What Makes the Original Church Faithful?

The original church follows the recorded words of its founder, Jesus.

Since Jesus called the universal church “My church” in Matt.16, His word has absolute authority among His followers. We sometimes call this church “the family of Christ”: Who did Christ consider His family? Luke 8.21: “But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.’" Friend, if everyone’s differing takes on what Jesus said and meant are right, then His command to keep His word is meaningless. NoteJohn 8.31-32: “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." The original church keeps all of Jesus’ word and submits to His teachings.

The original church imitates the only church recorded in the book of Acts.

This “original church” must pattern itself directly after the earliest known form of the church, found in the book of Acts. This church is comprised of baptized believers in Jesus Christ: “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls... And the Lord was adding to their numbe rday by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2.41, 47) This church imitates the examples of this earliest of churches in its worship, beliefs, and practices, because it is this original church that was approved by God: “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” (Acts 9.31)

The original church heeds the recorded teachings of Jesus’ apostles.

Sardis was told in Rev. 3.3: “So remember what you have received and heard, and keep it, and repent….”

This tells us that local churches must remain true to what the apostles delivered to places like Corinth, and Ephesus, and Philippi, and remain true to their words. Passages like2 Th. 3.11-15 show that authority has been placed on the commands and exhortations of the apostles. Failure to keep their word, as divinely appointed representatives of Jesus, was given as cause for Christians to forsake their association with those persons.

So, have you thought carefully about your church?

When was it started, and by who?

What work does it do? Can you find it in the Bible?

Is it faithful to Jesus’ word, and that of His apostles?