Back To The First Century
A Lesson To Teach To Others

Introduction  

I. 	As a result of having been invited to speak to the Bethel United Methodist Church, we have been considering teaching which goes back to that taught in the first century.
A. 	We cannot just go back to the 1800’s or the 1500’s and the time of the Reformation Movement, or even to the 500’s or 600’s, but we must go back to the beginning of the church on Pentecost.
B. 	If we want to drink pure water, we would not go downstream where the cows and the industrial plants have polluted it, but we would go to the source of the water where it comes out of the ground with no impurities.
II. 	In our lesson today, let us consider some of the things that were presented in the lecture two weeks ago.

Body

I. 	Jesus established His church in the first century soon after his resurrection and ascension.
      A.  Jesus promised to build His church.  Matt. 16:18-19.
1. 	Note that Jesus said He would build His church and that He would give the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter.
2. 	Jesus would not have built one thing and have given the key to something else to Peter, thus the terms “church” and “kingdom” refer to the same spiritual body.
3. 	The term “church” relates to sinners’ being called out of sin into Christ, and the term “kingdom” relates to the government of the spiritual body, the church.
4. 	Jesus taught that the kingdom would come with power during the life times of those to whom He spoke.  Mark 9:1.  
B. 	Jesus is the head of the body, the church.  Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18.
1. 	“There is one body…” Eph. 4:4.
2. 	We must be united as “one body in Christ.”  Rom. 12:4-5.
3. 	Since Jesus is the head, we must obey Him.  Heb. 5:9.

II. 	We must go to the scriptures, with honest hearts, so as to learn and obey the Creator of the universe.
      A.  The parable of the soils teaches us how people respond to the word.  Lk. 8:4-15.
1. 	The seed sown on the wayside never develops life.
2. 	That sown on the rocky soil comes up quickly, but temptation causes the believers to fall away.
3. 	That sown among the thorns was choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of this life.
4. 	The seed sown on the good ground represents the gospel’s being planted in an “honest and good heart” where the word is heard and held fast, leading to fruitfulness.
B. 	If we have good and honest hearts, we will listen to truth rather than to the doctrines of men.

Back To The First Century, Page 2.

B. 	In the first century, the planting of the seed, or gospel, led to the salvation of souls who were added to the church by the Lord and to their being identified as Christians.  Acts 2:41, 47; 11:26; I Pet. 4:16.
1. 	If we obey the Lord’s teaching to believe in Christ, repent of sins and be baptized into Christ, the Lord adds us to His church. 
2. 	We can continue as members of that spiritual body without joining a denomination.
3. 	If everyone in a community, who obeys the Lord, should then meet together to serve God they could meet simply as the Lord’s church with no denominational affiliation.  
4. 	They would be Christians and Christians only. 

III. 	In the first century people were saved and were added to the church by the Lord.
A. 	Peter preached the gospel to the devout Jews on Pentecost.  
1. 	He taught about the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.               Acts 2:14-35.
2. 	Peter convicted them of having crucified the Lord and Christ.  Acts 2:36.
3. 	They asked what to do, and Peter told them to repent and be baptized unto the remission of sins.  Acts 2:37-38.
4. 	Peter further exhorted those on Pentecost to save themselves.  Acts 2:40.
5. 	Those who received his word were baptized and were added to the church by the Lord.  Acts 2:41, 47b.
B. 	Baptism is for the remission of sins.  
1. 	Baptism follows belief in the gospel.  Mk. 16:15-16; Mt. 28:19-20.
2. 	Baptism follows repentance and is unto the remission of sins.  Acts 2:38; 3:19.
3. 	Baptism is a burial in water.  Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 8:35-39.
4. 	Baptism is “into Christ,” and it is then that we become sons or children of God and are new creatures. Gal. 3:26-27; II Cor. 5:17.
C. 	There came to be a severe “persecution against the church in Jerusalem; and they    were all scattered” from Jerusalem, except the apostles.  Acts 8:1-3.
1. 	Please notice that this church was not a denomination, but the church which Jesus said He would build.  Matt. 16:18.
2. 	The Lord’s church evidences the manifold wisdom of God and is a part of God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.  Eph. 3:8-12.
3. 	The church which Jesus built was described by various terms, but it was not given a proper name.
a. 	The most frequent term used to apply collectively to the children of God was simply “the church,” as in Acts 8:3.
b. 	It is the body of Christ.  Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18.
c. 	It is described as the “church of God.”  I Cor. 1:2.
d. 	Several local churches are referred to as “the churches of Christ.”            Rom. 16:16.
e. 	Paul speaks of “the house of God, which is the church of the living God.”          I Tim. 3:15.
f. 	Other terms are found in the New Testament referring to the church, but it is never identified by a “denominational” name.

Back To The First Century, Page 3.

Conclusion

I. 	There are other things that could be studied relating to the church, but time will not permit this study at this time.
II. 	Do you believe the teaching in the New Testament about the church and what one must do to be saved and thus to be added to the church by the Lord?
III. 	If you believe, will you obey the Lord this morning?

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   October 10, 1999