Key Verse: Verse 47 - “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Key Words: the Lord added to the church daily
Mark the word added in verse 47. The word literally means to be annexed, to be made a part of. When these people were saved, they were made a part of the church at Jerusalem. Another way to word this is they become members.
I don’t believe that joining a church will save you, but I do believe that every born-again believer should join (annex) themselves to a sound Bible-believing church. Let me give you a few reasons why.
First of all, it’s God’s plan for being taught the Word of God (Acts 2:42). Secondly, it’s God’s plan for good Christian fellowship (Acts 2:42). Third of all, it’s God’s plan for fulfilling and taking part in the ordinance of communion (Acts 2:41-42). Fourth of all, it’s God’s plan for aiding and assisting others in need (Acts 4:32; 6:1-5). Fifthly, it’s God’s plan for praying one for another (Acts 2:42). Sixthly, it’s God’s plan for giving (I Corinthians 16:1-2). Last of all, it’s God’s plan for having a pastor (I Peter 5:2; I Timothy 3:1-7).
Now, you know as well as I that each of us can accomplish more as a church of believers than we could ever accomplish individually.
Suppose that in time of war a man says, “I wish to serve my country and to defend her from her enemies.” If he tries to carry out that resolution alone, he can accomplish nothing. He can be effective in that purpose only by standing shoulder to shoulder with others of like mind. It is so with the church. Rooted together the huge redwood trees of California amaze mankind. They are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old. One would think that trees so large must have a tremendous root system that reaches down hundreds of feet into the earth. But not so! The redwoods have a very shallow root system. The redwoods’ root system all intertwine. They are locked to each other. When the storms come, the winds blow, and the lightning flashes, the redwoods still stand. They are not alone for all the trees support and protect each other. Each tree is important to all the other trees in the grove.
So it is with the church. We lock together as one so that during the storms and trials we can all stand together as one for our good and God’s glory.
What to do:
✞Find you a good, Bible-believing church and join in with it. Now, it’s not going to be perfect, but it will help you stand during the trials of life.
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