Acts 2:42-47: An Authentic Church

Isaiah 45:22 CSB

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 55:6–7 CSB

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.

Ezekiel 18:30–31 CSB

“Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you. Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel?

Ezekiel 18:30-31

Here we have a portrait of a restored people as of the result of the new covenant blessing of the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus.

We have seen that the HS in Acts is especially associated with the restoration purposes of God. In fulfillment of the prophetic hopes for a restored people in which God will fulfill his saving promises we find that Jesus himself brings the restoration as the disciples correctly understood he would (1:6). His death and resurrection have inaugurated a new age and he rules from the throne of David as anticipated.

**The means of restoration however have come through the Holy Spirit.

An authentic church is a church in which God is present.

Teaching focused on the fulfillment of God’s Word.

Bread/Meals reminded them of God’s saving work through His Son

The work of jesus continued through the disciples bringing awe to the people.

The believers experienced God’s presence through prayers.

The also experienced God’s presence in seeing new converts and the expansion of the church.

An authentic church has its priorities set by the gospel.

Devotion to Biblical Preaching.

Unified community of Fellowship. Distinct from surrounding Jewish community.

They shared meals and acted like a family.

The prayed for God to continue to work and lead unbelievers to repentance.

An authentic church is one that keeps growing.

This is not about method but priorities and reckoning with the power of God.

a. Churches grow when the gospel is proclaimed.

b. Churches grow when the church is a fellowship.

c. Churches grow when the acknowledge the power of God.