“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were

added to them…

Acts 2:41,42

Jerusalem

…they were continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and

fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.”

The church came into existence on the Day of Pentecost when about 3000 people responded to Peter’s

preaching.

They were each saved, baptized in water and added to the

approximately 120 apostles & others who had been together.

Continued…

They continued together in:

(1)carrying out the Lord’s commands, as taught by the apostles

(2) being together with the apostles

and each other

(3) the gatherings for the breaking of bread in remembrance of the Lord’s death & resurrection

(4) the gatherings for prayer

…Continued

“Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”

“Many of those who heard the word believed;

and the number of the men came to

be about five thousand.”

Acts 4:4; 8:4

The first requirement for a church of God is that all who are in it be

believers on the Lord Jesus Christ - that they acknowledge Him as

their Saviour & Lord.

Therefore preaching the gospel to unsaved people is important for

every church of God, and is part of the “Great Commission” to make

disciples. 

Unbelievers cannot be in a church of

God

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the

eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from

being baptized?“… So he commanded the chariot to stand

still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Now when they came up out of the water…”

Acts 8:35-38; 10:44-48

“While Peter was still speaking these words,

the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ... And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the

Lord.”

Unbaptized believers cannot be in a church of

God

Believers are to be baptized in water, into the name (authority) of the

Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

This is a public acknowledgement of what occurred at their salvation &

a commitment to discipleship.

The baptism is by immersion in water, by another disciple,

symbolic of burial & resurrection and identification with Christ

(Romans 6:3-7).

At Jerusalem“And believers were

increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men

and women”

At Antioch“A great number believed and turned to the Lord…. Barnabas…encouraged them all that with purpose of

heart they should continue with the Lord...And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

Acts 5:14; 11:21-24

The baptized disciples left where they were and were joined to

those already gathered together.

This is also described as being added to the Lord.

They became part of the group of disciples who were under the

authority of the Lord Jesus; they were therefore “in the Lord”.

“The word of God kept spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the

faith.”

“You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the

foundation of the apostles and prophets”

Ephesians 2:19,20; Acts 6:7

The basis for the community of disciples - their doctrine - was “the apostles’ teaching” (“the faith”) ; they had been built together on that foundation.

This continued to be the basis for them associating together – they taught it & practiced it.

 

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the

truth”

1 John 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:9

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ

our Lord.”

1 John 1:3 describes our individual fellowship with God.

BUT - Acts 2:42 describes the community of which the disciples

in the churches of God were a part - “the fellowship”.

It is the same fellowship (community) that is described in 1

Corinthians 1:9, into which God had called them. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of

Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”

“I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when

He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body

which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

The first spiritual activity the church engaged in each week

was the keeping of the Lord’s remembrance.

This began the giving of collective worship as the

holy priesthood.

Acts 12:5; Mark 11:17

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer

was offered to God for him by the church.”

“Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a

house of prayer for all nations?’”

The church gathered together regularly to pray

(in addition to their personal prayers).

Prayer is a regular spiritual service that the Lord

expects a church of God to do.

 

1.salvation

2.baptism

3.addition

4.the apostles’ teaching

5.the fellowship

6.the breaking of bread

7.the prayers