BACK to BASICS - Staying in d' Apostle's Doctrines

CONTINUING IN WHAT THE EARLY DISCIPLES WERE DOING
- By: Askel Dela Cruz, 


Reading through the books of Acts we can readily notice the early disciples' life. Led by the apostles, the Church exhibited what being a child of God meant. People took notice of their lives. They were 'having favor with all people.' At the same time, due to their obedience to God, religious leaders persecuted them.

Why did the early disciples stick to their faith?
What did they do?
Two thousand years later, the same truths that the early Christians held remain. The Bible said 'let us hold fast to the profession of our faith.'

STAYING IN THE APOSTLE'S DOCTRINES

Ever since the first proclamation of the Gospel, the believers remained on the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42). Their lives revolved around the Holy Scriptures as preached by the sent ones of God. They put primary importance on God's Word.

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul said that the Holy Scriptures is profitable to every believer of God. But it is not just reading and doing whatever one think it says. In 2 Peter 1:20 it says, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. Anybody reading the Bible should not interpret it according to his own knowledge.

They did not only read the Scriptures, they read it in the light of the revelation the apostles received. The Ethiopian eunuch may have regularly read the scriptures (Acts 8:27-35) but he only fully understood God's will when Philip preached to him the true Gospel. Also, Apostle Peter warned those who misinterpreted Apostle Paul's epistles (2 Peter 3:15-16). As it is written in John 3:34, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God."

Only the sent ones of God speak for God. Thus, the believers received the apostles' doctrine as God's own word. Paul admonished the Philippians brethren,
"Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" - Philippians 1:27

As they remained in the apostles' doctrine, the Church in the last watch will continue on the Word of God preached by the apostle in the End Time. And this the main basis of all our faith and service.


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PRAYER
FELLOWSHIP
WITNESSING 
WORSHIP
OFFERING
KEEPING WATCH