All that believed and were together, and unselfishness prevailed. (44) They not only had a Spiritual sense of Oneness, but they worked it out in a practical demonstration. (45)
This UNITY with God and one another caused them to worship God daily, not only in the Temple, but also at home. Their reverence for God made even the common tasks of the day a joy to perform. (46) The final and inevitable result of this divine oneness was the salvation of souls. (47).
Last week we discussed the devotion of the early church. Today, using some of the same passages, as well as passages found elsewhere in the book, I want us to discuss this Spiritual Sense of Oneness. Because along with the early church s devotion to the Apostles teachings (42) it was this sense of Oneness in the early church that made it possible for them to sustain life
In a time when Christian martyrdom was as common as an automobile accident is today, these first century Brethren found their identity, and their purpose, and their confidence, through the fellowship of the church.
Sadly today, many have discounted their need for fellowship. They envision church as merely a weekly observance of one s religious affiliation. In the 1 st Century it was the unselfish interactions of the Saints, their Spiritual sense of Oneness worked it out in many practical demonstrations with reverence that kept the church united and faithful and ONE!
Why should a Christian attend the worship services of the local church today? How does one s attendance relate to Unity, Fellowship, and service to God and to others? What does the Bible teach about the value of our responsibility to cooperate in Prayer, Bible study, Teaching, and other Worship activities?
1) Why should a Christian attend the worship services of the local church today? God Commands It. He gave us explicit instructions in Heb. 10:19-26
Therefore, Brethren, since we have confidence to enter the Holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living Way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a Great High Priest over the house of God, (Blessed Reasoning)
(The LET US Verses ) 22 Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(The LET US Verses ) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
(The LET US Verses ) 24 And Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; *and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (*This grows even more important as we get closer to the Lord s Return)
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
Our fellowship with God and man is the direct result of Christ s once for all sacrificial death at Calvary (His blood Heb. 10:19), and His present intercession with God as our ( Great High Priest Heb. 10:21). Because of WHO He is and WHAT He has done for us, The Hebrew writer urges us to -
1) Draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith 2) Having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience (evil attitude) and our bodies washed with pure water. (Baptism) 3) To hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, (for He who promised is faithful)
4) Being considerate of how WE (personal) might stimulate one another to love and good deeds 5) Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. WE ARE HERE FOR OTHERS! GOD BEING 1 st!
6) Concluding that - If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment Fellowship, as God defines it much more than mere attendance. It is participation. It is contribution. It is recognizing our Spiritual Sense of Oneness and responding in faith.
4 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with One mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.
This was a day to day, hearts to heart, faith to faith Fellowship, one that involved every member of the Body
2) How does one s attendance relate to Unity, Fellowship, and Service to God and to others? It has always been God s desire for His people to be a United people... Beginning with the 12- Acts 1:14 says- These (12) all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 2:46 says- Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
This wasn t Do we have to go to church tonight, kind of attitude. This was a genuine desire to be together with one s Spiritual family, to spend time together, maybe share a meal, and always with gladness and sincerity of heart. They WANTED to Fellowship together.
And when times got rough, as when Peter and John were arrested, verses like Acts 4:24 says They didn t give up They didn t hide They banded together ALL THE MORE, Lifting their voices together to God with one accord.
Ananias and Sapphira quite obviously DID NOT share the sense of Oneness most other disciples enjoyed. They loved money MORE than Christ and MORE than the Brethren.
Giving in the church of Christ is ALWAYS voluntary, so that the gift is not a tax or a type of dues, but a voluntary contribution between your heart and God s.
People who are like-minded will want to be together. They know that Division is sin. Even if the division is self-imposed. Even if the division is the result of my own choosing to isolate myself from the rest of the Body.
Consider the person who does not want to fellowship with the Saints or who thinks they don t have to participate in more than one service (a fairly common sentiment these days). Do they have a Spiritual sense of Oneness in their hearts?
My Savior Rebuked Division, in all it s forms Mark 3:24, 25 A Kingdom [or House] divided against itself cannot stand.
1 Cor. 1:10 - Now I exhort you, Brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind (attitude) and in the same judgment (temperament).
1 Cor. 12:25 so that there may be no division in the Body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. We are all in the same body (see 12:12,14,20), there should be no divisions in the Body, but every member should have the same care for one another. Does it matter to you if I am safe or lost? How are you involved in helping me to stay safe?
1 Cor. 11:16 - if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. All Contention is wrong! And then he immediately turns to the Lord s Supper and is forced to write-
1 Cor. 11:17-20 17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it Division is wrong!
1 Cor. 11:17-20 19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is NOT to eat the LORD S Supper
The BIG Issue: DIVISION! They didn t posses that sense of ONENESS, As a result of their disunity, Paul was forced to write them saying essence, You CAN T call this the LORD S supper, because it isn t. His Supper is a UNITY Supper. Your supper is DIVIDED by prejudice and judgment.
Faithful participation in the regular worship assemblies of the church is a reflection of our commitment to Christ - and our love of the Brethren. When members share a common commitment to God, a common love for one another, they see the need to meet together, and they strive to come every time the church meets. You couldn t keep them away.
But when people are focused on themselves and their own desires, when they love their money and their time more than Christ and more than the Brethren, and have that Ananias and Sapphira attitude Attendance then becomes an obligation rather than a joy and many just stop coming altogether...
3) What does the Bible teach about the value of our Oneness in regard to Prayer, Bible Study, Teaching, and other Worship Activities?
My prayer (for Unity, says Jesus) is not for [my 12] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be One, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be One as we are One 23 I in them and you in me so that they may be brought to complete Unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
ALL believers (the world over) would be One, even as are He and His Father are One. That s pretty close. We too can enjoy the same fellowship with God that He had with his first born son, by becoming his children today in baptism, and by living together in love, in His family, the church of Christ.
Walk[s] in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called, with all humility and all gentleness, with all patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. Doesn t that sound refreshing? Doesn t that sound inviting? It s available today: Right here and Right now;
* In assemblies we can participate together in learning and in teaching and in admonishing and encouraging one another in way we could never do alone.
* In assemblies we have fellowship in praising God corporately. Sharing our faith with others and receiving the benefit of their shared faith as well in songs, prayers and Spiritual Communion.
* In assemblies we can learn about each other; Our personalities, our character, our faith, and our frailties And discover how we might be of real service to one another
My point is, when people stop attending worship services regularly sooner or later they simply "don t feel like a part of the group anymore." And like an ember taken away from the fire, their Spiritual light and their Christian warmth will soon be extinguished.
We just don't feel a part of things. We just don't feel included. We don't have a sense of belonging. Is their lack of attendance the cause or the result of their feelings of alienation? The answer is simply YES.
The Creator Himself said; It is not good that man should be alone. (Gen. 2:18) As an extension of that principle, He sent Jesus, and as an extension of His life, Jesus created the church. All so that we would never have to be alone.
All that believed and were together, and unselfishness prevailed. (44) They had a Spiritual sense of Oneness (45) This UNITY caused them to daily worship God, with reverence a joy. (46) [And] The final and inevitable result of this divine oneness was the salvation of souls. (47).
Is this your experience? Is this your measure of fellowship? It can be. Come now and become a part of the ONE church of Christ.