In Acts 2:42, we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Notice how “the apostles’ doctrine” and “fellowship” are coupled together in the sentence by the word and between them and the comma after the word fellowship. Instead of giving a comma after each of these items as if they were simply a list (e.g. doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayers), the punctuation pairs the apostles’ doctrine with fellowship. Greek editions of the New Testament have this punctuation as well.

The early church engaged in each of these activities. We may readily see how some of these items could fit together. If we break bread, then we will offer prayer to God while doing so. We also view this as fellowship. However, the linkage we may fail to notice is doctrine and fellowship, yet from the way the sentence reads, this association is emphasized.

We cannot have fellowship unless we all continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. Doctrine means teaching. What the inspired apostles taught in the New Testament is our basis for unity and cooperation. To Corinth the apostle Paul wrote:

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Cor. 1:9,10.)

In the context of Acts 2, Peter had just delivered a sermon about Jesus. His life attested by miraculous activity (v. 22), His crucifixion by wicked hands (v. 23), and His resurrection from the grave as the fulfillment of prophecy (vv. 24-35) all pointed to the conclusion that Jesus indeed is Lord and Messiah (v. 36). The crowd was convicted by these words (v. 37). They believed Jesus was Lord and Messiah and that they were guilty of putting Him to death. When they asked the inspired apostle Peter what to do (v. 37), he replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (v. 38). These are teachings upon which we must agree if we are to have fellowship.

The apostles’ teaching regarding receiving salvation is plain. We cannot have fellowship with those who teach something other than what the apostles taught in the New Testament regarding how to receive remission of sins. If the apostle Peter says baptism saves us (1 Pet. 3:21), then we cannot teach differently. If the apostle John faithfully records that Jesus taught we must be born of water and the spirit to enter the kingdom (John 3:3-5), then we cannot teach another way of entry and remain in fellowship with God and His people. The apostle Paul teaches that we become children of God through faith by being baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26, 27), that baptism places one into Christ, uniting one with Christ’s death, freeing one from sin (Rom. 6:3-7), that baptism is a burial,  the working of God that makes us alive and forgives us of all trespasses (Col. 2:12-13), and that it is God’s mercy to save, the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5). We must continue steadfastly in this teaching. We cannot have fellowship with those who teach and practice something other than what the apostles have taught on this vital subject.

Jesus Christ is universal head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; Col. 1:18). No mere man should try to supplant the place of Jesus. After all, He built the church (Mt. 16:18) and purchased it with own precious blood (Acts 20:28). The church wears His name (Rom. 16:16). To exalt another as head or wear another’s name should be repulsive to any who wish to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul addressed this problem at Corinth when he wrote: “Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:12-13). Only Jesus Christ was crucified for us (1 Pet. 2:24). Into His name we were baptized (Acts 8:16; 10:48; 19:5), and there is no salvation in any other name than His (Acts 4:12). Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth (Mt. 28:18). Whatever we do must be done in His name, by His authority (Col. 3:17).

Each congregation of the Lord’s church is autonomous and self-governing. The New Testament shows that a plurality of men (called elders, shepherds, or bishops/overseers) supervise each congregation (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), among which they labor (Acts 20:28; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). The NT never mentions archbishops above these local leaders which would make decisions over multiple congregations; it only mentions Jesus Christ as the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) to whom elders, as stewards of souls entrusted to them (Titus 1:7), must give an account in the final day (Heb. 13:17).

While God’s wisdom is seen in each congregation of His church operating independently without human governing committees dictating policy to the local congregations, this does not mean that individual congregations of the Lord’s church never cooperate with each other in the Lord’s work. Acts 11:27-30 records a prophetic announcement that a great famine would come during the reign of Claudius Caesar. The disciples determined to send relief to the churches of Judea. The benevolent funds were sent to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:30). The church at Jerusalem did not order the church Antioch around. Neither did the congregation at Antioch dictate to the congregation at Jerusalem what it should do. Yet, funds were sent to help with a relief effort; the implication is the elders oversaw the distributing of necessities to the final recipients who were in need. Thus, the elders of a congregation may choose whether to opt into a scriptural work and cooperate with other congregations in the effort.

Moreover, congregations in Macedonia and Achaia gathered contributions for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem (Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9). From Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 16:1, the churches of Galatia were also gathering funds for the saints in Jerusalem. Just because an effort is big—supported by multiple congregations—does not make it wrong or unscriptural. There may be other reasons why an effort should or should not be supported. As long as each congregation remains autonomous, then many congregations may contribute to an effort overseen by elders in a local congregation. Great work that abounds through many thanksgivings to God is the result when congregations of the Lord’s church cooperate to help saints and all in need (2 Cor. 9:12-15). Let us seize opportunities afforded to us to do good and glorify God (Gal. 6:10).

Many of us had “show and tell” in elementary school. We would bring an item of interest to school, stand up in front of the class to display it, capture the interest of our classmates, and tell why this item was interesting or important to us.

The New Testament presents Jesus to the world first by showing us who He is, then by telling us about Him. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John contain His miracles, interactions with people, and accounts of His death and resurrection, while the epistles focus more on the significance of His redemptive work. Consider Colossians 1:12-20 which tells us of what God has done in Christ: delivering us from darkness into Christ’s kingdom, purchasing our redemption through Christ’s blood, placing Christ as head over the church, creating all things by Him, giving Him preeminence in all things, making peace through the blood of Christ to reconcile all things to Himself, etc.; these tell us about Christ. The gospel accounts more often show us Jesus.

Now this is not an absolute, mutually exclusive distinction, for John begins by telling us of Christ: His existence with the Father in eternity past, His role in creating all things, and how light and life come from Him (Jn. 1:1-3). Yet, John 1:14 does transition into the earthly life of Jesus by saying this about the Eternal Word: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Throughout the rest of the book, people are shown the glory of the Father through Jesus. When Nathanael was skeptical that the Messiah’s hometown would be Nazareth, Philip said “Come and see” (Jn. 1:46). Jesus told Nathanael he would soon see greater things than the miraculous knowledge Jesus displayed when first meeting him (Jn. 1:51). Greeks came wanting to see Jesus and Philip brought them (Jn. 12:20-21). When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus said if you have seen Me, then you have seen the Father; at least believe for the miraculous works (Jn. 14:8-11). The purpose of John’s gospel account was to show the signs that produce belief that Jesus is the Son of the living God (Jn. 20:30-31).

Jesus understood that His sacrificial death and resurrection would glorify the Father. Jesus dying on the cross for the world should hold an amazing interest for us. The crucifixion will draw all men to Him (Jn. 12:32). Christ crucified is the ultimate love shown.  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 Jn. 4:9).

After the gospel accounts record the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the command to tell what God has shown is given (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Lk. 24:46-48). Luke begins the book of Acts by noting that his first book was about “all that Jesus began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). Jesus showed us how to live by first doing the will of the Father (Jn. 8:29). Jesus resisted temptation in the wilderness Himself first (Mt. 4:1-11), then He taught and preached (Mt. 4:23; cf. Mt. 5-7).

Paul told Titus to show himself as an example to others by his good deeds (Titus 2:7) and also to tell people how to conduct themselves by speaking, exhorting, and rebuking with all authority (Titus 2:15). Let us show the work of the gospel in the way we live our lives and then tell others about the gospel when they notice (1 Pet. 3:15).

God guided Israel through the wilderness by highly visible manifestations (Ex. 13:21-22). When the tabernacle—the special tent God had instructed for Israel to erect (Ex. 25:9; 26:1-37)—was completed, Israel was ready to march toward the promised land; a cloud covered the tabernacle by day, and a pillar of fire stood over it by night (Num. 9:15-17). God commanded them when to journey and when to stop and set up camp (Num. 9:18-22).  Two silver trumpets were used by the priests, the sons of Aaron, to communicate to the surrounding camp of Israel and coordinate the movements of the tribes on their march through the wilderness.

God had promised Abraham that He would give the land of Canaan to his descendants (Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 17:8). God said that He would dwell among the children of Israel (Ex. 29:45). The cloud was a visible testament to God’s presence among His people (Ex. 40:34-38). Other nations evidently knew that God was guiding the Israelites by the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Num. 14:14). In response to the pleading of Moses, God promised, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex. 33:14).

Today, we live under the New Testament (2 Cor. 3:6). We stand on this side of the cross to which the law of Moses was nailed (Col. 2:14-17). Nevertheless, the experience Israel had in the journey through the wilderness toward the land of promise serves as an example to us (1 Cor 10:6). The details recorded during the former covenant provide encouraging truths that revive our hope in the same living God we serve today (Rom. 15:4).

We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). We do not base our lives upon things which are seen, but on the unseen; heaven is our land of promise (2 Cor. 4:17-5:1). Our citizenship is in heaven; thus, we function as foreigners while on earth (Phil. 3:21). The songs we sing reflect the truth that “this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through” and “here we are but straying pilgrims” (1 Pet. 1:1; 2:11). We pray to God, “Guide me, O Thou, Great Jehovah” as we journey through the barren land of life on earth. We are awaiting the rest that shall come to the people of God (Heb. 3:7-4:13).

We do not have a visible sign from God today like a cloud or a pillar of fire that shows us exactly where to go. However, we know Jesus is the way (Jn. 14:6). We are to take up the cross and follow Him daily on our way to glory (Lk. 9:22-26). We have specific instructions regarding how to live recorded in the Scriptures; they tell us when we are wrong, how to make correction, and completely provide all the necessary information to lead us to heaven (2 Tim. 3:16). Both positive and negative commands are found throughout the Bible; thus, like Israel of old, He tells us when to stop and when to march ahead. Consider Ephesians 5:17-18 as an example of a couple of “stop” and “go” verses.

We must encourage our brothers and sisters as they journey alongside us toward this goal (Heb. 3:12-13). Sadly, many who start out on this journey do not faithfully follow the Lord to the end. As many died in the wilderness and did not reach Canaan, so many turn from the living God and wander away from the path that leads to life (Mt. 7:13-14). God has promised us eternal life (Titus 1:2). Let us trust His word and lay hold on the hope that is set before us (Heb. 6:18).

Ephesians 2 describes the dramatic change Jesus has made through His redemptive work. Ephesians 2:1-10 addresses salvation provided through God’s love, kindness, and grace. When we respond to God’s offer of salvation in His Son Jesus Christ by faith (Eph. 2:8), we become God’s new creation, His workmanship created for good works (Eph. 2:10). Before we were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1), but now we have been made alive in Him (Eph. 2:5). Before we served the devil, fulfilling the desires of the flesh (Eph. 2:2-3). Now we serve God by walking in good works (Eph. 2:10)

In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul wrote of God’s plan to include the Gentiles with the Jews in the one body, His church made of His people (cf. Eph. 1:22-23; Acts 2:47). Particularly in Ephesians 2:11-13, Paul addressed the standing of unconverted Gentiles before Christ came. “That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).  What a deplorable state people are in without Christ!

But being “in Christ” made all the difference. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). All spiritual blessing in heavenly places are found “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Redemption and forgiveness of sins are secured through the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7). In water baptism, the sins that separated us from God (Isa. 59:1-2), are washed away (Acts 22:16) so that we can be near to Him once again. Paul took time to make sure that some in Ephesus were baptized in the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5). Baptism puts one into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27). The church, the saved body of Christ, is made up of those who have been sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water (Eph. 5:26).

The peace that comes through Jesus’ blood not only reconciles people to God, but also to one another, “that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near” (Eph. 2:16-17). Jews and Gentiles who had been at odds for generations were born again into a new family of God. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

Readers of the book of Ephesians in any century can benefit from reflecting on God’s plan of salvation that He has worked through Jesus Christ. The church is an integral part of this eternal plan of God (Eph. 3:10-12). Let us not disparage the church, but instead grow in our appreciation of it as part of the divine plan of God—“to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 2:21).