When you turn back to Acts chapter
2, and I've entitled this message, What is the Church? And the only way that that question
can be answered is by looking within the book of Acts. You
can't really answer it by looking at this place or any other place. The only way you can fairly answer
that question is by looking in the book of Acts and see what
the church is. Now we read in verse 41, this
is after Peter had preached this message. Then they that gladly
received his word. Now there's the church. those that gladly received his
word were baptized. And the same day,
there were added unto them, who added these people unto them? Well, look in verse 47 of this
chapter, praising God and having favor with all the people and
the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be said. Who is the church? The people
the Lord adds to that number. The same day there were added
unto them about 3,000 souls. I can't help but wonder if that's
ever been done again. I guess it could have been, but
I've not seen it in my lifetime, but I sure would like to, wouldn't
you? If it's the Lord's will, if it's
for His glory. Verse 42, and they continued steadfastly in
the apostles' doctrine. Now here is what a church is. Someone who continues steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine. Now this is interesting. None
of the New Testament had yet been written. This was the first
sermon after Peter's sermon on Pentecost. And the only way we
can determine what the Apostle's doctrine was by what was said
in Acts chapter 2 in this sermon. This is the sermon that the Lord
used to add these people to the church and the Apostle's doctrine,
we're going to consider that in a moment, is found in this
sermon. in Acts chapter 2, because like
I said, the New Testament had not yet been written, not one
book. If you want to know what the apostles' doctrine really
was, that the New Testament church continued steadfastly, you have
to examine this sermon that Peter wrote. And they continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and in fellowship. In a church, there
is true fellowship. This is my favorite definition
of fellowship, fellows in the same ship. They have something
in common. That's what the word actually
means. They have something in common. Fellowship isn't just
getting together and having a good time together, although that's
certainly desirable. But fellowship is an agreement
in the gospel, what we have in common. And in breaking of bread,
we're going to do that in just a moment. And when we observe
the Lord's table, in breaking in bread and in prayers. And
that is the activity of the church continuing steadfastly in the
apostle's doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and
prayers. We're gonna come back to that in a minute, but let's
keep reading. Verse 43, and fear came upon every soul. What is the church? People who
really fear God. What is the fear of God? It is seen in faith in Christ. You show me a man or woman who
is afraid to look anywhere but Christ. And I'll show you someone
who really does fear and reverence God. They wouldn't dare look
anywhere but Christ alone. There's everything in their salvation.
And the reason they fear sin is because they fear God. That's
what makes sin so frightening, the fear of God. Verse 44, and
all that believed what Peter had preached were together. They were together and had all
things common and sold their possessions and goods and parted
them to all men as every man had need. Now, what love these
people demonstrated in that they sold everything they had and
gave to every man as they had need. I admire this, I admire
the spirit behind it. Can you imagine the problems
that would create? Everybody would want to join
this church, particularly if you had need. I'm going to join
and they're going to take care of all my needs. And that no
doubt happened because how many times does Paul talk about how
he had to sin to the poor saints in Jerusalem? And no doubt they
had put themselves in a position where they were poor because
of this. Can you imagine how people would take advantage of
this? and I'm sure it was taken advantage of, but the hallmark
of this is their love to one another, that they would sell
everything and have everything in common, and what love these
people demonstrated. What is the church? It's people
who love one another. They love one another. Their
love is in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 46,
and they, continuing daily with one accord, One mind. Christ
is all. In the temple and breaking bread
from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness
of heart. I love this description of the
early church. They ate their meat with gladness. Just thankful. And singleness
of heart. Simplicity of heart. We have
a single source for what we believe, it's the Bible. We have a single
salvation, Christ only. We have a single reason for being
saved, the grace of God. We have a single thing we're
called upon to do, believe the gospel, faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. They ate their meat with gladness
and singleness of heart, verse 47, praising God, and having
favor with all the people and the Lord. I love this phrase. I don't think I've ever thought
that much about it. And the Lord added to the church
daily. In this church, all the true
additions were of the Lord. They're the ones he added. Salvation
is of the Lord. But I like this phrase, he added
to the church daily, such as should be saved. You know, God's
elect should be saved, shouldn't they? God chose them to salvation.
Everybody that Christ died for should be saved. Their sins are
gone. They stand perfect before God.
Everybody that God, the Holy Spirit calls should be saved.
They've been given a new nature. Now, what a beautiful description
of God's church. The Lord added daily to the church
such as should be saved. Now let's go back to verse 42
because this gives the what the church did. Verse 42. And they these people who gladly
received the word it came as good news to them and they confess
Christ and believers baptism. I can't express the importance
of that. They, what did the believers
do? They confessed Christ and believers' baptism. Then they
that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day
there were added unto them about 3,000 souls, and here's four
things that the church does. They continued steadfastly in
the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and breaking of
bread, and prayers. Now there are scores of thousands of institutions
that go on under the name of church that are not really churches. They're religious institutions.
And the reason I can say that is because they have not continued
steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine. A church that does
not continue steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine is not a church. Now, what I want us to notice,
first of all, is they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's
doctrine. Not doctrines, doctrine. There's only one doctrine. Every time the word doctrines
in the plural is used in the New Testament, it's with regard
to false doctrines and doctrines of devils. That which is not
true. And you know, I was thinking
about this. I wish we could strike from our vocabulary, the term,
the doctrines of grace. It's not the doctrines of grace.
It's the doctrine of grace. It's the one doctrine of God. We think of, well, there are
five doctrines we generally think of. Total depravity, unconditional
election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, perseverance
of the same. That's one doctrine. They all
go together. That's one doctrine. And if you
leave out one, you no longer have the doctrine of grace. It's
not the doctrines of grace, it's the doctrine of grace. And never
refer to doctrine in a negative fashion. How many times have
you heard somebody say, well, that's dry doctrine. That's dry
doctrine. God's doctrine is not dry. Now I may be so hard hearted.
It appears dry to me. Many times over the years I've
heard people speak of dry doctrine and they don't realize the problem
is not the doctrine. The problem is their own dry
heart. It comes as dry to them and it doesn't come as living
and powerful to them. It's dry doctrine. I've already
got that down and let's go to something else. That's like the
children of Israel. That manna that came down from
heaven hadn't changed any, hadn't changed at all. But yet they
say our souls loathe this light bread. It's no longer substantial
to us. It no longer tastes good. We're
tired of it. The manna didn't change. The
taste of the manna didn't change, but their tastes changed and
they no longer enjoyed the manna. Now, what is the apostles doctrine? Now, like I said, the only fair
way to see what the apostles' doctrine is, is to look at what
Peter said in this sermon on the day of Pentecost, because
none of the New Testament had been read. They continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine. Now, first thing I'd like to
point out about it, remember when everybody started speaking
in tongues? Verse 16, Peter says that, but this is that which
was spoken by the prophet Joel. Now, first of all, the apostles
doctrine comes from the scriptures. It's scriptural. This is that
which was spoken. Let me give you an explanation
for this. You're wondering what's happening. This was prophesied
in the Old Testament scriptures. First of all, the apostles doctrine
is that which is from the scriptures. If we don't begin there, what
do we have? We have my opinion. We have your opinion. That's
why I say to examine and see what a church is. Don't look
at this place. Look what the Bible tells a church
is. what the church was in Acts.
That's the way you find out what a real church is. And whatever,
quote, church you see, examine it in that light. Now he speaks
of the scriptures, that what was going on is that which was
spoken in the book of Joel. And he quotes several passages
of scriptures there, and he ends up, verse 21, and it shall come
to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord,
shall be saved. Secondly, the church is evangelical. Now that's such a big, broad
term. I realize that people use that term all the time in evangelical
church, but evangelical has something to do with preaching with the
desire to see men saved. Whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord, shall be saved. And this is what I need. I need
to be saved. You need to be saved. You need God to do something
for you. I need God to do something for me. I need to be saved from
God. He's my big problem. My sin's
against Him. I need to be saved from Him. I need to be saved
from myself. I'm my biggest problem. I need
the Lord to deliver me from myself. I need to be saved from my sins.
And a true church is speaking of God's salvation and the need
to be saved. And we're wanting to see people
saved. The reason we put messages out
on TV is because we want to see people who otherwise wouldn't
hear and come in here. We want to see them saved. The
reason we support missionaries is because we want the people
there that we never may see. We want to see them saved. So
a true church evangelism is always involved in each individual one
of us. Oh, may God make us to be evangelists, preaching the
gospel in the sphere of our influence that God puts us in. That's a
great desire for every true church member, this thing of salvation,
whosoever. I love the breadth of this. It's so inclusive, whosoever.
And I love the narrowness of it. Whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord. And whosoever is broad, but it's
narrowed to this, whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, you
got to know who the real Lord is and hear him to be able to
call on him. And I love the sureness of it shall be saved. In verse 22, remember, we're
looking at the apostles doctrine. You men of Israel hear these
words, Jesus of Nazareth. Our doctrine is objective. It's
only concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who he is. He's God, he's man. He's the God-man, he's the promised
Messiah. We say what he did, he accomplished
salvation for everybody he died for. We say where he is now,
he's seated right now, ruling and reigning, seated at the right
hand of the Father in absolute control. Our doctrine is narrowed
to Jesus of Nazareth. That's all this book's about.
Like we saw this morning, it's all this book's about. It's not
a book about morality. It's not a book about how to
live. It's a book concerning him. He is the message of this
book. We've got a very objective message,
and it's authoritative. The Apostle's Doctrine, ye men
of Israel, hear these words. You know, I do not like somebody
saying, I want to share with you. I want to share the gospel.
I want to share. It's all yours to share. It's all yours. It's
God's gospel. It's all yours to share. And
besides that, preaching isn't sharing. Preaching is declaring
the truth of God. It's authoritative. Ye men of
Israel, hear these words. This is spoken in the imperative.
Hear these words. And not only is it authoritative,
it has a content. Hear these words. The apostles
doctrine is found in these words. that he's getting ready to preach. And if these words are not preached,
the gospel is not preached. And I love verse 22. Ye men of
Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of
God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God
did by him in the midst of you. As you yourselves also know,
it's obvious he's God because he did what only God can do.
Here's the doctrine of the church. Here's the apostle's doctrine.
Him being delivered by the determinant counsel and foreknowledge of
God, you have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.
Now here's the apostle's doctrine. God's purpose in the cross. How many so-called churches,
and I hate saying it that way, but how many so-called churches
would even deal with what this passage of Scripture is saying?
Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
God, the only reason he was crucified was it was because of God's predestinated
purpose. The only reason he was crucified
is because it was the will of God, because he was doing God's
will, accomplishing God's purpose. That's why he was crucified.
He wasn't a victim. It wasn't men that delivered
him. He delivered Himself up to this. And this was God's will
being done. I love the purpose of the cross.
Christ is called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Before there was ever a sinner, there was a Savior. That's the
Apostle's doctrine. Somebody that doesn't preach
this is not preaching the Apostle's doctrine. Remember a church,
a true church, continues steadfastly in the Apostle's Doctrine, but
they didn't only talk about the purpose of the cross and the
accomplishments of the cross, they talked about the depravity
and the responsibility of man. Him being delivered by the determined
counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken and with
wicked hands have crucified and slain. You want to know how bad
men are? Look at the cross. That's all I say, look at the
cross. Not look at the terrible things they did. We were talking
in the study, what a horrible thing it was that happened this
morning in Texas when somebody gunned down 27 people in some
kind of religious service. What a horrible thing that is.
But you know, that doesn't give you the true story. The cross
gives you the true story of what you are, not just how bad men
are out there and how terrible men are. The cross tells what
you are and what I am when God takes away the restraints and
our responsibility in it. Well, if God's sovereign, how
can he hold me responsible? Because he does. I don't know
what else to say. He does. I don't feel a need
to try to explain that. But God is absolutely sovereign,
the first cause behind all things, and me and you are responsible
for our actions. Him being delivered by the determined
counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken with it hands
of crucified and slain. Look in verse 24. This is the
apostles' doctrine. Whom God hath raised up, having
loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should
be holding of it. Now, if I preach the apostles'
doctrine, I'm going to talk about the effectual atonement of Christ. It wasn't possible for him to
stay dead. because he accomplished whatever it was he set out to
do. When he said it is finished, the salvation of all of God's
elect was accomplished. Now, in most religious circles,
when they're talking about the cross, they're saying, well,
Christ died for everybody, made salvation available for everybody,
but it's up to what you do to make what he did work for you.
There's no gospel in that. There's not a drop of truth in
that. Christ Jesus accomplished salvation. That's the doctrine
of the apostles. And he goes on to quote three
Psalms in the next several verse to prove what he was saying.
And he ends up in verse 36. Therefore, let all the house
of Israel know assuredly that God hath made this same Jesus
whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now here's the true
church. They believe that Jesus Christ
is both Lord and Christ. Now when we say he's the Lord,
that means he's the one who controls everything and everybody. When
I say he's Lord, I'm saying he's controlling the very thoughts
that are going through your mind right now. If they're evil, you'll
be held responsible for them, but he's in control of them.
Somebody says, I don't believe that. Well, He's in control of
that too. He's in control of everything. That's what is meant
by His Lordship. His will is always done. But
thank God He's God's Christ, God's prophet, God's priest,
God's king. And if He represents you before
the Father, You must be saved. Now that is the apostles' doctrine. And in the apostles' doctrine,
this question is answered. Look in verse 37. Now when they
heard this, they were pricked in their hearts and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what
shall we do? We're in trouble. We've crucified
the Son of God. Remember who the audience he
was preaching to, the people who were actually crying, Crucify
Him! Crucify Him! They saw they were
in trouble, men and brethren, what shall we do? Do you know
the church is the only one who can answer that question? Only one. Repent, change your
mind and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins and you shall receive the Holy Ghost.
Now that is the apostles doctrine. We could spend a whole lot of
time on that, but that is the Apostles' doctrine that they
continued steadfastly in. And if that doctrine is not continued
steadfastly in, it is not a church. Now next he says, verse 42, they
continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship. And fellowship. In the church,
there is true fellowship, and the word means that which you
share in common. Fellowship isn't just being around
somebody you like, and you like to do stuff with them, and you
enjoy being around them. I mean, that's good, that's good,
but that's really not what fellowship is. Fellowship is what you have
in common. That is true and genuine fellowship. what you have in common. We read of the common salvation. Listen, if you're saved and I'm
saved, we've been saved the same way and we believe the same things. The common salvation, the common
faith. All believers believe the same
thing. We have that which is in common. There is a vital relationship
because of what we share in common. The Lord said, and here's the
key word in understanding this thing of fellowship, here's the
key word, one another. One another. Love one another. as I have loved you. Wash one another's feet. You are members one of another. Members of the same body. Do
not judge one another anymore. Don't do it. Edify one another. Be like minded toward one another. Receive one another. Admonish one another. Defraud not one another. Have the same care one for another. By love serve one another. Provoke not and envy not one
another. Be kind to one another. Forgiving one another. Even as God for Christ's sake
forgave you. Submitting yourselves to one
another. Forbearing one another. You know what that means? putting
up with one another for Christ's sake. Comfort one another with
these words. Consider one another. Speak not evil of one another. Provoke one another unto love
and good works. Grudge not one another. And you see, this is fellowship. It's all found in this term,
one another. What we have in common? We have
being saved by grace in common. We have Christ being all in our
salvation in common. We truly, there's true fellowship. It's fellows in the same ship. What a blessing it is to have
one another. They continued steadfastly in
the apostle's doctrine and in this fellowship that created
this one another. And then he says in verse 42,
they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship
and in breaking of bread. And I have no doubt that what
he's referring to is the Lord's table. the breaking of bread. Now, how often should we take
the Lord's table? You know, the Bible just doesn't
say. We take it the first Sunday of every month. We take it once
a month. Some people take it every week. We take it once a
month. I imagine the logistics of taking
it every week at this church would have been very difficult
because there were 10,000s of people within just a couple of
weeks. And can you imagine what all that would have involved
in taking the Lord's table. Maybe they did it every week,
but the Bible doesn't say. But I know this, it's to be taken. This do as oft as you do it in
remembrance of me. Now, after the last Passover
meal that the Lord had with his disciples, the Lord's table was
instituted. Turn with me to Luke chapter
22. Verse 19, this was after that he had had
the Passover meal with them. Verse 19, and he took bread and
gave thanks and break it and gave unto them saying, this is
my body, which is given for you. This do. remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper
saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for
you." Now in these descriptions of the Lord's table there are
1.2 billion Catholics in the world. And they believe that taking
the Lord's table, when you take the wine, when you take the wafer,
it actually becomes the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ
again. And he's made to suffer again
for your sin. Every time the mass is taken,
the Lord suffers once again. No. He suffered once. He's not to suffer again. But
somebody says, well, he did say, take heed, this is my body. If
I pull out my wallet and show you a picture of Lynn and say,
this is my wife, not one person in here would think, well, that
photograph's his wife. Nobody would think that. That's not
even a natural way of thinking. You'd know that that represents
my wife. Now, the Lord Jesus gave us the
Lord's table to remember him. And one of the things that I
think is so sad is the fact that we have to be told to remember
him. How could we forget? We do. How many times do you
go all day long without even thinking about him? But what
a blessed privilege we're given this ordinance, taking wine and
bread. And he said, this is my body
broken for you. This is the blood of the New
Testament shed for you. I am always reminded that all
my salvation is in his broken body. and His shed blood. That's my meat. That's my drink. That's what gives me hope. That's
what I believe. Listen, when we observe the Lord's
table, He said, you do show forth the Lord's death as often as
you do it. And everybody that takes the
Lord's table tonight is going to be preaching a message His
death is everything in my salvation. What He accomplished, I'm not
saved because of anything I do, anything I think, anything I
intend to do. I'm saved because of what He
did for me only. That's all my salvation. I'm
saying that every time I take the Lord's table. I used to read
as a young believer, when I would read about of taking the body
and blood unworthily. And I would, somehow I got in
my mind, you know, if there's sin in my life, I can't take
the Lord's table, and I would dread taking the Lord's table,
because I'd see so much sin in my life, and I didn't understand.
No, that's what causes me to rejoice in the Lord's table.
That's it. Here's the remedy for my sin.
What the Lord's table says. And the church got together in
this thing of the breaking of bread. This do in remembrance
of me. This is all. I love that song
we sing. What can wash away my sin? Nothing
but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
That's what we're celebrating. when we observe the Lord's table
together. It's a true celebration. We're
so, aren't you thankful that everything God requires of you
is found in the Lord Jesus Christ? Everything. Everything. I don't want it to be any other
way. I'm so thankful for this. I rejoice in this. Everything
God requires of this sinner, he looks to his son for. You
know what He looks for out of me? Nothing. He looks to His
Son for everything. And you know what? That makes
me love Him. That makes me love Him. That makes me want to honor
Him. Everything God requires of me, He looks to Christ for.
He doesn't look for a thing out of me. And you know what? I don't
look for a thing out of me either, when it comes right down to it. I
look to Christ only, and I love it being that way. And then it
says, finally, in verse 42, They continued steadfastly in the
apostles' prayers. Now, prayer. There's two kinds
of prayer. They're both outlined in the
Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself. That's what most prayer is. It's
a bunch of religious people praying thus with themselves. God doesn't
hear it. It doesn't have anything to do with the gospel. And then
there's true prayer of the publican who stood afar off and beat on
his breast, crying, God be propitious to me, thee, sinner. Now that's
true prayer. I love that passage of scripture
in Acts chapter 9 where God comes to Ananias. And he says to Ananias
with regard to Paul, behold, he prayed. Never had before,
but he is now. They continued steadfastly in
the apostles' prayer. Now prayer is the breath of faith.
I like that definition. Prayer is the breath of faith. You pray about that which you
don't have any control over. And I love the prayer the Lord
gave us to pray. You know, when I pray, I always pray this
prayer just in case I miss anything. Because I think, you know, the
Lord did say, in this manner, pray. So it's a good prayer to pray.
I want to pour out my heart before him. I don't want it just to
be mechanical. But this prayer describes what a believer is.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread. And forgive us of our debts as
we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and
the power and the glory forever. What a description of what a
believer is. We're a member of that great
group. Our, all those who are united to Christ. Our Father. We're true children of God. We
have this in common with each other. He's our Father. Our Father,
which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Every true believer
worships His name. We worship Him. Hallowed holy
is Thy name. His name is the only reason why
I'm going to be in glory. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. We're subjects
of a kingdom. This world is not our home. It's
really not. We're subjects of another kingdom.
And He's our King. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done. Here's the desire of every believer. I want His will to be done. In
every way, I want his will to be done. My prayer is take my
will and make it thine. It shall be no longer mine. Take
my heart, it is thy own. It shall be thy royal throne.
Every believer wants his will to be done. He goes on to say,
give us this day our daily bread. Lord, give me what I need. I
have so many needs. They're all represented by this
thing of daily bread, but I got more needs than I know even how
to express. And Lord, you know what they
are. Don't give me what I want. Give me what I need. Give me
what you know I need. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive me of my debts. I'm a sinner. Forgive me of my
sins. Can you ever come into God's
presence without making this confession, forgive me of my
sins? I love what Solomon said when he was dedicating the temple,
and he said, when we pray for this, toward this place, and
when we pray, hear and forgive. Every time I pray, there's one
thing I'm needing, forgiveness. Oh, I need forgiveness all the
time. That's what a believer is. Forgive
us as we forgive our debtors. You know what a believer is?
He's somebody who forgives. As he's been forgiven, he forgives. And the Lord made a comment on
it. If you don't forgive your brother your trespasses, or his
trespasses, neither will my father forgive your trespasses. A believer
is one who forgives because he's experienced the forgiveness of
God. And then he says, leave us not into temptation. If you
know anything about yourself, you know that all it takes is
you being tempted and you'll fall. That's all it takes. Lord, don't let me even be tempted. Let me have a hedge built about
me to where I'm not even tempted because I'm so weak. And deliver
me from evil. Deliver me from the evil one.
Deliver me from The evil one here, deliver me from evil. Now, they continued steadfastly
in the apostles' prayers. And I'll guarantee you, that's
one thing the apostles knew about. They knew when the Lord taught
them to pray in that manner, and what a powerful prayer that
is. For thine is the kingdom, thine is the power, thine is
the glory forever, amen. Now, here's where they continued,
and this is what a true church does. They continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine. And there was true fellowship.
You know, one of the things I love about the Lord's Table, you can't
take the Lord's Table alone. You can't do it. It's something
you do with the church. I've heard of people decide they're
going to take the Lord's table, and I've heard so many weird
stories about what people have done with the Lord's table, so
irreverent. I know this. It's to be done with the church,
with the people of God. And what a blessing it is. They continued steadfastly in
the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and
in prayers. Now that's what the church does. And if you want to know If this
church is a true church, read Acts chapter 2, and that's the
only way you can really know. Not by what people claim, but
by what Acts chapter 2 says. Now, we're getting ready to take
the Lord's table together. What a blessing to remember. The Lord said, this do in remembrance
of me. What a blessing to remember that
everything that God requires of me He looks to His Son for all the
time. It was that way before the foundation
of the world when He elected me. He elected me in Christ. And from that time on, everything
He's looked for in me, He's looked to His Son for that. And what
a blessed, blessed place to be. Let's pray together. Lord, we ask in Christ's name
that we might gladly receive your word, that we would confess
you in believers' baptism, that you would cause us to continue
steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and in fellowship one
with another, and in breaking of bread. and in prayers. Lord, bless this time for your
glory and for our good. In Christ's name we pray.