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Show THE LORD ADDING TO HIS CHURCH they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there "Then were added unto them about three thousand souls ... And the Lord added to daily such as should be (Acts 2: 41 & 47b) the church saved." After Peter made his confession that Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus responded, "Upon this rock I will build my church." (Matthew 16: 13-16) This was His promise that His Jesus was the church would be built but the time not was yet right. Then, after the resurrection, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended to take Jesus' place and He filled the "Then disciples. (Acts 2) they that gladly received his 1 word were were baptized: and the same day there added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2: 41) The text result, HAnd the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2: 47b) That's how Jesus says as a built His church. He added those that He They were baptized and added to the numbers of already believers in the church. People did not just join. They were added to the church by God. saw fit. Notice first He added those who "gladly received His word." The apostle Paul inquired in the book of Romans 10, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall 2 they preach except they be sent? (Romans 10:14-15) Once they heard the Word of God, they gladly received it. They got excited about the good news that they heard. They accepted God's promises with pleasure. There was nothing sad about it. The psalmist would sing with a joyful noise. He added to the church those who "gladly received His word." Then, "were He added to the church those baptized." just hear the It was not enough to word and believe it within They demonstrated the inward change with an outward action. They buried the old man in the liquid ones heart. gravel and man. came forth to live the new Baptist called upon the Jesus repent and be baptized. John the world to " 3 therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28: 19) The God we serve always has things told His disciples to "Go ye in order. Those that went in the water they believed came out wet but unchanged. Those that believed and were then baptized were regenerated. After they believed, they were baptized. Third, they did not just join but "were before added unto them, added to the church. Their names were according to God's will written in the Lamb's book of life. Jesus said those whom the Father gave Him, nobody could take them away. God saw fit to save them and He did. "My Father, which greater than all; gave them me, is and no man is able to 4 " pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10: 29) In other words, once saved I have always saved. " ... " For I know whom believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1: 12b) Those that were " doing their own will might have been around and about but the church. Judas was were not added to in the crowd but missed the mark. God did the /' adding to the church of those what should be saved. Finally, those added tot he church were "praising God, and havingfavour with all the people daily." They were on one accord, sharing the same doctrine, being members in the same fellowship, breaking bread together, and praying .. with and for one another. When God 5 added to the church, it was not just form or fashion, show and tell, pretend and make-like. It r was the real deal and the people could not help but declare that they could no longer hold their piece. They were true believers. They shared their possessions so that every person had their needs met. They gathered regularly in the house of the Lord. They went from house to house. They were of one mind and one spirit. No wonder the church grew by leaps and bounds. He was no respecter of person. F or the Lord added such as Peter and John, such as Mary and Martha, such as Paul and Silas, such as Lois and Eunice, such as Mark and Timothy, such as you and me. "And the Lord added to the church as should be saved. " 6 daily such |
