40 And with many other words he
testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse
generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his
word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were
added to them. 42 And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came
upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the
apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and
had all things in common, 45 and sold their
possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had
need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord
in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their
food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved.
I love this passage because it is the
best one teaching about the local Church. Jesus started this and it
is his Idea so we need to learn about this so we can be in a local
church. They got convertedc and were baptized and then they were
added to the church. I think it is important for the local church to
have this in common and that we need to have a membership. Note that
people were saved, they came to the personal knowledge of Jesus and a
personal relationship. The person comes to the fact they are a
sinner who broke Gods laws then they saw Jesus died for them. Jesus
died so we need to repent and embrace the death of Jesus for the
forgiveness of sin. Jesus comes into the life and one is saved. He
asked us to be baptized and then added to a LOCAL place for your
growth and faith. You commit to a body that commits to you. In
the local church you submit to the leadership and you serve the body
with your gifting.
In the church we help the needs of the
members. We in our church have a fund we collect that goes to the
needs of the body. We collect money to fund the things like what
the poor need. In the church the family breaks bread and we do that
on the first Sunday remembering the death of Jesus and what that
means to each of us. We are to eat together and we are to know each
other.