Acts 2: 39-46

(Acts 2: 39-46)

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

The advent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost became the driving force to begin anew Christian history. It can be said that the greatest significance of the work of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost lies above all in the birth of the church. The apostle Paul defines the church in his epistle: ``Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name. of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 』(1 Corinthians 1:2). The church is a group of people who have been regenerated through Jesus Christ and are called saints. The church is not a building, but the power of the Holy Spirit between believers and believers.

『And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers』. The characteristics of the early church were the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. First, the church must have the teachings of the apostles, the word of God. If the church does not talk about the kingdom of God but only talks about the world, it is not a church. If the church does not speak the truth but distorts it and speaks other words, it is a heresy. The truth is Jesus, who died on the cross. It is not the church that does not speak of the cross and repentance. Fellowship means fellowship between the saints. Likewise, if you don't share the words of the Bible and speak only of the world, you will be promoting fellowship with the world.

Breaking the bread means being united with Jesus' death. The reason for sacrament meeting is to remember being united with the death of Jesus, and to confess that you are dead. Prayer is to pray for the kingdom of God to come to this earth. If we pray for the things of the world, it will be ups and downs.

The early church, which began with the presence of the Holy Spirit, formed a new community that did not exist before and opened a new era. The reason that the church in Jerusalem at that time could be beautiful was not because the church had ample finances or because there were many influential people in the church who could dominate the society at that time. They were poor, but they were one family and had a devotion to each other. With this mindset, the saints were willing to give out their property. ``Selling property and possessions and giving them out according to the needs of each person'' was not a compulsory act, but a voluntary commitment and participation of each individual. Although the church in Jerusalem was the birthplace of the New Testament churches, it was financially poor enough to receive relief offerings from Gentile churches. Nevertheless, the pure joy and beautiful fellowship given by the Holy Spirit enriched this church more than any other organization or group in the world.

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