The Jerusalem Prototype

by G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: New Testament Churches Of God | Feb 1999

Last month we were considering the scriptural use of the word 'church' and noticed the vital contrast in our New Testament between the Church which is the Body of Christ and the Churches of God. We learned that from the Day of Pentecost onwards all believers have been baptized by the Lord Jesus in the Spirit into the Body, according to 1 Corinthians 12:13; but that in order to belong to a church of God the believer must also obey the Lord as a disciple.

Let us now look further at the first New Testament Church of God, of which we read so much in the Acts of the Apostles. Indeed about one third of the book is centred around the great Church of God in Jerusalem, as though the Holy Spirit wishes to make clear the guiding principles for the establishment and functioning of churches of God. The Jerusalem Church was the prototype. We find a consistently similar pattern as we trace the development of God's great work through the apostles. They were used to establish Churches of God in may parts of the Roman Empire after the pattern of the first Church in Jerusalem.

Before His final ascension the Lord Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high. While waiting they gathered in the obscurity of an Upper Room in Jerusalem. Priests continued the impressive ritual of the Temple, but God had forsaken it. The nation of Israel had crucified their Messiah and had therefore been set aside as His people. Disciples of Christ would now form the nucleus of a new nation to whom the kingdom of God would be given. So they were gathered in the Upper Room, spiritually separated from Israel's great national religious system so impressively symbolized by the magnificent Herodian Temple.

The sending of the Spirit

Then came the day of fulfilment, the Day of Pentecost. The disciples had gathered in their room. Outside many people thronged the streets of Jerusalem. Suddenly there came a loud noise like the rushing of a mighty wind. It was heard not only in the place where the disciples were gathered, but also in the streets of Jerusalem. What had happened? Crowds gathered to find out. Meantime inside the room remarkable manifestations had taken place confirming that God the Spirit had been poured out as promised. The startling sound filled the house; the apostles saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Having so received the power of the Spirit they immediately went out to bear witness to others. Devout Jews and proselytes from many different countries were in Jerusalem at the time. They were amazed that from the lips of apparently uneducated Galileans they were hearing the mighty works of God declared in their own native language. 'Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"' (Acts 2:12 NIV).

Jesus Christ is Israel's Messiah

Then Peter stood up and proclaimed the gospel, speaking now in the commonly understood Aramaic language. His theme was Jesus Christ Israel's Messiah whom they had rejected and crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. 'Let all the house of Israel know assuredly', he said, 'that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified' (Acts 2:36). The result was dramatic. Winged by the Spirit of God the message reached 'the hidden depths of many a heart'. Convicted and concerned, many cried out in repentance and asked what they should do. About three thousand believed the message, and were baptized in response to Peter's challenging direction: 'Repent... and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ' (Acts 2:38).

The pattern of New Testament churches

It is at this point in the narrative of Acts chapter 2 that we find helpful guidance about the association of Christian disciples to form a church of God. Already there were about one hundred and twenty persons together in obedience to the Lord's word, as we learn from Acts 1:15. But now about three thousand others who had received the word and been baptized were added to them. God worked to a pattern in regard to New Testament Churches of God, and we see this pattern illustrated in seven things stated in Acts 2:41,42.

1.They received His word. Having believed what Peter said about Christ the Lord, they now in true repentance accepted the promise of forgiveness through faith in the Lord Jesus.

2.They were baptized by immersion in water in agreement with the Lord's commandment.

3.They were added by the Lord to the one hundred and twenty already together to form the Church of God in Jerusalem (compare Acts 8:1 with Gal. 1:13).

4.They continued stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles;

5.and the fellowship; (N.B. The definite article is present in the original Greek).

6.in the breaking of bread;

7.in the prayers.

If we appreciate that these verses are the divinely inspired record of how convicted sinners were saved and brought into the Church of God in Jerusalem, we shall not lightly disregard the guidance given - a clear pattern of church constitution and practice. How strikingly the seven points emphasized in Acts chapter 2 harmonize with the Lord's command in Matthew chapter 28 - to make disciples, baptize them and teach them all things which the Lord commanded. Who has authority to delete any of these seven vital points, or to rearrange the order in which Scripture placed them? It is deeply fulfilling to lead sinners to Christ as Saviour, but the will of God involves more than that. The pattern revealed by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:41,42 points the way forward towards the association of believers in churches of God.

Obedience brings joy

What joy filled the hearts of all who had responded to the Lord's will! Obedience brings joy. 'Day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord... they did take their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved' (Acts 2:46,47).

G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Feb 1999
New Testament Churches Of God