Fellowship of believers

 

Fellowship of believers

Acts 2:42 – They devoted themselves to the apostles teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:46, 47 – Everyday they continued to meet together in temple courts (not churches). They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the flavor of his people. Flavor – enjoying one another’s company.

 

Similarities and differences.

 

If Peter was the rock in which the church was built upon, why is there no mention of him in the bible building a church of Christ. A physical church, why didn’t he write a Gospel. It says in Revelations 22:18, 19 – I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the Holy City (Zion) which is described in this book.

 

Many people have been confused over this verse saying it only applies to the Book of Revelations as John had witnessed and written about. This book refers to the bible. There is a reason God inspired John to write this at the end of Revelations. He wrote it at the end knowing full well what writings would be constructed together to create our modern day bible. Our Heavenly Father did not inspire John to write that verse for the back of Revelations only but in reference to the bible in its entirety.

 

Book – a set of pages fastened on one side and enclosed between protective coverings. A printed or written literary work. A main division of a larger printed or written work.

 

The Bible. Even the dictionary has a reference listed that said a “Book” is “The Bible.” Not John’s writing of Revelations, but the entire bible.

 

The bible is the definitive word of God, all we need to know about our walk with the Lord is contained in the bible.

 

If we encounter teachings that cannot be verified in the bible, they are not of God and therefore false teaching. These are the teachings of man lead by the spirit of the evil one. John indicates with verse 18 and 19 that there will be no new revelation. If we attempt to add any or subtract from what we read in the bible we will not share in the tree of life and in the holy city of Zion. We must therefore make sure that the teachings of any church that we attend do not attempt to add or subtract from that which we have been given in the bible.

 

If they cannot document their teachings, instruction, or revelation founded in the bible, leave that church at once, for they are false teachers, leading men astray from the word of God using the words of Satan through their teachings. Jesus warns us to stay away from these teachings, he said even Satan goes around masquerading as the light. We have the definitive word of God; the bible is the only book we need to identify with.

 

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ for this insight and wisdom. Who do we obey? Acts 5:29 – Peter and the other apostles replied: we must obey God rather than man. Acts 4:19 – But Peter and John replied, judge for yourself whether it is right in Gods sight to obey you rather than God. We obey God, not man!!! Acts 7:48 – The most high does not live in houses built by man, heaven is my throne. Acts 8:3 – But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

 

Notice they say house to house, not church building to church building.

 

Church is where your heart is, where your heart is your church will be.

 

Peter was the first one to bring the God news to the gentiles just as the Lord spoke. Acts chapter 10 – tells how it was first Peter who introduces the word of God to the gentiles. Verse 1 – at Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, e centurion in what is known as the Italian regiment. 15 – Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean. 28 – You are well aware of the law for a Jew to associate with a gentile or visit him. But God has shown me I should not call any man impure or unclean. 34 – Then Peter began to speak I now know how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 44 – While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 – The circumcised believers who had come with Peter (Jews) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the gentiles. 47 – Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have, so he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 11:1 – Gentiles also had received the word of God. Acts 11:14 – He (Peter) will bring you a message through which you and all your households (church) will be saved. Acts 11:18 – So then God granted even the gentiles repentance unto life. Acts 11:20 – Went to Antioch and began to speak with the Greeks (gentiles) telling them the good news of the Lord. Acts 11:26 – And when he (Barnabus) found him (Saul or Paul) he brought him to Antioch. So a whole year Saul and Barnabus met with the church and taught great numbers of people.

 

The disciples were first called Christians (followers of Christ) first at Antioch. One of the last times if not the last time Jesus appeared on the earth he met with some of the disciples while they were fishing and after his resurrection. Jesus reinstated Peter as the founder of the church as we see in John chapter 21. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loved him, verses 15, 16, 17, and three times Peter indicated that he truly loved the Lord.

 

This is what Jesus said to Peter

 

1. Feed my lambs (small sheep)

 

2. Take care of my sheep

 

3. Feed my sheep. In verse 19 – Peter is told to “Follow me” by Jesus. This is all done at the end of the Gospel of John, Peter was directed to feed his lambs and sheep and take care of his flock. Earlier in chapter 10 of John we see that Jesus is the shepherd of the flock which God gave to him and Jesus work was to not lose even one of that flock which Jesus drew to him.

 

When Jesus died and subsequently rose from the death he commissioned Peter to feed his lambs and sheep and take care of his flock. Jesus was no longer on earth to do this so he commissioned Peter or gave the authority to Peter to watch over his flock and to feed his flock the bread of life. Remember Jesus said in John 6:35 – I am the bread of life. In the Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:11 – we ask the Lord give us today our daily bread (bread) meaning the word of God. In Matthew 4:4 – Jesus said man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

 

Remember Jesus is the word of God made manifest into flesh, when we eat his body and drink his blood we do this in remembrance of Jesus, Jesus being the bread of life, he who comes to me will never go hungry (body of Christ) and he who believes in me will never go thirsty (blood of Christ). The bread and the water symbolize our remembrance of Jesus Christ that he is the bread of life and that we will never go hungry or thirsty if we consume his body and drink his blood for what we are really consuming is the word of God. In John 1:1 – In the beginning was the word and the word was with God. John 1:14 – And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

 

We are not literally eating Christ body and blood but the word of God.

 

We are saying when we eat communion that we are willing to stand as witness that we are Christians, followers of Christ, the word of God manifest into flesh. One other important thing to note that at the time all of this was going on the Roman Empire was in control of most of the known world at the time they were in control of all of Israel, Greece, obviously Italy, etc. The Romans had soldiers called centurions stationed everywhere within the empire. The Roman Catholic church could therefore be found anywhere within the Roman empire, not just Rome and not just Italy, but everywhere and anywhere that was under the control and authority of Rome.

 

The bottom line when selecting a church is to select one the preaches the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I love you my Lord Jesus Christ. I will follow you and obey your commandments. I accept you as my Lord and savior; I will pray continuously and profess your name in word, deed and thought. My Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily bread, forgive my sins as I forgive others of their sins, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from all evil. Amen.