Acts of the apostles in the early days of the New Testament Church

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ... 

The people of God have lived by the Old Covenant for hundreds of years and have sacrificed animals for their sins year by year.

 

Jesus walked on this earth in the form of a man for a short time doing the work of God and then the rulers of the Jewish nations crucified Jesus and Jesus died on a cross, paying for our sins and setting up the way for the New Covenant which would take the place of the Old Covenant.

 

God tells us about that covenant which came through the blood shed by Jesus.

 

Hebrews 8

 

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, HE saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in MY covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put MY laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to ME a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know ME, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13 In that HE saith, A new covenant, HE hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

 

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From heaven Jesus sets up the New Testament church:

 

While Jesus walked on this earth, HE chose 12 apostles to walk with HIM.  

 

After the crucifixion and resurrection, from heaven Jesus sets up the church and the ministry offices and the doctrines of Christ which reign in the churches during the New Testament years.

 

Ephesians 4

 

8 Wherefore HE (Jesus) saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

 

11 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

(Ministers for the New Testament Church:  apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers)

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into HIM in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 

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With the New Covenant the New Testament Church is given to all who believe in Jesus and are given the Spirit of Jesus to live in them and guide them.

 

The New Testament Bible is given to show the doctrines of Christ for the New Covenant church.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

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Now the church follows the New Testament scriptures by the Holy Spirit of God.

 

Small groups of believers in Jesus begin meeting in homes.  

 

Acts 2:47  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

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Salvation though Jesus began to be preached throughout the land to both Jews and Gentiles.  (First to the Jews.)

 

Acts 3

 

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified HIS Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied HIM in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let HIM go.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, WHOM God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16 And HIS name through faith in HIS name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by HIM hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all HIS prophets, that Christ should suffer, HE hath so fulfilled.

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20 And HE shall send Jesus Christ (by the Holy Spirit), which before was preached unto you:

21 WHOM the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all HIS holy prophets since the world began.

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; HIM shall ye hear in all things whatsoever HE shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

 

24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

(All seed:  Jews & Gentiles)

26 Unto you first God, having raised up HIS Son Jesus, sent HIM to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

 

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