The Apostolic Church
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
5/14/2017 PM
|
Text:
|
Acts 2:42;
Lord's Day 21
|
Psalters: |
50, 241, 176, 315 |
- A Biblical concept.
- The true Church “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).
- This refers to the teachings of the Apostles about the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- This is a chief characteristic of the congregation to which the Lord added daily the ones He was saving (47).
- Thus we can see that the church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Eph. 2:20).
- Figure of the construction of a building: the church’s foundation consists of the “apostles and prophets.”
- It is the teachings of the apostles and N.T. prophets (not their persons) which are foundational for the Christian faith.
- The true church is described as “the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15).
- The visible church was instituted for the sake of the truth, not the truth for the sake of the church.
- The object for which the church exists on earth is to declare and uphold the truth.
- The implications.
- We must preserve the Word of God as the container of the apostolic teachings.
- And it is fundamental that the church of Christ today consciously view the creeds as containing the apostolic teachings.
- It is fundamental that the church of Christ today consciously stand related to the church of yesterday.
- The local congregation in Jerusalem which grew was the one which maintained apostolic teachings (Acts 2:42-47).
- The determination of which local congregation I join myself to is that one which continues in the apostles’ teachings/truth.
- Personal implications.