Luke tells us that the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42). Remembering that the apostles were ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), and that they spoke in Christ’s stead, we realize that the apostles’ doctrine was, in reality, the doctrine or teachings of Christ (Luke 10:16; 1 Corinthians 14:37). With this in mind, surely all can see the importance of continuing in the apostles’ doctrine as Luke said the early Christians did. Sadly, this is not the case with most denominational preachers today. Too many times we hear things from the mouths of TV evangelists that we never heard the apostles saying.
Are We Saved by Faith Only?
Just the other day I heard a TV evangelist calling on people to accept Jesus by doing nothing but believing in Him. He drove the point home that those in sin do not have to do anything except accept Jesus in their hearts, and they would immediately be saved.
My question is, why did Peter not say that on the day of Pentecost? He had a chance to do so. People listened to him preach, and they were pricked in their hearts (Acts 2:36-37). They were so moved by the miracle of tongue-speaking, and the inspired preaching of Peter, that they realized they were in sin. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Why did Peter not say, “You have done enough by believing and are already saved?” He did not tell them that because, while they did believe the preaching of Peter, realizing that Jesus was both Lord and Christ, there was more that they had to do. Peter instructed them to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). That is clear enough, isn’t it? Should we not just preach what the apostles preached? That is what it means to continue in the apostles’ doctrine. If you are reading this article, and you are still in sin, not having accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, do not listen to those who would tell you that all you have to do is believe. If that were the case, the apostles would have said that. Instead, Peter told the people to repent of their sins and be baptized!
Is It Impossible to Fall from Grace?
Calvinism teaches that once you are saved, you are always saved, and no matter what you do, you cannot fall from grace. Sam Morris, a Baptist preacher, said, “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn the soul…” Let me ask you, why didn’t the apostles say that? Is this idea found in the apostles’ doctrine? If so, where is it? What the apostles did say is that we must walk in the light to maintain fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-7).
The truth is, we can fall from grace. Paul warned Christians about it (Galatians 5:4). He realized that even he could become a spiritual castaway if he did not continue to exercise self-discipline, refraining from sinning willfully (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Please do not believe that your sins will not damn your soul. They will if you do not repent of them! The reason we know they will is because the apostles’ doctrine says that it is so.
Is Jesus Coming Back to Set Up an Earthly Kingdom?
Premillennialists claim that this is so. They believe that Jesus is coming back to set up the kingdom He failed to establish the first time He came. Well, if Jesus is coming back to set up an earthly kingdom, why didn’t the apostles say that? Nowhere in all of the New Testament is there any mention at all of Jesus setting up an earthly kingdom.
In Revelation 20, John mentioned a thousand-year reign of Christ, but he did not mention Christ reigning on earth, nor did he say anything about an earthly kingdom. Read the passage for yourself, and you will find it is NOT there. What the apostles did teach is that the kingdom was in existence in the first century.
Paul said the brethren at Colossae were translated into it (Colossians 1:13). John said that he was a brother in the kingdom (Revelation 1:9). Even Jesus said that the kingdom was at hand and that the time the prophets said the kingdom would come was fulfilled (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). Paul said that when Jesus comes back, He is going to take the kingdom, which is already in existence, and deliver it up to God (1 Corinthians 15:24).
The early church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. They believed it, taught it, and obeyed it. Isn’t that a good example for us to follow? The truth is, it is the only way that we can maintain a relationship with God (2 John 9-11).