United By The Same Story: The Apostles’ Doctrine

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine… Acts 2:42a (NKJV)

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… Acts 2:42a (NLT)

being devoted to the apostles’ teaching…

1. COMES FROM MY DEVOTION TO jesus as RISEN Lord & king.

Everyone in Israel should now realize with certainty what God has done: God has made Jesus both Lord and Anointed King—this same Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2:36 (VOICE)

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  Acts 2:37-39 (NLT)

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… Acts 2:42a (NLT)

At this point many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. ⁶⁹ We believe, and we know You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69 (NLT)

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation… 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)

2. REQUIRES THAT I KNOW tHE APOSTLES’ TEACHING.

• What are the APOSTLE’S teachings? THE BIBLE
• WHAT IS THE BIBLE? GOD’S WORD

God’s Word Is POWERFUL When It Becomes PERSONAL.

“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. Ezekiel 12:2 (NIV)

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Mark 4:9 (NIV)

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 2:7 (NIV)

• 3 greek words: LOGOS, GRAPHE, & RHEMA

                                 CONTENT, WRITTEN, MESSAGE

For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, ²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:24-25 (NIV)

• The Apostles’ Teaching Is CHRIST’S TEACHING.

“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.” John 16:12-15 (CSB)

• The Apostles’ Teaching Is SCRIPTURE.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

 The Apostles’ Teaching Is “THE FAITH”.

…now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. ⁴ I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 3b-4 (NLT)

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 1:4 (NIV)

3. DEMANDS THAT i REPUDIATE All other teachings.

I know that after I’ve gone, dangerous wolves will sneak in among you, savaging the flock. ³⁰ Some of you here today will begin twisting the truth, enticing disciples to go your way, to follow you. ³¹ You must be on guard, and you must remember my way of life among you. For three years, I have kept on, persistently warning everyone, day and night, with tears. Acts 20:29-31 (VOICE)

Any person who drifts away and fails to live in the teachings of the Anointed One, our Liberating King, does not have God. But the person who lives in this teaching will have both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If any person comes to you with a teaching that does not align with the true message of Jesus, do not welcome that person into your house or greet him as you would a true brother. 2 John 1:9-10 (VOICE)

4. demonstrates obedience to the APOSTLES’ teaching.

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. Acts 5:29 (NLT)

So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? Luke 6:46 (NLT)

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3 (NLT)

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Simply calling Me “Lord” will not be enough. Only those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven will join Me in heaven. ²² At the end of time, on that day of judgment, many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name? Did we not drive demons out of the possessed in Your name? Did we not perform miracles in Your name?” ²³ But I will say to them, “I never knew you. And now, you must get away from Me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:21-23 (VOICE)