Acts 2

Acts 2:1-13

4. “WHAT MEANETH THIS?” Acts 2:1-13 The events of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 rightfully claim the attention of the church of God. Here Luke records for us the great outpouring of God the Holy Spirit upon his church. Let us carefully and prayerfully study what happened on that great day. Some try to fabricate a reenactment of Pentecost, while others simply ignore it as an event in history which has no relevance to the church today. Both are in error. While we recognize that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit were temporary signs, given for specific purposes, we also realize that the events of that great day have an application to God’s church today.

What the Holy Spirit was then, he is now. He is God who changes not. Whatever he did for the church of God at Pentecost, he is able to do for the church of God today. His power has not diminished. God the Holy Spirit is still with the church of Christ in this world. We should expect his divine work among us! WHAT WAS ? It was one of three great feasts given by the commandment of God (Leviticus 23:4-21). The reason why there was such a great crowd at Jerusalem was the fact that God required every male Israelite to attend these feasts every year. First, The Feast of Passover (Leviticus 23:4-8). Actually, this feast originated in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-13). When the judgment of God fell upon Egypt the passover lamb was sacrificed. The blood of the lamb was put on the door of every house in Israel. When judgment fell, God looked on the blood and passed over every house where blood was on the door. The passover lamb represented Christ, the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7), by whose blood we are saved. He kept the passover feast with his disciples just before he was crucified. It was then that he instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:17-30). Second, The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-11). On Sunday after the passover sabbath Israel brought a handful of the firstfruits of harvest and waved it before the Lord. This signified that every product of the soil, every result of man’s labor and toil is from God. It was on this day that our Lord arose from the grave and became the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). All the results of his work on the cross, our redemption and resurrection, are of God. Third, The Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-21) was held seven weeks after the passover. Here the Jews renewed their vows and dedicated themselves anew to the Lord God. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit was given as our Savior had promised. WHEN DID THE HOLY SPIRIT COME UPON THE ? (Acts 2:1). He came at the divinely appointed time, “when the day of Pentecost was fully come.” Once Christ ascended back to heaven and was exalted, the Spirit was given (Psalms 68:18-19; Ephesians 4:7-12; Galatians 3:13-14). It was Sunday morning. The disciples were gathered for worship in the appointed place. They were all with one accord, in prayer and expectation (Acts 1:14), waiting for the promise of the Spirit. The blessings of God always attend such unity and obedience (Psalms 133:1-3; Matthew 18:20). But strife and division grieve the Spirit and drive him away (Ephesians 4:30). WHAT WERE THE SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ? (Acts 2:2-3). The wind is a symbol of deity, therefore, a proper emblem of the Spirit. In fact, both the Hebrew and the Greek words for wind and the Spirit are the same. Wind is frequently used to represent the power and presence of God (Ezekiel 37:9; Job 38:1). The sound of rushing, mighty wind symbolizes the irresistible power of grace which comes by the Spirit of God (John 3:8; Psalms 65:4; Psalms 110:3). Like the wind, God is uncontrolled by man, sovereign, almighty, and irresistible in all his works! The fire is also an emblem of divinity. God appeared to Abraham as a burning lamp (Genesis 15:17) and to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6). The symbol of his presence with Israel was a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21-22). He showed himself for Elijah by devouring fire (1 Kings 18:38). Isaiah’s lips were cleansed by a live coal of fire (Isaiah 6:1-8). “Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). Like fire, the Spirit of God illuminates the people of God (John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14). Like fire, he gives power to energize and invigorate the church of God and the servants of God. Without him we can do nothing. With him there is nothing we cannot do! WHAT WERE THE EFFECTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ? (Acts 2:4-11). First, “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” Oh, that we might each be filled with the Spirit! To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by him (Ephesians 5:18-20). It is to be filled with his grace (Galatians 5:22-23), filled with his comfort (John 14:16-18), and filled with his influence (Romans 8:14). Second, they “began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The gift of tongues was the ability to speak a language that had not been learned (Acts 2:6-11). It was not the meaningless repetition of unintelligible sounds!

This gift was a temporary gift bestowed upon the apostles, identifying them as God’s inspired messengers and confirming their writings as the Word of God (Hebrews 2:3-4). Because we have the complete revelation of God in Holy Scripture, there is no need for supernatural gifts (miracles, tongues, etc.) to confirm God’s revelation (1 Corinthians 13:10; 2 Peter 1:19). The Spirit is the same today as he was then, but he does not manifest himself in the same way. Yet, three things always give evidence of the Spirit’s presence and power in the church.

1. He enables God’s servants to preach with power (Acts 2:4).
2. He enables chosen sinners to hear, understand, and believe the gospel of Christ (Acts 2:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:5).
3. He makes the gospel a savor of life to some and death to others (Acts 2:11-13; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16). WHAT WAS THE SUBJECT BY THE ? They all declared “the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11). Just read Peter’s sermon and you will see what those wonderful works of God are. On that day, as on all other occasions in the Book of Acts and on any day when a man preaches by the power of God the Holy Spirit, the subject matter was Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). The words “preach”, “preaching”, and “preached” appear 37 times in the Book of Acts. Every time they have reference to the preaching of Christ. We will look at it in more detail in our next study, but notice what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost.
4. Free Salvation through the Merits of Christ (Acts 2:21).
5. The Glorious Sovereignty of God (Acts 2:23).
6. The Desperate Wickedness and Depravity of Man (Acts 2:23).
7. The Crucifixion and Death of Christ (Acts 2:23).
8. The Exaltation and Glory of Christ (Acts 2:32-36).
9. Repentance and the Remission of Sins by the Gift God (Acts 2:38-40). Let us pray for the presence and power of God the Holy Spirit to attend the assemblies of God’s church today (Isaiah 64:1-2). “Spirit divine! Attend our prayers, And make God’s house Thy home; Descend with all Thy gracious powers, Oh come, great Spirit, come!”

Acts 2:14-36

5. • THE OF THE CHRIST Acts 2:14-36 We have before us the sermon which Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. It is remarkably simple. It displays no great learning. It contains no heights of oratory. It contains no thrilling stories or illustrations. It is a simple declaration of divine truth, delivered to the hearts of men by the power of God. There is nothing in it to impress the flesh. But there is much here to prick the heart! The one object of Peter’s sermon at Pentecost and the one object of the Holy Spirit who inspired it was to set forth before fallen, guilty, needy sinners the redemptive accomplishments and resurrection glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. First, PETER THE OF WHAT ON THE DAY OF (Acts 2:14-21). Peter met these men where they were. They were mocking the apostles upon whom the Holy Spirit had fallen. They attempted to explain away the work of the Spirit which they could not understand (1 Corinthians 2:14) by saying that those men who spoke by the Spirit of God were drunk (Acts 2:13). Peter stood, lifted up his voice with confidence and boldness, and said, “Listen to me. I will explain to you from the Word of God, which you profess to believe, what is happening in your midst.

This marvellous outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy” (Joe 2:28-32). Joel identified the Messiah positively by giving a fourfold proof of his enthronement and the establishment of his kingdom. These things point to the Lord Jesus Christ and say, “This is the Messiah!”

1. “The last days” began with the coming of the Messiah (1 John 2:18). “The last days” encompass the whole space of time from the first advent to the second advent of Christ.
2. The Spirit of God has been poured out upon all flesh, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor (Acts 2:17-18; Galatians 3:13-14; Colossians 3:11). Though men in the Old Testament were from time to time filled with the Spirit (1 Peter 1:11; Nehemiah 9:20), this great outpouring of the Spirit was reserved as a signal that Christ has come and his kingdom has been established. People in the Old Testament were regenerated by the Spirit of God just as they are today (John 3:3-8). Yet, the works of God’s grace were primarily limited to the nation of Israel. Now his grace is scattered throughout the nations of the world. NOTE: As noted in the previous lesson, the miraculous gifts of tongues, prophecy, visions, etc. were temporary. They were given to announce the enthronement of Christ. It should also be noted that as early as Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians God forbade any kind of public ministry by women (1 Corinthians 14:26; 1 Corinthians 14:34).
3. The judgment of God has fallen upon the nation of Israel for their rejection and crucifixion of Christ (Acts 2:19-20; Matthew 22:7). Joel described God’s judgment of Israel in figurative symbols. Because of their contempt of the gospel, God destroyed the civil government of Israel as a nation and turned the light he had given them into darkness (Luke 19:41-44; Luke 23:28-29; Romans 11:7-11; Romans 11:25). Blinded Israel stands as a beacon to warn all who trifle with the things of God (Romans 1:21; Proverbs 1:23-33).
4. The gospel of the grace of God is now proclaimed to all the nations of the world (Acts 2:21). God now gathers his elect from among the Gentiles by the preaching of the gospel according to his wise and sovereign purpose of grace (Psalms 2:7-8; Romans 10:10-13). This is the meaning of Pentecost. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit declares that Christ has come, redeemed his people, and established his kingdom. At last, God’s promise to Abraham is fulfilled (Galatians 3:13-14). Secondly, PETER THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST (Acts 2:22-24). He seems to have anticipated a question which the Jews, whose hands were freshly stained with the blood of Christ, might ask - “If this Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God, if he has established his kingdom, how do you explain the fact that we have nailed him to the cross?” “Jesus of Nazareth” was “a man approved of God” as the God-man (Acts 2:22). His claims to divinity (John 8:56; John 14:9; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 3:16) were proved by his miracles. Those miracles performed by Christ were indisputable facts of public record. They could not be disputed even by his murderers. That man who turned water to wine, calmed the raging sea, gave sight to the blind, fed the multitudes, cleansed lepers, and raised the dead is God! How did Christ, the God-man, come to die the painful, shameful death of the cross? (Read Acts 2:23). The death of Christ was an act of God (Romans 5:8; Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:10). He was foreordained and predestinated to be our substitutionary sacrifice (1 Peter 1:18-20; Revelation 13:8; Hebrews 13:20). The only way sinners could be saved is by the satisfaction of justice. The only One who could satisfy justice is the Son of God. And the only way he could do it was by death (Hebrews 9:22), the death of the cross (Galatians 3:13). Yet, Christ died by the hands of wicked men, acting according to their own freewill. If nothing else convinces men of the abhorrence of freewill doctrine, this should - Freewill crucified the Lord of Glory! By his resurrection from the dead our Savior abolished death (Acts 2:24). He abolished the penal aspect of death for his people. He abolished its power, its terror, and its fears for all who believe (Hebrews 2:15). The resurrection of Christ was God’s public declaration that justice has been satisfied for his people’s sins (Romans 4:25 to Romans 5:1). Thirdly, PETER GIVES PROOF FROM THE OLD THAT THE MESSIAH MUST BOTH SUFFER DEATH AND BE BY THE POWER OF GOD (Acts 2:25-31). Quoting Psalms 16:8-11, the Apostle shows that David’s words were a prophecy of Christ’s death, resurrection, and exaltation. In all that he did, our Redeemer sought the glory of God, doing his Father’s will. He said, “I foresaw the Lord always before my face” (John 12:28-32; John 17:4-5). He was, as a man, sustained and strengthened in his work by the assurance of his Father’s presence. He said, “He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved” (Isaiah 50:5-7).

Our Savior faced his greatest trial with joyful confidence that he would, by his obedience unto death, both obtain the place of highest glory and save his people (Acts 2:26-28; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 12:1-3). In all theses things, the person spoken of was not David, but David’s Lord, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:29-31). May God give us grace ever to follow our Redeemer’s example, doing the will of God for the glory of God, being sustained by the awareness that God is with us, rejoicing always in the hope of everlasting glory. Fourthly, PETER THAT JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, HAS BEEN GIVEN AS LORD OVER ALL GOD’S (Acts 2:32-36). In our next lesson we will study these verses more fully, but here are two facts that all men must face.

1. That Christ whom we have crucified is now the exalted King of heaven and earth (Acts 2:32-33; Acts 2:36).
2. Sooner or later we must all bow to and acknowledge the rightful dominion and Lordship of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:34-35).

Acts 2:32-36

6. “BOTH LORD AND CHRIST” Acts 2:32-36 The subject before us in these verses is the exaltation and glory of Jesus Christ as Lord. This was the issue Peter pressed upon his hearers on the day of Pentecost. He did not ask them to lift their hands, walk down the aisle, come to the altar, or say the sinner’s prayer. The cheap tricks of easy-believism had not yet been invented. Peter demanded as God’s ambassador that those who heard him bow to, trust, and acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord. Peter shows us in this part of his sermon that the singular purpose for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was to announce the exaltation of Christ as Lord. The outpouring of the Spirit was not in any way a change in God’s plan. It did not alter God’s method of grace in salvation. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not the beginning of “the church age”, or a new “dispensational age”. This mighty outpouring announced the exaltation of Christ. The exaltation and glory of Christ as Lord over all things is the theme of all gospel preaching, the acknowledgement of all true faith, and the ground of the believer’s hope. We must understand this - The one issue between God and man is the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God demands that all men bow to and acknowledge the rightful dominion of his Son over all things. All men will bow to Christ, either in this life in repentance and faith, or in the day of judgment, but all will bow to Christ (Philippians 2:9-11). WHAT IS THE OF OUR SAVIOR’S ? Peter tells us that Christ is indeed exalted. The baby of Bethlehem is now the King of glory. The man we nailed to the cursed tree now sits upon the throne of universal dominion. The King of glory has come into his kingdom and taken possession of his throne (Psalms 24:7-10). What does that mean? What is the significance of Christ’s exaltation? First, Christ upon the throne means that his work is finished and complete (Hebrews 1:1-3; Hebrews 10:10-14). Our great High Priest is pictured as a Priest seated in the holy of holies, in heaven itself. In the Old Testament there was no chair in the holy place. Those priests could never sit down, because their work was never finished. Their sacrifices could never take away sin (Hebrews 10:1-4). But our High Priest is seated in heaven, in a posture of rest, because his work is finished!

All that was agreed upon in the covenant of grace he has done (John 17:4). He came to do his Father’s will, and he has done it completely. He brought in, by his obedience in life, perfect righteousness for God’s elect. By his death he satisfied all the demands of God’s law and justice as our Substitute (Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:1-5; John 19:30). Second, Christ’s exaltation upon the throne of glory means that God the Father has accepted the sacrifice of his Son for the salvation of his people (Romans 8:34). The believer’s assurance that sin is pardoned is the ascension and exaltation of Christ. If Christ who was made to be sin for us is now exalted with everlasting glory upon the throne of God, then our sins that were imputed to him are gone forever! His blood has indeed put away our sins! Third, the exaltation of Christ proclaims reconciliation between God and man (Colossians 1:18-22). There is a man in glory whose righteousness has been accepted, whose death has satisfied the very justice of God. The debt for sin has been fully paid. Godhood and manhood are in perfect harmony in Christ, the God-man. Therefore, there is hope for men. Fourth, the exalted Christ is able to save fallen men (Hebrews 7:25). Christ on the throne is able to save all who come to God by him. Christ on the throne is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Christ on the throne is able to keep you from falling and to present you holy, unblamable, and unreprovable before the presence of his glory! WHAT IS THE EXALTED SON OF GOD DOING IN HEAVEN? He is enjoying the honor and dignity he won as our Mediator. In his divinity, as God, our Savior has always enjoyed the bliss and glory of total sovereignty. Though he humbled himself as a man, even unto the death of the cross, he never ceased to be God over all! But as a man the Lord Jesus Christ earned the right to rule the entire universe (Romans 14:9; Philippians 2:9-11). He enjoys the highest honor that heaven affords. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. And his honor is well deserved honor (Revelation 5:9-10). The exalted Christ is ruling this world in total sovereignty (John 17:1-4; 1 Peter 3:22). He is the only Potentate (1 Timothy 6:15). He rules all things according to the eternal purpose and pleasure of God for the salvation and eternal, spiritual good of God’s elect. And he rules all things well (Romans 8:28). Christ, exalted in heaven, is making intercession for chosen sinners according to the will of God (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2). On the basis of his perfect righteousness and blood atonement, he pleads with the Father for the salvation of his redeemed ones, the non-imputation of sin to them, and their presence with him in glory at last (John 17:24), and he always prevails! The exaltation of Christ is a representative exaltation. That is to say, he was exalted as the representative of God’s elect and we are already exalted with him (Ephesians 2:5-6). So certain is the salvation of God’s elect, so certain it is that Christ’s redeemed ones shall possess the glory of an eternal inheritance in heaven, that we are already possessors of it in Christ! WHAT HAS THE EXALTED BEEN ? When he was exalted to the right hand of the majesty on high, God the Father promised his Son that he would make all his foes his footstool (Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 1:8-13). It is virtually done now and it shall be carried out in all the universe. As he promised to make all Christ’s enemies his footstool, the Father also promised the Son that he would save all his ransomed people (Isaiah 53:10-12; Hebrews 2:13). As I said before, all men and women will bow to Christ. You will either bow to him in faith, surrendering to his rule now, or you will bow to him in fear and trembling, acknowledging his sovereign justice in the day of judgment, but bow to him you shall (Isaiah 45:23-25). “WHAT SHALL WE DO?” (Acts 2:37). The people who heard Peter’s message had sense enough to realize that there is only one way to deal with an absolute sovereign. We must bow to his claims, acknowledging his lordship over all things (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:3). True faith involves surrender to the rule and dominion of Christ as a willing servant to him (Luke 14:25-33). Where there is no surrender there is no faith! Let every believer rejoice. Christ is exalted. Christ is Lord. That means - All is well! Let us trust him in all things, rejoice in him in all circumstances, walk before him in submissive faith, and wait for him with hope and expectation (1 John 3:2).

Acts 2:37-47

7. “THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH” Acts 2:37-47 Peter’s sermon was exceedingly simple. There were no illustrations, no stirring stories, no marvellous points of logic, no soaring heights of oratory. The Apostle simply declared the truth of God, boldly exposing the sin of his hearers and explaining the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection. But every word he spoke was carried to the hearts of chosen sinners by the effectual power and grace of God the Holy Spirit. When the day was over three thousand men and women had been converted by the power of God, saved, and added to the church. Here two lessons are clearly taught and illustrated that every preacher, teacher, church leader, and church member should learn and lay to heart. First, IS THE WORK OF GOD ALONE (Acts 2:37-41). When Peter had finished preaching, those whose hearts had been pricked by the Word of God cried, “What shall we do?” Like all men, once they were awakened to a sense of their sin and of God’s just wrath against them, these men hoped to do something by which they could be saved. We are all legalists by nature! These men wanted to know what they could do to atone for their sins, to sit things right with God, to appease his wrath, and win his favor. “What shall we do?” What a foolish question! Salvation does not come by something man does. Salvation is the result of what God does (Romans 3:28; Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5). In Acts 2:37-41 the Holy Spirit gives us a beautiful, clear picture of God’s method of grace. When God intends to save a sinner, he causes that sinner to hear the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37). “When they heard this,” the gospel of God’s sovereign purpose of grace in the redemptive work of Christ (Acts 2:23) and the exaltation and glory of Christ as Lord (Acts 2:32-36), “they were pricked in their heart.” God saves sinners through the preaching of the gospel (Romans 10:13-17; 1 Corinthians 1:21; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25). In his wise and sovereign providence God brings the sinner to whom he will be gracious under the sound of a gospel preacher’s voice. As he brought Philip to the Ethiopian Eunuch, brought Peter to Cornelius, brought Paul to Lydia, the Philippian Jailor, and “the Barbarous people” of Melita, and brought Onesimus to Paul, so God always finds a way to bring chosen sinners under the sound of the gospel. Blessed indeed are those men and women to whom God sends his messengers of grace (Jeremiah 3:15; Ephesians 4:8-16). When God has purposed to save a sinner, he sends his Spirit into that sinner’s heart and produces in him a real, heart conviction of sin (Acts 2:37). “They were pricked in their heart.” Holy Spirit conviction is a painful, but necessary work of grace. Without it no sinner can be saved (John 16:7-8). He strips that he may clothe, empties that he may fill, wounds that he may heal, and kills that he may make alive. Conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment is the work of God the Holy Spirit upon the heart, by which our pride and self-righteousness is made to wither (Isaiah 6:1-8). It arises from the revelation of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice (Zechariah 12:10). It acknowledges the justice of God in punishing sin. And true, Holy Spirit conviction always results in repentance and faith in Christ (John 6:44-45). When God comes to a sinner in saving grace he commands the sinner to repent (Acts 2:38). Peter, speaking by the Spirit, gave a command from God. They must obey or perish (Matthew 10:11-15; Matthew 10:40). Repentance is more than sorrow for sin. It is a change, a change of mind, a change of motives, a change of masters! It is a change of heart and a change of life that is continual. The word “for” in Acts 2:38 has caused much confusion. It would better be translated “because of”. Baptism is not the cause of, or the means of sins’ remission. Baptism is a symbolic confession of faith in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Being immersed in the watery grave, the believer professes his faith in the substitutionary work of Christ by which his sins have been purged away. Coming up out of the grave, he professes his allegiance to Christ, to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4-6). “The gift of the Holy Ghost” here promised to those who obey God’s command in the gospel is everlasting salvation in Christ. When God comes to sinners in saving grace, he calls them by the irresistible grace and power of his Spirit (Acts 2:39). The promise of God is, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). It is given to “as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Not all men are called. God sends the gospel to some and hides it from others (Matthew 11:20-26). There is a general call issued to all who hear the gospel, which all who hear are responsible to obey (Proverbs 1:25-33; Romans 10:18-21). But there is an effectual, irresistible call by God the Holy Spirit which is given to God’s elect alone and graciously causes them to come to Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5; Psalms 65:4). “He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out” (John 10:3). When God comes to sinners in saving power he causes them to obey his voice in the gospel (Acts 2:40-41). These people whose hands were yet dripping with the blood of Christ, were now made willing in the day of his power to trust him and surrender to him as their Lord and Savior (Psalms 110:3). Grace made them willing! Secondly, THE OF THE CHURCH IS THE WORK OF GOD ALONE (Acts 2:41-47). The church of God cannot be built by human ingenuity. It is built by the power of God alone through the preaching of the gospel of Christ. Every effort of men to build the church, other than the preaching of the gospel, is wood, hay, and stubble. God will never honor it (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). “THE LORD added to the church daily such as should be saved,” and he still does! In these last verses of chapter 2 Luke gives us an example of what every local church should be. It is a blessed fellowship of believers in Christ, a fellowship created and maintained by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 2:19-22). It is a . “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.” All true christian fellowship is built upon the doctrines of the gospel of Christ. It is a . Believers are men and women united in Christ. They truly have “all things common”. Each uses what he has for the good of all. They are of “one accord”, built up in love, with singleness of heart, seeking the glory of God. It is a OF WORSHIP. When the local church is what it ought to be the people gladly receive the Word of God, obey the ordinances of Christ, and assemble together with one accord in the worship of God.