Christ's Church

[ollie]

It was built by Christ - Matthew 16:18.
The saved are added to the church - Acts 2:47.
Jesus shed His blood for the church - Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5.
The church has God's wisdom through the inspired revealed word. - Ephesians 3:10.
The church is the body of Christ - Ephesians 5:23.
The Lord's church worships in spirit and in truth - John 4:24.
The church of Christ only follows the Bible -2 John 9-11; Mark 7:6-7.
The Lord only built one church - Ephesians 4:4-6.
The Lord's church is not a denomination - 1 Corinthians 1:10

 
From:
http://www.pagestoyou.com/

[Ambassador4Christ]

A good observation on someones part if it be a true observation.  

[PastorTom]

The church is the koinonia of God's people in the world. Here is where we especially see the church as a means that the Holy Spirit uses to make Christ really present. The church is the people of God in the world for the salvation of the world. The church is the koinonia of Christ in the world to make Christ really present in and for the world. The church is the people of God in mission.

To discuss the mission of the church, we need to define three terms: Dominion of God, church, and world.

The Dominion or Reign of God is the final goal of the whole creation in Christ by the Spirit in which all creation is finally liberated from all bondage to alienation and death. Jesus' proclamation centred on announcing the presence of the Dominion. The Reign of God is the primary reality toward which the Spirit is drawing all creation.

The world is creation, the arena for the realization of the Dominion, but which now lives under the domination of alienation and death. Thus the world currently exists in a duality as that which God is acting to save and as that which opposes God's act of salvation.

In this context we see the church - the people of God in Christ by the Spirit whose life revolves around the proclamation and enacting of the Gospel and who is called into mission in the world - is that part of the world which by the work of the Spirit and in the Spirit has accepted the Reign of God as primary reality. The church is the koinonia where the memory of the Dominion in Christ and the hope of the Reign in the Spirit is alive. The church is not itself the Dominion, but it is, like Christ's words and actions, a sign of the presence of the Reign of God.

Because the world is both being saved and resisting salvation, and because the church is a sign of the presence of the Dominion but not itself the Reign, the church always exists in some tension with both the world and the Dominion.

If the church and the world are too closely identified, then the church becomes a mere institution which cannot save anyone from alienation and death because it itself is only a part of the systems of alienation and death. Such a church is an enemy of salvation and works against the coming Reign of God.

On the other hand, if the church assumes itself to be identified with the Dominion, it becomes an institution of Platonic triumphalism which either separates itself from the world - the very world God has sent the church to save - or establishes itself as an alternative source of worldly power. In either case such a church is an enemy of salvation and works against the coming Rule of God.

In its history the church has fallen prey to both of these temptations, and sometimes both at once. The church is not sent to confuse itself with the world or with the Dominion, but to be a sign of the presence of God's future in the midst of the world.

Thus we speak of the church as the means of the Spirit to make Christ really present in the world. The Reign of God is present whenever Christ is present, for Christ not only announces this rule, Christ is the Dominion of God. The Reign of God is fulfilled when all creation is brought by the Spirit under the Lordship of Christ. The role of the church is to be used by the Spirit to make Christ really present in and for the world. Since the goal of history is bringing all creation into Christ, the focus of the church can never be inward, but is always outward: outward into the world and for the world.

The church is never self-centred, but always world-oriented. Survival of the church is not the issue - God has already promised that the people of God in Christ by the Spirit will exist until the Dominion is fulfilled - the issue is mission. The reason for the church's existence is to be used by the Holy Spirit to communicate the Gospel in words and in actions for the salvation of the world. The church is the koinonia of Christ in mission

God called the church to be a partner people in the world. The partner people had their ups and downs. They were saints and sinners at the same time. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit molded them into a CONTRAST SOCIETY, a community which reflected the gracious reign of God in a world of oppression and greed. Besides sharing their manna and eating together as Jews and Gentiles, here are some of the counterculture ways they followed:

1. Slaves and "free people" gathered as equals, all one in Christ. There were no hierarchies, no big deals and little deals. One person's talent or ability was not judged better than another's. Each believer used what was his or her gift or charisma for the building up of the whole body. This "living for the whole" was called LOVE (Rom 12.1-8, 1 Cor 12.14-31, 13.1-13, Gal 3.28, Gal 5.13-14, Col 3.12- 17).

2. Leadership was not a position of personal power or prestige. It was one of many servant gifts which were bestowed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit did not consider social status or gender in the giving of this charisma. Therefore, men were leaders in some communities, and women were leaders in others (Rom 16.1-16, 1 Cor 12.1-13, Phil 4.2-3).

3. The followers of THE WAY sunned the immoral and hedonistic ways of the Empire. They refused to participate in events which were contrary to the Spirit and teaching of Jesus—events where violence was glorified, where slaves killed animals and other slaves for the entertainment of the masses. Christians also practiced simplicity and moderation in the midst of a society which found its joy at the local Roman shopping mall (Gal 5.16-26, 1 Cor 6.9-10, Rev 18.11- 14).

4. In a world which considered sickness to be the result of fate, bad luck, or punishment, the followers of Jesus continued his ministry of healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, and casting out demons. These wonderful works were signs of the reign of God, evidence that all the powers which hold humans in bondage have been defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus (Jn 9.1-3, Acts 3.1-10, Jas 5.13- 15).

5. In a world which believed in revenge and the power of the sword, the believers refused to retaliate or defend themselves, even when threatened by death. Instead they loved their enemies as Jesus had taught them (Rom 12.14-21, 1 Pet 2.21-25, 3.9-12).

6. In a world of greed, the Christians gathered food for the hungry both inside and outside their fellowship. They did what they could to make the whole world a manna society.

7. In both Jewish and Gentile societies, where women had few rights and where the marriage covenant was easily broken, the followers of Jesus place high value on purity and faithfulness within the marriage relationship. The men remembered how Jesus had treated women—with dignity, respect, welcoming them as equal partners in the life of God's reign (Jn 4.1-42, Eph 4.21-33, 1 Pet 3.7).

8. In a world which believed in the strict separation of spirit and flesh, which considered spiritual things good and physical things evil, the believers celebrated GOD IN FLESH—in water, bread and wine, in all creation! (Jn 1.14, 1 Cor 11.23-27, Eph 1.23, 1 Tim 3.16)

9. In a Roman society which was cynical about death, the followers of Jesus celebrated the promise of resurrection. Their hope was in Christ who lives as the first fruit of all who sleep (1 Cor 15.1-58).

When the risen people failed to live as a contrast society, God raised up teachers and preachers to call them back (1 Cor 1.10—4.21, 11.17-24). The partner people returned and received power to begin again. They were renewed in their calling to live as God's people in a world of oppression and greed (Rom 12.1-2).

[texseraphim]

There is a Protestant Fundamentalist DENOMINATION that calls itself "the church of Christ" and is not.

It is very easy to establish this fact.

The real church of Christ, was founded in 33 A.D.

The protestant denomination that stole the name was founded in the late 19th to early 20th century, the official date it appeared in the US religious census was in 1906.

The real church of Christ was founded by Christ himself, the denomination using that name was founded by dissadent members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) over the issues of organ music and missionary funding organisations, and other "unauthorised, unbiblical innovations", the DOCs were in turn founded by Alexander and Thomas Campbell, and Barton Stone in the early 19th century.

The REAL church of Christ was founded in Jerusalem, the campbellite denomination was founded and is still for the most part limited to the deep south of the USA.

The campbellite sect claims to "restore" the first century church which supposedly "apostacised" itself out of existence when it ceased to follow the Bible as God.  Of course this too is impossible since the Bible was not followed as God by the first century church, it could not have since the Bible was not formed into one volume  until the year 390, long after the church and Christianity had supposedly gone into "total apostacy" and ceased to exist.

To put it bluntly Ollie, you cannot "restore" a body which never esisted to begin with.

[ollie]

There is a Protestant Fundamentalist DENOMINATION that calls itself "the church of Christ" and is not.

Only familiar with the denomination, "The United Church of Christ".
Do not know of a denomination that calls itself "the church of Christ".
Only know of the true church of Christ as revealed in the Bible.

It is very easy to establish this fact.

The real church of Christ, was founded in 33 A.D.

True

The protestant denomination that stole the name was founded in the late 19th to early 20th century, the official date it appeared in the US religious census was in 1906.

Not familiar with this denomination or the given data, so cannot speak here.

The real church of Christ was founded by Christ himself,

True

 

the denomination using that name was founded by dissadent members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) over the issues of organ music and missionary funding organisations, and other "unauthorised, unbiblical innovations", the DOCs were in turn founded by Alexander and Thomas Campbell, and Barton Stone in the early 19th century.

True, many of these denominations have practices not found in God's word. Not familiar with the so called "founders".
How can any man found a church that has already been established by God through His Son Jesus Christ? Entrance to it is only through obedience to Jesus Christ.

The REAL church of Christ was founded in Jerusalem,

A truer statement would be established when Peter preached and those that heard the good news of Jesus Christ, and were pricked in their hearts, repented of their sins, received the gift of the Holy Spirit and were added to the church such as should be saved.

the campbellite denomination was founded and is still for the most part limited to the deep south of the USA.

Cambellites are as unscriptural as orthodoxy. They can not be found in the Bible. However I donot know what a campbellite is, only know it is not a scriptural reference for God's people.

The campbellite sect claims to "restore" the first century church which supposedly "apostacised" itself out of existence when it ceased to follow the Bible as God.  Of course this too is impossible since the Bible was not followed as God by the first century church, it could not have since the Bible was not formed into one volume  until the year 390, long after the church and Christianity had supposedly gone into "total apostacy" and ceased to exist.

If they refered to themselves as campbellites, they were not Christ's church!
The New Testament Church in the first century had holy men inspired of God delivering God's word in person just as it is written for us today. This word is complete and claims itself to be all sufficient for the man of God to be thoroughly furnished unto good works.

To put it bluntly Ollie, you cannot "restore" a body which never esisted to begin with.

Christs Body has never been in need of being restored. It has been since the day of Pentecost as related in Acts 2.

What has been missing since the apostate, paganistic, traditions of men, church took over is the good news of Jesus Christ to be preached in truth, not adulterated, and people obeying it so once more they could be added to the true church such as should be saved. With this came a visible assembly of the church as Christians are told to assemble together.

[texseraphim]

There is a Protestant Fundamentalist DENOMINATION that calls itself "the church of Christ" and is not.

Ollie you can act dumb all you want to, but you forget that I to was raised in the Protestant Fundamentalist sect you belong to, I am very familar with all the rhetoric it uses, and none of that changes the fact that it is a protest denomination, and not THE CHURCH OF CHRIST  no matter what name it chooses to call itself

Only familiar with the denomination, "The United Church of Christ".
Do not know of a denomination that calls itself "the church of Christ".

That's odd since you a member of it and have provided links to sites published by the "church of Christ" denomination.


Only know of the true church of Christ as revealed in the Bible.

Sorry but the sect yoou beleong to has little to nothing to do with the REAL church of Christ as revealed in the Bible

It is very easy to establish this fact.

The real church of Christ, was founded in 33 A.D.

True

The protestant denomination that stole the name was founded in the late 19th to early 20th century, the official date it appeared in the US religious census was in 1906.

Not familiar with this denomination or the given data, so cannot speak here.

Again you are fooling no one since you are a member of it, it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the history and background of the denomination you "placed membership" in.  But again I am sure you are already familiar with this, and are just continuing your "dumb" act

The real church of Christ was founded by Christ himself,

True

 

the denomination using that name was founded by dissadent members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) over the issues of organ music and missionary funding organisations, and other "unauthorised, unbiblical innovations", the DOCs were in turn founded by Alexander and Thomas Campbell, and Barton Stone in the early 19th century.

True, many of these denominations have practices not found in God's word. Not familiar with the so called "founders".
How can any man found a church that has already been established by God through His Son Jesus Christ? Entrance to it is only through obedience to Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you are getting my point after all.  Human beings or "men" did not establish the REAL church of Christ, but they did establish the Protestant denomination that the Protestant denomination you belong to schismed from,  whether you acknowlege that fact of not does not make it any less the truth

The REAL church of Christ was founded in Jerusalem,

A truer statement would be established when Peter preached and those that heard the good news of Jesus Christ, and were pricked in their hearts, repented of their sins, received the gift of the Holy Spirit and were added to the church such as should be saved.

The only difference in our statements is that yours is much longer and contians a charectoristic quote from the idol you worship

the campbellite denomination was founded and is still for the most part limited to the deep south of the USA.

Cambellites are as unscriptural as orthodoxy. They can not be found in the Bible. However I donot know what a campbellite is, only know it is not a scriptural reference for God's people.

While is dissagree with you as to the "unscriptural" nature of Orthodoxy, as well as the need to get permission from the Bible for everything we do or say, if anything is "unscriptural" it is the Campbellite sect, of which you are a member, I know you are continuing your "dumb" act.  But if you really don't know what a Cambellite is, take a look in  the mirror, or look around Wednesday night when you go to church and you will see many more Campbellites

The campbellite sect claims to "restore" the first century church which supposedly "apostacised" itself out of existence when it ceased to follow the Bible as God.  Of course this too is impossible since the Bible was not followed as God by the first century church, it could not have since the Bible was not formed into one volume  until the year 390, long after the church and Christianity had supposedly gone into "total apostacy" and ceased to exist.

If they refered to themselves as campbellites, they were not Christ's church!
The New Testament Church in the first century had holy men inspired of God delivering God's word in person just as it is written for us today. This word is complete and claims itself to be all sufficient for the man of God to be thoroughly furnished unto good works.

{quote]To put it bluntly Ollie, you cannot "restore" a body which never esisted to begin with.

Christs Body has never been in need of being restored. It has been since the day of Pentecost as related in Acts 2.

What has been missing since the apostate, paganistic, traditions of men, church took over is the good news of Jesus Christ to be preached in truth, not adulterated, and people obeying it so once more they could be added to the true church such as should be saved. With this came a visible assembly of the church as Christians are told to assemble together.

I am not even going to bother to respond the the rest of your silly dumb act,  if you are unwilling to debate on an honest basis, why do you even bother comming here?

[Kerygma]

What has been missing since the apostate, paganistic, traditions of men, church took over is the good news of Jesus Christ to be preached in truth, not adulterated, and people obeying it so once more they could be added to the true church such as should be saved. With this came a visible assembly of the church as Christians are told to assemble together.

The above statement is very revealing of the inconsistency of many fundamentalists. The claim that the early Church apostacized as the so-called "traditions of men" took over and that at some later point a "visible assembly of the church" came about runs contrary to scripture and contrary to history.

Any and all Protestant sects (even the silly Trail of Blood Baptists who have no visible proof for their statements other than their own say-so) can be shown historically to have begun long, long after the first millennium. For the most part, a good 1500 years transpired before the Reformation. Christ said He would build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Thus, to claim that the Church apostacized and that it was only with the coming of the Reformers that the Church was gotten "back on the tracks" so to speak, is to fly in the face of scripture. It is also to run completely against historical facts. The Orthodox Church can demonstrate historically and factually that it has been there from the earliest days.

Ollie... Christ's Church never had need of a reformation. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church has withstood the assualts of the Romans, the Ottomans, the Communists and now the fundie naysayers. It will continue until the Bridegroom returns for His Bride. Your claims are without foundation and little more than wistful, imaginative thinking.

[ollie]

There is a Protestant Fundamentalist DENOMINATION that calls itself "the church of Christ" and is not.

Ollie you can act dumb all you want to, but you forget that I to was raised in the Protestant Fundamentalist sect you belong to, I am very familar with all the rhetoric it uses, and none of that changes the fact that it is a protest denomination, and not THE CHURCH OF CHRIST  no matter what name it chooses to call itself

Only familiar with the denomination, "The United Church of Christ".
Do not know of a denomination that calls itself "the church of Christ".

That's odd since you a member of it and have provided links to sites published by the "church of Christ" denomination.


Only know of the true church of Christ as revealed in the Bible.

Sorry but the sect yoou beleong to has little to nothing to do with the REAL church of Christ as revealed in the Bible

It is very easy to establish this fact.

The real church of Christ, was founded in 33 A.D.

True

The protestant denomination that stole the name was founded in the late 19th to early 20th century, the official date it appeared in the US religious census was in 1906.

Not familiar with this denomination or the given data, so cannot speak here.

Again you are fooling no one since you are a member of it, it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the history and background of the denomination you "placed membership" in.  But again I am sure you are already familiar with this, and are just continuing your "dumb" act

The real church of Christ was founded by Christ himself,

True

 

the denomination using that name was founded by dissadent members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) over the issues of organ music and missionary funding organisations, and other "unauthorised, unbiblical innovations", the DOCs were in turn founded by Alexander and Thomas Campbell, and Barton Stone in the early 19th century.

True, many of these denominations have practices not found in God's word. Not familiar with the so called "founders".
How can any man found a church that has already been established by God through His Son Jesus Christ? Entrance to it is only through obedience to Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you are getting my point after all.  Human beings or "men" did not establish the REAL church of Christ, but they did establish the Protestant denomination that the Protestant denomination you belong to schismed from,  whether you acknowlege that fact of not does not make it any less the truth

The REAL church of Christ was founded in Jerusalem,

A truer statement would be established when Peter preached and those that heard the good news of Jesus Christ, and were pricked in their hearts, repented of their sins, received the gift of the Holy Spirit and were added to the church such as should be saved.

The only difference in our statements is that yours is much longer and contians a charectoristic quote from the idol you worship

the campbellite denomination was founded and is still for the most part limited to the deep south of the USA.

Cambellites are as unscriptural as orthodoxy. They can not be found in the Bible. However I donot know what a campbellite is, only know it is not a scriptural reference for God's people.

While is dissagree with you as to the "unscriptural" nature of Orthodoxy, as well as the need to get permission from the Bible for everything we do or say, if anything is "unscriptural" it is the Campbellite sect, of which you are a member, I know you are continuing your "dumb" act.  But if you really don't know what a Cambellite is, take a look in  the mirror, or look around Wednesday night when you go to church and you will see many more Campbellites

The campbellite sect claims to "restore" the first century church which supposedly "apostacised" itself out of existence when it ceased to follow the Bible as God.  Of course this too is impossible since the Bible was not followed as God by the first century church, it could not have since the Bible was not formed into one volume  until the year 390, long after the church and Christianity had supposedly gone into "total apostacy" and ceased to exist.

If they refered to themselves as campbellites, they were not Christ's church!
The New Testament Church in the first century had holy men inspired of God delivering God's word in person just as it is written for us today. This word is complete and claims itself to be all sufficient for the man of God to be thoroughly furnished unto good works.

{quote]To put it bluntly Ollie, you cannot "restore" a body which never esisted to begin with.

Christs Body has never been in need of being restored. It has been since the day of Pentecost as related in Acts 2.

What has been missing since the apostate, paganistic, traditions of men, church took over is the good news of Jesus Christ to be preached in truth, not adulterated, and people obeying it so once more they could be added to the true church such as should be saved. With this came a visible assembly of the church as Christians are told to assemble together.

I am not even going to bother to respond the the rest of your silly dumb act,  if you are unwilling to debate on an honest basis, why do you even bother comming here?

God Bless you!

[ollie]

What has been missing since the apostate, paganistic, traditions of men, church took over is the good news of Jesus Christ to be preached in truth, not adulterated, and people obeying it so once more they could be added to the true church such as should be saved. With this came a visible assembly of the church as Christians are told to assemble together.

The above statement is very revealing of the inconsistency of many fundamentalists. The claim that the early Church apostacized as the so-called "traditions of men" took over and that at some later point a "visible assembly of the church" came about runs contrary to scripture and contrary to history.

Any and all Protestant sects (even the silly Trail of Blood Baptists who have no visible proof for their statements other than their own say-so) can be shown historically to have begun long, long after the first millennium. For the most part, a good 1500 years transpired before the Reformation. Christ said He would build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Thus, to claim that the Church apostacized and that it was only with the coming of the Reformers that the Church was gotten "back on the tracks" so to speak, is to fly in the face of scripture. It is also to run completely against historical facts. The Orthodox Church can demonstrate historically and factually that it has been there from the earliest days.

Ollie... Christ's Church never had need of a reformation. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church has withstood the assualts of the Romans, the Ottomans, the Communists and now the fundie naysayers. It will continue until the Bridegroom returns for His Bride. Your claims are without foundation and little more than wistful, imaginative thinking.

God Bless You!

[ollie]

It was built by Christ - Matthew 16:18.
The saved are added to the church - Acts 2:47.
Jesus shed His blood for the church - Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5.
The church is where we learn of God's wisdom - Ephesians 3:10.
The church is the body of Christ - Ephesians 5:23.
The Lord's church worships in spirit and in truth - John 4:24.
The church of Christ only follows the Bible -2 John 9-11; Mark 7:6-7.
The Lord only built one church - Ephesians 4:4-6.
The Lord's church is not a denomination - 1 Corinthians 1:10

 
From:
http://www.pagestoyou.com/

Back to the original topic of this thread.  Christ's church.

[PastorTom]

Any comments about #3?  I know it's kind of long but what do you think?

Shalom

[texseraphim]

 

Pastor Tom, I thought your first post to this thread was very good, although a bit difficult to comprehend.

Thanks

[texseraphim]

 

Ollie, your string of uncommented on proof texts do not impress me very much.

Your dumb act, and arrogance combined with false modesty
impress me even less.

How about honestly addressing the comments that Kerygma and I have made?

[ollie]

The church was built by Jesus Christ:

 Matthew 16:13.  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
 14.  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
 15.  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
 16.  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
 17.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
 18.  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 19.  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Christ says, "I will build my church;...." "Upon this rock".


 Luke 6:46.  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
 47.  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
 48.  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Anyone coming to Christ and hears him and does what He says
has security as if his house foundation is built on a rock and stands unscathed in a storm. That rock for the obedient Christian being Christ.


1 Corinthians 10:1.  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
 2.  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
 3.  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
 4.  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Christ is the spiritual rock.
The church is built upon that spiritual rock that is Jesus Christ. It is upon that rock that one finds eternal salvation.

[ollie]

The saved are added to the church - Acts 2:47.

One does not join the church. The Lord adds one to the church such as should be saved. Those such as should be saved are the obedient to God's word. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, be added by God to the Lord's body.


 Acts 2:36.  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
 37.  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
 38.  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
 39.  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.
 40.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
 41.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
 42.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
 43.  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
 44.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
 45.  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
 46.  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,
 47.  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.