The Living Church Series

Please turn to 1 Corinthians 14

The life of this first fellowship was so genuine and spiritually powerful that every soul, whether inside or outside the church, kept feeling a sense of awe. They weren’t awed by the church because of its buildings, programs, or anything reflecting human ability, but by the supernatural character of its life. Such an effect should be produced when the spiritual gifts are properly operative (1 Cor. 14:24, 25).

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 [24]But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, [25]the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (ESV)

b) It Was a Miraculous Church (2:43b)

and many wonders and signs were taking being done/taking place through the apostles. (2:43b)

One reason for the awe the first fellowship inspired was the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles (cf. Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:4). The Wonders (terata) are “miracles evoking awe” and miraculous signs (sēmeia) are “miracles pointing to a divine truth” which authenticated the veracity of the apostles (2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3-4) (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Ac 2:43). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.).

The wonders and signs were designed to attract attention and point to spiritual truth.

2 Corinthians 12:12 [12]The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. (ESV)

• God attended the preaching of the apostles with miracles to confirm that they were indeed His messengers. With the passing of the apostolic age, and the completion of the canon of Scripture, the need for such confirmatory signs ended. Today we can determine who speaks for God by comparing their teaching with God’s revelation in Scripture.

God still performs miracles in response to the prayers of His people. They are not, however, public signs like those in the apostolic era. The greatest of all miracles God performs today is the transformation of rebellious sinners into His beloved children, who are becoming like His Son. Such miracles occur in the life of the church that is committed to the fulfillment of its spiritual duties.

c) It Was a Sharing Church(2:44–46a)

In these early days, before strife and divisions affected the church, all who believed were together. They possessed not only a spiritual unity but also a practical oneness. That they had all things in common does not, as some imagine, indicate communal living. That this was not a primitive form of communism is evident from the imperfect tense (Denoting continuous past action) of the verbs translated in Acts 2:45 of selling and distributing/sharing (cf. 4:34). Communism is a sharing of goods, but it is an enforced sharing on the basis that no one has the right to own anything. Communism is compulsory; therefore it has nothing whatever to do with generosity. Peter himself endorses the right to private property (see Acts 5:3–4) (Boice, J. M. (1997). Acts : An expositional commentary (59). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.)