The Lord Adding To The Church
In many other parts of the world, the concept of ‘community’ is much stronger
than it is here in the United States. Here, even families hardly have time for each other with everyone going
every which way. There, the concept of family is not just those born to you, but those of your village or
town. You live together, eat together, and work together. There are only two ways of belonging.
You are either born into it, or adopted into it.
This is how the ‘church’ is described in Scripture- as a ‘community.’ A ‘common-unity.’
It is described in various ways throughout God’s Word-
· As a body with many members, but one Head- Colossians 1:18
· As a married couple with Christ as the bridegroom- Ephesians 5:30-32
· As a city (community) with Christ as the Judge- Hebrews 12:22,23
There is a people of God, bound by covenant, blood, culture, and kindred whose name
is ‘the church.’ The covenant is the ‘covenant of grace’ and it is eternal. The one blood is that of
the Lord Jesus Christ shed for it’s redemption. The one code of conduct that affects it’s lifestyle, by which it
conducts its business is ‘the Gospel.’
There are many ‘local chapters’ throughout the world, but only one true body, which is
spiritual and universal.
(1). As local, the church is called an ‘assembly’- It is to be made up of the elect of God, redeemed by Christ,
and regenerated by the Spirit, and called out by Him, meeting together in one faith, and in one place. (i.e. the
church at Jerusalem, or church at Rome, churches of Galatia).
(2). As universal, the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven, Hebrews
12:23. This includes all of the elect of God, that have been, are, or shall be in the world; and who
form the pure, holy, and undefiled Jerusalem-church-state, in which none will be but those who are written in the
Lamb’s book of life; and consists of the redeemed of the Lamb and is the church which Christ purchased with
his blood; and who make up his spouse, the church he has loved, and given Himself for, to wash, and cleanse, and
present to himself without spot or wrinkle. This is the body,of which Christ is the head; and of which Christ
is the sole Judge-as Prophet, Priest and King.
It is truly catholic or general in that it consists of all in all ages, and in several
parts of the world, who have true faith in Christ, and who are united to Him as the head, and are baptized by one
Spirit into one body; have one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, and are
called in one hope of their calling. This takes in, all who are truly partakers of His grace. It is
the church built on Christ the rock, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. It has always been
Christ’s and always will be, even when there is no visible particular congregated church, or no particular church
gathered according to Gospel order. The apostle Paul describes it in Ephesians 3:21- "Unto him be glory
in the church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end."
This is in the ‘local’ sense that the word is used in our text here in Acts 2:41,47;
and in other verses such as 5:14;11:24. It is impossible to add to the ‘universal church.’ Their names
are written in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world. However, on earth, the Lord
is adding to His church daily, such as should be saved. Partly by the conversation of these young converts,
and chiefly by the ministry of the word, many souls were won and gained to Christ, were wrought upon, and converted.
These were such whom God had chosen to salvation by Jesus Christ, and whom he had redeemed by his precious blood,
and who were now regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit of God, and so should certainly be saved.