The Acts 2 – Ephesians 4 Church
The Church as Described in Acts 2
One might argue that the coming into being, or genesis, of the New Testament church in Acts 2 would suffice as the creation ordinance of the church. In other words, the description of the church in Acts might well be the genetic code of what the church is meant to be, much as the relationship described between Adam and Eve in Genesis serves as the foundation for what marriage is meant to be. Could it be that the teaching in Acts 2 regarding the church is meant in some ways to be prescriptive, not just descriptive? In his commentary regarding Acts 2:42-47, William Barclay says of this church:
It was a learning Church; it persisted in listening to the apostles as they taught. . . It was a Church of fellowship – togetherness – a band of brothers. . . It was a praying church . . . they were able to meet the problems of life because they had first met him. . . It was a reverent Church. The Christian lives in reverence (fear that has the idea of awe in it) because he knows that the whole earth is the temple of the living God. . . It was a Church where things happened; signs and wonders. Great expectations. It was a sharing Church; these early Christians had an intense feeling of responsibility for each other. . . It was a worshipping Church; they never forgot to visit God . . . It was a happy Church . . . It was a Church whose people others could not help liking. In the early Church there was a winsomeness in God’s people (Ephesians pp. 30-31).
F.F. Bruce gives us another snapshot of first century Christianity, the standard by which the church today must still be evaluated. Bruce comments, “Three thousand added to the church following Peter’s Pentecost sermon was partial fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 14:12,’I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father’” (The Book of Acts p. 173). Clearly this is a model of a healthy church, not just a description but also a biblical prescription.
The Church as Described in Acts 2
One might argue that the coming into being, or genesis, of the New Testament church in Acts 2 would suffice as the creation ordinance of the church. In other words, the description of the church in Acts might well be the genetic code of what the church is meant to be, much as the relationship described between Adam and Eve in Genesis serves as the foundation for what marriage is meant to be. Could it be that the teaching in Acts 2 regarding the church is meant in some ways to be prescriptive, not just descriptive? In his commentary regarding Acts 2:42-47, William Barclay says of this church:
It was a learning Church; it persisted in listening to the apostles as they taught. . . It was a Church of fellowship – togetherness – a band of brothers. . . It was a praying church . . . they were able to meet the problems of life because they had first met him. . . It was a reverent Church. The Christian lives in reverence (fear that has the idea of awe in it) because he knows that the whole earth is the temple of the living God. . . It was a Church where things happened; signs and wonders. Great expectations. It was a sharing Church; these early Christians had an intense feeling of responsibility for each other. . . It was a worshipping Church; they never forgot to visit God . . . It was a happy Church . . . It was a Church whose people others could not help liking. In the early Church there was a winsomeness in God’s people (Ephesians pp. 30-31).
F.F. Bruce gives us another snapshot of first century Christianity, the standard by which the church today must still be evaluated. Bruce comments, “Three thousand added to the church following Peter’s Pentecost sermon was partial fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 14:12,’I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father’” (The Book of Acts p. 173). Clearly this is a model of a healthy church, not just a description but also a biblical prescription.
The Church as Described in Ephesians 4
Consider the four characteristics of the healthy church presented in Ephesians 4:1-16. First, the healthy church is a unified church. Verse 3 exhorts us to keep the unity of the Spirit. Our common bond is articulated in the confession of verses 4-6. G. G. Findlay writes of the significance of unity on the mission field and reminds us of how critical unity is:
In missionary fields, confronting the overwhelming forces and horrible evils of Paganism, the servants of Christ intensely realize their unity; they see how trifling in comparison are the things that separate the Churches, and how precious and deep are the things that Christians hold in common. It may need the pressure of some threatening outward force, the sense of a great peril hanging over Christendom to silence our contentions and compel the soldiers of Christ to fall into line and present to the enemy a united front (The Epistle to the Ephesians, p. 218).
Second, the healthy church is a diversified church. Verse 7 speaks of the varied apportionment of grace. Verse 11 identifies a variety of functions for some will serve as apostles, while others serve as prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. And why do they serve in these various ways? Verse 12 tells us that these leaders are to prepare God’s people for service.
Third, the healthy church is a maturing church. The goal of this God-given unity and diversity is described in verse 13 as becoming mature in our faith. This maturity concerns growing in the knowledge or theology of the faith, the discovery of each member’s respective spiritual giftedness, and the application of that diverse giftedness for the benefit of God, his people, and those who will become his people in the spirit of love and unity.
Fourth, the healthy church is a growing church. Verse 16 gives us an image of an organic church in which each member of the body joins together with other members of the body and continues to grow. With Jesus as the head, the body grows corporately and its members, its body parts, grow individually. The picture is one of constant qualitative and quantitative growth. Verse 16 further explains that this growth is the product of each body member’s doing its work. Francis Foulkes comments, “The gifts are the people. All, in their particular ministries, are God’s gift to the church. . . As it is, the apostle is not thinking of the ministers of Christ in their offices but rather according to their specific spiritual gifts and their work”(Ephesians
Consider the four characteristics of the healthy church presented in Ephesians 4:1-16. First, the healthy church is a unified church. Verse 3 exhorts us to keep the unity of the Spirit. Our common bond is articulated in the confession of verses 4-6. G. G. Findlay writes of the significance of unity on the mission field and reminds us of how critical unity is:
In missionary fields, confronting the overwhelming forces and horrible evils of Paganism, the servants of Christ intensely realize their unity; they see how trifling in comparison are the things that separate the Churches, and how precious and deep are the things that Christians hold in common. It may need the pressure of some threatening outward force, the sense of a great peril hanging over Christendom to silence our contentions and compel the soldiers of Christ to fall into line and present to the enemy a united front (The Epistle to the Ephesians, p. 218).
Second, the healthy church is a diversified church. Verse 7 speaks of the varied apportionment of grace. Verse 11 identifies a variety of functions for some will serve as apostles, while others serve as prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. And why do they serve in these various ways? Verse 12 tells us that these leaders are to prepare God’s people for service.
Third, the healthy church is a maturing church. The goal of this God-given unity and diversity is described in verse 13 as becoming mature in our faith. This maturity concerns growing in the knowledge or theology of the faith, the discovery of each member’s respective spiritual giftedness, and the application of that diverse giftedness for the benefit of God, his people, and those who will become his people in the spirit of love and unity.
Fourth, the healthy church is a growing church. Verse 16 gives us an image of an organic church in which each member of the body joins together with other members of the body and continues to grow. With Jesus as the head, the body grows corporately and its members, its body parts, grow individually. The picture is one of constant qualitative and quantitative growth. Verse 16 further explains that this growth is the product of each body member’s doing its work. Francis Foulkes comments, “The gifts are the people. All, in their particular ministries, are God’s gift to the church. . . As it is, the apostle is not thinking of the ministers of Christ in their offices but rather according to their specific spiritual gifts and their work”(Ephesians
p. 125).
The Acts 2 - Ephesians 4 Church
In combining Acts 2 with Ephesians 4, the description and prescription of the healthy church emerges. The healthy church is devoted to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2). The healthy church is unified, diversified, maturing, and growing (Ephesians 4). How is this possible? It is possible through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:33 states, “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and poured out what you now see and hear.” These are the words of Peter as he explains the spiritual phenomenon of Pentecost as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The same Holy Spirit is identified as “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” in Ephesians 1:14 and is the one through whom grace is apportioned in Ephesians 4:7. Finally, the church grows as “the Lord adds to their number” (Acts 2:47), and “the whole body . . . grows and builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16). How does the Lord add to the number? He moves in the minds and hearts of people through the Holy Spirit. How does the body grow and build itself up in love? These are products of the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Five Be’s of the Acts 2 – Ephesians 4 Church
The Acts 2 - Ephesians 4 Church
In combining Acts 2 with Ephesians 4, the description and prescription of the healthy church emerges. The healthy church is devoted to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2). The healthy church is unified, diversified, maturing, and growing (Ephesians 4). How is this possible? It is possible through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:33 states, “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and poured out what you now see and hear.” These are the words of Peter as he explains the spiritual phenomenon of Pentecost as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The same Holy Spirit is identified as “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” in Ephesians 1:14 and is the one through whom grace is apportioned in Ephesians 4:7. Finally, the church grows as “the Lord adds to their number” (Acts 2:47), and “the whole body . . . grows and builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16). How does the Lord add to the number? He moves in the minds and hearts of people through the Holy Spirit. How does the body grow and build itself up in love? These are products of the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Five Be’s of the Acts 2 – Ephesians 4 Church
Be Devoted! Be Unified! Be Diversified! Be Maturing! Be Growing!
