Title: The Lord Added
Text: Acts 2: 47
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Date: March 13, 2011
Acts 2:47: And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The Lord
The Lord is alive, reigning and ruling, in the midst of his church and he shall not fail. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Head of His Church—universal and local. God the Father entrusted his Son with glorifying the name of God in the salvation of a people chosen and given to Christ before the foundation of the world. Christ came and finished the work of redemption and is now reigning from his throne in glory (Acts 2: 34-36; Phil 2: 9; Eph 1: 21-23; Col 1:18-19)
The Lord Added
The apostles and disciples were scattered but after his resurrection, before his ascension, the Lord gathered them. Those same things our Lord did then he is doing now for his church and in his church (Acts 1: 3-4.) The Lord Jesus is showing himself alive by many infallible proofs in these scriptures through his gospel. He is being seen by his children with the eye of faith. Our Lord speaks through his messengers the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He assembles together with us, commanding us effectually not to depart but to wait for the promise of the Father which we have heard of him. It is the Lord adding his faithful pastors and sending them forth with the truth (Eph 4: 10-12.) It is the Lord through the Holy Spirit which makes the gospel effectual in his people (Acts 2: 33, 41.) As we grow in grace, it is by the Lord Jesus (Eph 4: 7, 16.) Our Lord promises us, “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
The Lord Added to the Church
The church is His body, the fullness of him (Eph 1: 23.) If one sinner for whom he died is not brought in then he is incomplete. But he shall fill all in all (John 6:39; 10: 27-29.) As the Lord unites us with his body, our King has given us one thing to do: hold up the gospel of Christ. “When Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. When his hands were heavy his brethren put a stone under him (Christ)…and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side.” We are to hold up Christ—clearly, plainly, boldly—and help one another to do so. Peter simply declared the victorious Redeemer is risen and reigning. That Lord himself added to the church.
The Lord Added to the Church Daily Such as should be Saved
The word “saved” means “made whole.” Who should be made whole? All those the Father everlastingly loved, those Christ has purged and made righteous by his doing and dying should be made whole and they shall be! In the season of his love the Lord will come to all his through the faithful witness, and draw them to him. By the new birth, the Spirit of God shall make them perfectly whole in Christ (Mat 9: 22; 14: 36.) We all have loved ones we want to be made whole by our Lord. Let this give us comfort—if they are the Lord’s they should be made whole and they shall be. The gates of hell can not prevent it. Keep inviting them to come, giving them sermons on CD, tracts, and keep telling him what Christ has done for you.
What Should I Do?
For you who have been made whole, who have confessed Christ in believer’s baptism and joined yourself with a local body of believers, carry out your daily affairs in the church and in this life with fear and trembling because it is God working in you and in our midst to do his will and good pleasure (Php 2: 12-16.) Seek togetherness, oneness, gladness and singleness of heart for Christ and the glory of God (Acts 2: 44-47.)
If there be any who for the first time finds themselves believing on Christ, repent from all former refuge, follow the Lord in believer’s baptism and the Spirit of God shall continue to lead you (Acts 2: 37-38.) Identify yourself with the Lord’s church and commit yourself and all you have to the furtherance of his gospel and the care of his saints. And together brethren let us rest in this glorious fact: the Lord shall add to the church daily such as should be saved.