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Acts 2: 41-42
Andres C. Guevara Jr.
November 25, 2007 SUN p.m.
As we look back to the beginning of the New Testament Church we find that after Peter’s sermon at
Pentecost about 3,000 were added to the disciples, of whom there were about 120.
"They that gladly received his word were baptized." These converts proved the genuine nature of their
repentance and faith first by obedience to the Lord’s command of baptism, and then by steadfast
continuation in four basic areas of the Christian life: 1) doctrine 2) fellowship 3) breaking of bread 4)
prayers
• These features might be regarded as the ordinary activities by which church member-ship is
sustained. Steadfast continuation in right doctrine, spiritual fellowship, attending the Lord’s table,
and the prayer meetings should be regarded as normal and binding upon every church member.
• This is not only supported by the example of the early Christians but by the exhortations of the
apostles (Heb. 10: 24, 25) and elsewhere in the New Testament (Acts 20: 16-32; Rev. 2 and 3;
Eph. 4: 1-16).
There is no such thing as a perfect church, for there are no such things as perfect Christians. Joining a
church is not to think in terms of what might receive, but rather of what they might contribute. It is the duty
of every Christian without exception to do all that is humanly possible to contribute to the well-being of the
local church.