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makes up the church that Jesus built?
Are you a part of that church?
The first question can be
answered by the scripture; the second one can only be answered by you and
God.
We find in Acts Chapter 2 a
memorable and powerful message delivered by the man Simon Peter. I invite
you to study it. It was addressed to some of the very ones who had Jesus
murdered by persuading the civil government to declare him an
insurrectionist and nail him to a cross, the common way of executing
criminals. This is an anomaly. Usually the civil government persuades or
constrains others to kill for it.
The message given that day
convinced or convicted them of their sinful actions (“they were cut to the
heart” vs. 37) and asked “what they must do” to make it right. They were
given an answer so simple that we often wonder how there could be any
misunderstanding of it. They were told simple to “repent and be baptized”.
Vs. 38
We don’t know how many were
there, but we do know that three thousand of them did just what they were
told to do. We find then in vs. 47 that “the Lord added them to the church”.
Need we ask, what church they were added to?
How simple. No one had any say
whatsoever in whether or not they would be admitted or rejected. There was
no catechism or creed to be learned or no vote taken before they could be
admitted. Most likely they were not even familiar with the words
“eschatology”, “theology” or “soteriology”; but lo and behold, here they are
a part of the church Jesus built! My friend, the same thing that made them a
part of that church will make you a part of it also!
Every person that has acted
upon a basis of their faith in Jesus, repented and submitted to the act of
baptism is a part of the church that Jesus built. The message preached upon
that Pentecost day will still produce Christians and the Lord will add them
to His church. All who have done so are brothers and sisters, whether they
admit it or not.
May God help you make a
decision today to follow Jesus and become a simple Christian.
To those who have already
taken that stem, may I urge you to try and overcome the denominational and
sectarian influences that affect your thinking and behavior toward other
believers. Think for yourself!
Remember that we are brothers
and sister, not because of some doctrine or opposition to some things, but
rather, it is because we have the same father. Remember, God loves you and
me.
In Love,
Gerald
Please feel free to email me:
thornsandnails@avsia.com
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