A Powerful Church

“The Lord added to [the church’s] number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

In an article entitled, What Did They Mean, “Believe in Christ?” (April 17, 2020) on the Midwestern Theological Seminary’s resource website, For the Church, Jim Elliff wrote:

“In the early days of Christianity, scores of people believed. It is the suddenness of belief that shocks you. In a moment, before a day was over, or before a few days had elapsed, so many turned from paganism or centuries-old religious traditions to Christ. ... In all cases, it seemed that it was a sudden experience that turned them from unbelief to belief.”

The article develops what believing in Jesus meant—fully embracing His person, His values, and His vision. When one genuinely believes in Jesus, he becomes a follower, or in Elliff’s words, “Believing is buying in fully to the way of Christ, his vision for the world and for life.” This requires that believers count everything once valued as worthless because they now embrace the superior worth of Jesus.

Turn the focus now to the church. Why was the church more powerful and influential in its beginning than it is today? The Lord has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). His purpose for His church has not been thwarted (Matthew 16:18). His commission has not been withdrawn (Matthew 28:19). So, why is there such a difference between the powerful early church and her seeming fruitless modern version?

The reason is found in Revelation and the letters to the seven churches (Chapters 2 and 3). It did not take long for these congregations besieged by the enemy to succumb to serious errors. All the epistles in the NT support this fact.

The churches referenced in Revelation are typical of churches throughout the gospel age. Of the seven, only two (Smyrna and Philadelphia) escaped Christ’s criticism. The rest either failed in obedience to Christ or tolerated corruption of His doctrine. For example, cold Ephesus abandoned the love she had in her founding. Dead Sardis did not complete her assigned works. Luke-warm Laodicea did not recognize her miserable condition. On the other hand, Careless Pergamum allowed false teachers. Tolerant Thyatira encouraged shameless doctrines. Nevertheless, whatever the error or sin, there remained in each church a few saints faithful to Jesus. They had ears to hear, receiving Christ’s instruction to overcome and persevere for which they were promised rewards in the glory of the eternal kingdom (2:7, 17, 24–29; 3:4–6, 20–22). So it is today.

Thus, in Elliff’s closing words, the key to this faithfulness is “seeing the beauty and power and excellence of Christ.” A friend recently posted: “If you don’t miss the church when you miss church, there’s sure to be something missing somewhere else.” What is missing is one’s devotion to Christ. A church is a congregation of devoted Christ-followers united to enthusiastically worship of Christ, longing for Him through prevailing prayer, hungering to know more of Him in His Word, loving and serving Him and His people through fellowship, and selfless stewardship of possessions (Acts 2:42–47). Oh, that God would grant us in these last days a revival that would return His church to her original condition for His glory.