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THE FIRST TESTAMENT CHURCH
28. THE FIRST GENTILE CHURCH See Acts 10. Study this closely and you will see the first Gentile church as God overruled the Jews and sent Peter and he took six brethren with him to protect and witness for him as the Jews held a strong feeling against any Jew that kept company with Gentiles. Cornelius was a devout man, one that feared God with all his house, gave love alms, prayed to God always, "a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews" (verse 22). In verse 34-35, before Peter began preaching, he said, "I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Verse37) That word, I say, ye know." With all this before us we would conclude that Cornelius certainly had the markings of a saved man and God wanted to bring him into covenant relation so he could receive the reward for his service and the power of the Holy Ghost to be a witness for him. While Peter continued to remind Cornelius of the word of the Lord that he already knew, the Holy Spirit fell on them, and they began to speak in other tongues (able to witness to other nations). This astonished Peter and those with him because God had poured the Holy Spirit out on the Gentiles. This is an exception to all other order of Scripture. All others show that baptism was necessary before the power to witness could be received. And as we observe Peter, he commands them to be baptized immediately after hearing them speaking in other tongues. Peter and these Jews recognized that these blessings belonged to the church and the covenant and therefore would not hesitate any longer to baptize them. It is a reasonable thing to say in the light of this, God overruled the rebellious Jews of the first church and made this group of Gentiles a church as He gave them the Holy Spirit that they might be witnesses. The divine plan and ordained order of God are being worked out as He planned even though men were not fully willing. (Acts 10:46-48) This is evidence of another church being formed; hence the church in Cesarea. Peter looks back to Pentecost as he says, they "have received the Holy Ghost as well as we." (Verse 47) See Acts 11:15, and 15:8. 29. OTHER CHURCHES MENTIONED Acts 13:1: "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers." Acts 14:23: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." In Acts 19:1-7, Paul finds certain disciples at Ephesus and says to them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost," Paul asks, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" It must have been important for them to have been baptized at the hands of the proper authority in order to receive the Holy Ghost. It is evident in Acts 18:24-28, that Apollos could have been the one that baptized them because he had labored at Ephesus, knowing only the baptism of John. As Paul explains about John's purpose, they surrendered to the authority he represented, were baptized and Paul laid his hands on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. So they became a church. The evidence in verse 6, power to speak in tongues and prophesy, shows the beginning of the Ephesus church. We have shown there are many churches spoken of in the Scripture, and in this one at Ephesus we have the details of what was necessary as to Scriptural baptism before they could become a witnessing body (or church) of the Lord. God does not give his Holy Spirit to those that will not keep the New Testament commandments. Nor to individuals or assemblies apart from His divine plan and ordained order. This fact is clear throughout the New Testament. 30. CONTINUE BY BEING FAITHFUL It is evident that the church remained faithful and was baptized in the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-2), and all others must succeed from their authority. Let us observe:
a. Acts 8:15-17: Peter and John from the Jerusalem
church to Samaria. This can only be so as the churches carry out the worldwide commission till Jesus comes as He states in Matthew 28:19-20. He promises to be with them till the end of the world or age. It must be obvious that this promise was to the church as such and not to the individual disciples, for they are no longer present to carry out this work of evangelization. But other disciples like them have succeeded them in the church. So the work and the promise continue now as then. |