Marks of the New Testament Church

Not only do we have the Holy Spirit indwelling every single believer, but He also dwells in us corporately as the Body of Christ. We are described as living stones being built into a building, with Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Peter said: "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spritual sacrifices accepted to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4, 5, NKJV).

As Christians we no longer have the option or luxury of an individualist life because we are part of something bigger than a group of individuals with the Lord in common. We therefore need to see ourselves not as 'going to Church' or 'going to a meeting,' but being the Church and functioning with the other members in a unified way. As part of the Body of Christ each part is necessary and matters, whether the individual believes that to be the case or not (read 1 Cor. 12:14 - 26). If one part suffers then every part suffers. If we are not feeling the suffering of those members of the Body who hurt, including those in prison around the world, then we are not functioning fully as the Body of Christ. Our lives are meant to be interdependent in such a way that we can meaningfully bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ to love one another (Gal. 6:2). There is still in most of us too much of self, too much individualism, which is more cultural than Biblical and part of the spirit of the age. It is also part of the old sin nature that needs to be put to death.

Paul said: "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:4, 5).

Even in the Body of Christ there are ministers who belong nowhere and are accoutable to nobody. God wants His children to be part of the family in more than theory and to have a meaningful relationship with each other. The world is suppose to say: "See how they love one another." In fact you hear more often: "Why can't they agree?" Renewal clearly has to touch us in this area much more than has happened hitherto.

Restoration of the New Testament pattern

Let us consider the marks of the New Testament Church, all of which can be quite easily restored if we want them enough. Let us look at some verse of Scripture in Acts 2.

"An they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42 - 47, emphasis added).

Note the four things the early Church committed to do - study the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. Let us consider each one in some details:


1. The apostles' doctrine


They were devoted and committed to a program of teaching to bring them to maturity. This was far more than regular weekly teaching (in Sunday/Saturday Church service). Often, in some cases, the teaching session would go right on into the late hours (Acts 20:7 - 11).


In those days teaching had to be verbal because some could not read and books were not available anyway, so the way they showed their devotion was by attending a continual program of spoken teaching. In today's context it means devoted to Bible study and reading. New Christians generally have an insatiable appetite to read but many lose it in the process of time. There should be a program of recommended reading of the Bible or Christian materials so that the initial enthusiasm and devotion can be encouraged and directed. Bible/Christianity basics need to be systematically covered. A good Topical Bible and concordance can help.


The writer of Hebrews listed these basics: "Therefore, leaving the dicussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits" (Heb. 6:1 - 3).


These are the six basic areas where the believers receive instruction as part of their grounding in faith. I believe many contemporary Church members were not taught of these basics, especially the laying on of hands. Therefore, we have a lot of catching up to do if we want to be like the early Church. We all have access of the Bible so that we can learn about them ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to give us revelation. The Body of Christ needs the teaching ministries to nourish and build up the Church, and for a fresh devotion to hearing and applying the pure Word of God.


2. Fellowship


The mutual commitment of a group of believers to each other cannot happen if you rarely meet and split your life between work, home and Church. There is a great need for love and belonging together in the Body of Christ, because many find refuge there from a harsh world. We need to establish that sense of togetherness, that we have thrown in our lot with the other believers, whoever they are, because they too are the Lord's. Devotion to the fellowship is like a triangle with Jesus at the top, you at the base ine one corner and other believers in the other corner. As you and the other believers move closer to the Lord you move closer to one another. Equally as you move closer to one another you move closer to the Lord. We really do need each other and to know that the commitment is mutual - us to the fellowship and fellowship to us.


It is very important that believers find where they belong to the Body of Christ and are committed to that group of believers so that the others can also be committed to them. This is done more than membership and cannot be forced. It has to come from a real sense of belonging.


3. Breaking of bread


The breaking of bread to which the group of believers devoted themselves was the 'agape' love feast, as it was known until the second century when it effectively stopped due to religious leaders turning it into a service and away from its proper purpose. It was not communion as such, but it was more than an ordinary meal. The 'breaking of bread' or 'Holy communion' which we now have is very different from the practice of the early Church. Because we have kept the name we tend to assume that they did what we do, but that is not the case. Basically if was a fellowship meal together that would have led on into singing, praise and worship and really bonded together the believers. They basically came together to eat (1 Cor. 11:33) and after eating a meal would remember Jesus in the passing of the bread and wine before going on into the meeting, almost like a thank-you after the meal. The apostles may well have based it on the practice of Jesus. It was after supper that He passed the cup (1 cor. 11:25) and they then say a hymn (Mark 14:26). This was probably a regular feature of the disciples' fellowship together, although this is the only reference.


This ministry is sometimes neglected and is included within the whole area of hospitality. It must be based on the Luke 14 principle of need, rather that inviting those you like. We should in fact be doing both without partiality, but particularly to the needy in the Body, the lonely, the widows, the single parent families and those who may look fine but are not (read Luke 14:12 - 14).


4. Prayers


The early believers were devoted to prayer. I believe if Christians were even half as devoted to prayer, individually and corporately, the Local Church would be transformed. Consider what proportion of your Church or fellowship regularly attends a prayer meeting. It is there that the devotion can be seen. Because we are all responsible for our own time it is nobody else's fault. There is nothing to stop us being devoted and going, whatever anybody else does or does not go, but the fact is that if there is little prayer there will be little power and little effectiveness. Devotion to prayer bring down the power of God.


"And when they had prayed, the place were they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).


The early core of believers was 120 (Acts 1:15) and these 120 were present on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1). The question is, where were the other to whom Jesus had appeared, as He appeared to over 500 at one time (1 Cor. 15:6). Paul said that some of them had 'fallen aleep' (died). But somehow many of them had not joined the early Church. Or if they had, they were not there with the rest praying on the day of Pentecost. The 120 were 120 devoted pray-ers - "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers" (Acts 1:14).


The real point is that those devoted to being together to pray received the power and even if we are one of the 500 who have had a revelation of Jesus there is a better place still, namely being locked together with other believers seeking God in prayer. I believe some of the 500 who were not there but heard about the Pentecost regretted for not being there. They certainly would never miss another prayer meeting!


Things happen at prayer meetings where there is devotion to seeking the Lord and prayer needs to be a very hig priority, not just alone at home, but with other members of the Body of Ghrist. Ideally they would all ray together as a Body, but if this is impossible then at least in areas. If we want early Church power we need early Church prayer!


I believe there has to be link between the teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer and signs following. When the Body of Christ is together in unity and functioning Biblically the Lord gives His blessings (read Psalm 133). Perhaps the current absence of the visible power of God in some Local Churches has to do with the absence of these other factors as well. Certainly where they are being restored the signs are beginning to follow. If we were less concerned with the signs and more with the Glory of God and representing Jesus on the earth they would just naturally flow from manifesting the life of Jesus within us.


Believers had all things in common


In the early Church believers were together in unity and had all things in common. This is often misunderstood, because if they had all sold their houses there would have been an immediate housing crisis to deal with! In fact they all re-evaluate all their possessions, sold what was not needed and use the money to meet the needs of those who had nothing. Many of them had probably been forced to leave home through being Christians, and might well have joined the church with literally nothing but the clothes they stood in. Those who had two houses sold the second one. We know that they kept some to fellowship in, because they broke bread from house to house (Acts 2:46). The key lies in the willingness to give everything to the Lord - "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold" (Acts 4:32 - 35).


Benefits of a greater degree of sharing


It is quite possible for the Body of Christ to return t a greater degree of sharing, and not considering possessions to be for our own exclusive use. The early Church had a real revelation that they had been bought by the Lord along with everything they had, and it was all available for the Body. It was seen as God's and not their own. The sprit of the world has infiltrated the Church if we think that all we have is ours for our own exclusive enjoyment. We can return to the concept of sharing if we are closely knitted together as a fellowship. This does not necessarily mean all putting their income into one pool and everyone drawing out what they need. Rather it is an openness to acknowledge that everything comes from God, that we have personal stewardship and accountability, and to be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit in giving to the needs of the Body. Giving should be done with maximum free-will, in secret and in faith, not under compulsion, publicly and as a sort of levy where faith is not exercised (2 Cor. 9:7). Giving is in essence sowing to the Kingdom and an investment in the future. We will reap what we sow.


God adde to their number. Where there is life and commitment in the fellowship growth will occur. This is the best form of evangelism, not just preaching the Gospel but living it! whee love and power are evident those who seek after truth will find the Lord. We should be proud to bring visitors to our meetings, because of what the Lord has done among us. If life is there unbelievers will discern it. Paul expects unbelivers to be at the service (1 Cor. 14:22 - 25), and for them to fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is truly among you' if the Body functions with tongues and prophecy. That is a further reason for having meetings of this kind, because they have an evangelistic role as well and can bring in far more numerical growth than the conventional type of mission. It also make follow-up that much easier.


Conclusion


If we are willing to live as the early Church did, be as devoted as they were and walk in faith and power as they didm then we will see God working mightily among us as they did. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever, and the promise of the Spirit is for us.


Peter, in his sermon after pentecost said: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38, 39).


If we do not have the power it is not because the promise is invalid and applies to a different dispensation. It is because God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Furthermore, if we reject Biblical truth the Holy Spirit is grived and restricted in His work. In these last days before Jesus returns we have a wonderful opportunity to see the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and outside the Church if we will do His work His way.