AND THEY [WE] CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE A. As we begin a new theme this year, our theme verse will be (Acts 2:42). 1. The ESV reads, And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching & the fellowship, to the breaking of bread & the prayers. 2. I would like to change the pronouns of that passage to make it personal for us. 3. Let s say that in 2013 [we] continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine B. This year, I hope to provide us with a constant reminder that we must devote ourselves to the very same things that early Christians did. 1. We will pay attention to what the apostles taught about many subjects: the church, worship, the plan of salvation, the love, grace & mercy of God, man s faith & obedience to God, as well as matters that relate to the end of time: the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, heaven & hell. 2. Besides those topics I hope to address the restoration plea: Let us return the teaching & practice of the NT church under the direction of the apostles of Jesus Christ. -- Is that plea still valid today? Do we yet need to return? 1
[But this morning we want to delve more deeply into our theme passage (Acts 2:42).] ACTS 2 AN OVERVIEW A. Acts 2 is the focal point of the New Testament, which makes it all the more important that we understand what we re reading. 1. In verses 1-13 we have the setting. 2. In verses 14-40 we read the sermon. 3. In verses 41-47 we see the success. B. But there is another way to outline this chapter. 1. (Verses 1-36) Show the confirmation of the apostles, & answers the question What did my salvation require? 2. (Verses 37-41) Show the conversion of the Jews, & answers the question What must I do to be saved? 3. (Verses 42-47) Show the consecration of the Jews, & answers the question What must I do to remain saved? [But this morning we re going to focus on the words of Acts 2:42. We re going to look closely at this remarkable verse as it reveals an audience, an action, & the areas in which the action was directed. Luke, the writer of Acts, first begins to talk about the audience.] 2
I. The Audience - They A. They would be the three thousand souls who heard Peter speak about 1. the conditions of God s pardon (38). 2. the blessings received when the conditions are met (38-39). 3. the words of exhortation (40). a. They were the ones who gladly received his word & were baptized (41). b. They were the ones who were added to the church (41, 47). B. So what does this mean to us? What does God want us to learn from THAT audience? 1. He wants us to learn that we can be they ; this audience can be that audience. a. If we gladly receive Peter s words & if we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. [But that s not all. We can only identify with that audience by acting in the same way they did. So Luke then begins to talk about the action taken by those 3000 souls.] 3
II. The Action - Continued Steadfastly A. In other words, they devoted themselves constantly to some things (one word in the Greek). 1. To give attention (Acts 1:14; 6:4; Rom 12:12; Col 4:2). 2. To adhere (Acts 8:13; 10:7). 3. To give unremitting care (Rom 13:6). B. In the early days of the church, there was not much unfaithfulness to Christ. 1. The religion of the people could not be called spasmodic. 2. The apostles & elders didn t have to go & visit a family about their failure to attend services. 3. The church at Jerusalem was nothing like the church at Sardis would be later. 4. To persevere; to show oneself courageous. (Thayer s shortened) Revelation 3:1-2 1 I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, & strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 4
4. The church at Jerusalem was alive, thriving & active. a. It was giving attention to matters that pertained to the King J. C. & the Kingdom of God. b. It was adhering to those who held the keys of the Kingdom, the apostles. c. It was giving constant unremitting care to the citizens of the Kingdom, their fellow saints. C. You know, some people have been known to die just a few feet away from protective shelter. 1. If only they had continued steadfastly a few more feet they could have been saved. In WWI, Marshal Ferdinand Foch (sh), Supreme commander of the allied forces, was faced with overwhelming odds. His famous orders, written during the heat of battle, are found in military textbooks: My centre is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking. And the battle that followed secured a great victory. The war rages the hottest at the last. So the battle is won by the force that stays on the field until the end. Isn t the Christian life described as a battle (Eph 6:10-20; 2 Tim 4:7; 2 Cor 10:4, 5)? We either continue steadfastly or we lose the battle & lose the soul (John 6:66; Tim 4:10; Luke 8:13; Mark 4:17) [But that s not all. 5
We can only identify with that audience in Acts 2 by acting as they did (continuing steadfastly) in the areas they were active. So Luke then begins to talk about the areas in which those 3000 souls took action.] III. The Area(s) - In the Apostles Doctrine & Fellowship, & In Breaking of Bread, & In Prayers A. In The Apostles Doctrine - that s the platform from which we will launch many of our lessons 1. Acts 2:42 seems to put the emphasis on the church doing those things mentioned, but who was actually leading the church in those areas? a. The apostles took charge of the church in those areas, & they did so because they had been commanded to do so. b. Teaching was the 2 nd order given to them, & there was no end to it. Matt 28:18-20 - And Jesus came & spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth. 19 Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, (1) baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, 20 (2) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; & lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. How could they remember His teaching? John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, & bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. When the 3000 souls continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching, those 3000 souls became disciples? John 8:31 - Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 6
2. The fact that they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine tells us two things. a. First, that new Christians need a lot of teaching on a continuous basis. b. Second, doctrine (what the teaching means) is essential to ones continuing steadfastly in faithfulness to Jesus Christ. 3. Notice -- that among all the areas in which the church at Jerusalem was active, this is the first one mentioned. Why a. All the other areas of action (fellowship, breaking bread, prayers) depend on this one. b. That s why there are three letters in the New Testament written to men who would be teaching the apostles doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:6 6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith & of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed...13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 16 Take heed to yourself & to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself & those who hear you. Titus 2:1 2 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, c. The Holy Spirit tells us that become Christians by obeying that form of doctrine (Rom 6:16-18), & we remain faithful by continuing steadfastly in the apostles doctrine (Acts 2:42). 7
1 st CLOSING A. So there you have it, the apostles doctrine is at the beginning & end of the Christian s life. B. It s going to carry this church through the entire year as we study the many facets of it. C. But the question I must ask before we leave today, What does the apostles doctrine mean to you? 1. It meant salvation to those 3000 souls. 2. Does it mean salvation to you? God said it does! 8