Continue in The Faith

Acts 14:22: “Strengthening the souls of the disciples; encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Despite many demonically inspired global strategies targeting the Church and direct attacks by Satan, the Church has continued. To the present time, History has displayed the “many tribulations” yet the Church emerges.

The primary function of the Church is established in Acts 2:42: “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

1-     The teaching of the apostles

2-     Fellowshipping and sharing

3-     ‘Breaking bread’ (communion)

4-     Continuous prayer

These are the hallmark purposes of the Church down through the ages and clearly identify any work of God.

The ‘early Church’ had the advantage of a strong link to Jewish culture and so understood the significance of terms and words that began to take on new meaning after the inclusion of Gentiles.  For example, ‘Christ’ meant ‘anointed’ as with one of Israel’s Kings such as David. This word elevated Christ to a much higher plane as King. The Gentiles saw it more like a surname and so the meaning became diluted through translation.

Church practice also suffered dilution through cultural translation: The Corinthian Gentiles took the ‘love feast’ of breaking bread and ignored the Eastern cultural significance of fidelity and absolute loyalty to those with whom you share food and drink. It was quickly eroded to tokenism such as we have today. The same fate followed Baptism which became sprinkling of infants. 

Though all of the 4 principles are still the focus of the real Church, the depth of meaning has been lost and all have been eroded somewhat. Prayer in the early Church such as in Acts 4:24-30 was very dynamic. They prayed with “many voices” together. They did not sit in a circle and wait for ‘brother so and so’ to say his eloquent prayer! 

The quality of ‘continuance’ applies as much to us as individuals as to the whole Church. The reason many do not continue in ‘the faith’ has its roots in spiritual deception that is as old as time: 1 John 2:18-20: “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.  They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” In fact they were deceived by the antichrist spirit that has been active in this ‘world’ from the beginning. We speak of those who now deny ‘the faith’; many exist in our community.

The evidence of a person’s conversion is their continuance in grace and faith; Acts 13:43: “Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.” Many cults seek to replicate these qualities but are revealed as cults by their inability to accept or fellowship with the whole Church. They may be subject to Matthew 13:30 “Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Many promises are made for continuing in ‘the faith’: Colossians 1:21-23:  He will present you before God holy and blameless and beyond reproach If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard”

 

James 1:25 (NIV) “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” This means ‘do’ the Word and blessing is promised.

 

1 John 2:24-25: ”As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is what he promised us—eternal life.” John 8:31: “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.”

 

John 15:9-11 ^“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; continue in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will continue in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and continue in His love.  These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”(para DP)A promise of Joy!

 

Many more verses speak of continuing/abiding/persevering etc. In the experience you have of Jesus. That initial experience is the condition that will make you want to continue; it raises the question, have you experienced The love and freedom from sin and failure that Jesus brings into our lives?