep us in tune. The God that made your heart and mine will keep us in tune if we place ourselves in his presence and keep ourselves there.

We have hastened over these familiar thoughts— vital though they are. Brethren, our doctrine is unas­sailable! It has been contradicted by the command­ments of men; it has been questioned in debate by the leading minds of denominational preachers in every age. Being founded entirely on God’s word has made it altogether safe from every attack. Our worship, based on the same simple truth has stood, and will stand the test of all criticism. Being thus fortified by Scripture at every turn, do we present to the world to-day a perfect New Testament church? Can we challenge them to show one principle we lack? Are we perfectly willing to say, “Bring your measuring rod, the infallible Word, and measure us as we stand to-day—in us you will find a perfect replica of the New Testament Church?” When we approach this thought, we are forced to remember that after all, Christianity is an individual matter. That New Testament church was just a group of individual Christians. Each mem­ber had a place in it and that church was just what its members were. The Savior one time was approached by a man who was much concerned about his eternal welfare. After the man had testified as to his careful observance of all the commandments, Jesus told that individual “one thing thou lackest.” Would our Lord have to make a like statement to us ? I confess to you this morning, that with a perfect doctrine, a God-given worship, I am persuaded that the church is not reaching the world with the power of God to save as it should. No question can be raised as to the present power of the gospel we preach. It is just as powerful to-day, just as potent to save as it was when Peter, James, John, and Paul preached it. I am suggesting to you that we are lacking in one thing and that thing is the spirit of the New Testament church.

Appreciation. It meant something to a Christian of that day, that while he was yet a sinner; while he knew in his own heart that he had in no way merited such a sacrifice, Jesus Christ had died to make his salvation possible: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he hum­bled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Php_2:6-8). That kind of a Savior—one who not only could, but would take upon himself, who knew no sin, every mistake and sin com­mitted by each penitent, baptized believer, and remove from him, sins which would forever separate him from his God—meant something to that New Testament Christian in apostolic times. Do we appreciate what Jesus has done for us as much as it was appreciated by those early Christians? I mean to ask, do we noticeably stand out, before the world, as men and women who have been bought and paid for by the blood of the Son of God; people who feel toward God like Paul did when he, speaking of God, added this language “Whose I am and whom I serve” (Acts 27:23). They not only were moved with deep admiration for what Jesus had done for them individually, but a growing realization of what he would do for them day after day, in their walk in his service, warmed their hearts with an appreciation that was noticeable to those with whom they came in contact. “If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It is truly wonderful to have all our past sins forgiven, then to add to that, the actual knowledge that the same blood will continue to cleanse, to remit sin, was then and is now enough to stir in the breast of a man a determination to walk in the light of God’s word, a determination that nothing this world has to offer, could ever alter. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:1-2).

Beautiful thought! He not only tvas but is daily our Saviour from the death that sin deserves. This thought caused them to walk separate and apart from the world and it ought to arouse in your heart and mine a similar appreciation of such a Savior.

Let us take one more step. Not only a deliverer from the past sins, and the present mistakes, but when our life here is ended the provider of a “house not made with hands, a home eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1) If a man gives any serious thought at all to the life that follows this one, if he has a heart in his breast, he will be moved, and touched and tendered at this passage:

“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).

Those early Christians were carried by such thoughts as these, through trials such as we can only imagine. Do these words mean as much to us as they meant to them ? Have they changed our lives like they transformed theirs?

Such an appreciation of their salvation from sin gave birth to a great desire to serve this Savior. Do we feel it as they felt it ? Is this desire as strong with us as it was with them?

One day John the Baptist pointed out to two of his disciples, Jesus. “One of the two which heard John speak, and fol­lowed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, ‘We have found the Messiah, which is being in­terpreted, the Christ.’ And he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:41-42).

Look at what Peter afterwards accomplished. If that act were the only worthwhile thing Andrew ever did, his life was a grand success. He brought to the Savior a man who would live and die to serve men for whom Jesus died. Later in the same chapter we read: “Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith unto him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Jos­eph’ ” (John 1:45).

These men exercised the spirit that, after the church was established, made them really great in service. Paul, an inspired member of the New Tstament church expressed this thought in language that will impress' every honest reader: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians: both to the wise and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:14-16). If we could only feel our appreciation as keenly as Paul felt it, we would be moved with the spirit that animated him, and serve our Lord at any cost. Paul felt that his salvation obligated him to the extent that he owed a debt to every unsaved soul he could possibly reach. He like Abraham was blessed to bless Genesis 12:2). Paul not only says that he was working on the payment of the debt, but that he was ready to preach the gospel anywhere and not ashamed of it in any company, at any time. Are we ready? I am looking into the faces of men and women who have for years worn the name of Christ and have never, nor could you now, take your Bible and quietly point out to some earnest soul the very passages in God’s word that teach them what to do to be saved. Were our appreciation keener, our desire to serve would'be stronger.

Spirit of Humility. It seems that some peculiarity of human nature causes men and women who know that their doctrine and worship can be read word for word from the Bible, to become somewhat impatient and even unreasonable with those who possibly have not enjoyed the same favorable circumstances that helped them learn what scripture they know. If, in­stead of judging by comparison with some of my less fortunate neighbors I would compare myself to those New Testament church members I will come to feel my littleness. When I think of Paul, I do not think I labor very hard or suffer very much. When I think of Peter, I do not seem very courageous. Compared to John I am not very gentle. The humility that will grow from such thoughts will not hinder my actions in the cause of the Lord but will increase my activities. When men and women can tell with certainty that we do not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, that spirit will enable us to reach them and touch and tender their lives with the gospel. A cer­tain congregation which had among its elders one who was rich and inclined to be a little stingy, was without a preacher and sent for one to come with a view to locating with them. The minister found his text in the twelfth chapter of Luke, verses thirteen to twenty- one. As he reached the conclusion of the record of the rich man who forgot to put God into his plans, the rich elder said “that is not the man we want for this work.” A few Sundays later another minister preached for them and took his lesson from the same scripture. As he concluded a very similar lesson, as far as the facts stated were concerned, this rich elder said, “That is the man we need.” Being- pressed for the reason for liking the second message better, he replied: “The first minister preached like my money was going to send me to perdition, and he did not much care if it did; but the second man preached like my money was going to send me to perdition, and he just could hardly stand to see me go—it broke his heart for me to be lost.” That is the spirit of the New Tes­tament church. Maybe it could all be summed up under the head of love. If we really love the Lord who died for us, we can hardly stand to see a man made in his image, lost from him forever. When we consider the fact that Jesus left a perfect heaven, and came to this sin-stricken land of suffering and death, to die without even the appreciation of those for whom the sacrifice was being made; when we think that all he could hope to gain, the only thing to be added to the joy he had before he left heaven, was just your presence and mine, our love for our Savior wells up within us until we feel like we really have caught the spirit of New Testament Christianity. May God help you and me to get a conception of the spirit of the apostles; may we work like they worked, may we live like they lived, may we serve like they served, and may we love like they loved.