The First Christians: Living Out the Gospel Message
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, his disciples were tasked with spreading the good news of the gospel to the world. These early Christians faced many challenges and obstacles as they sought to live out their faith and share the message of salvation with others.
In Acts 2, we read about the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the birth of the early church. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, gave a powerful sermon in which he proclaimed the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Acts 2:41 tells us that “those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
The early Christians were not content to simply believe in Jesus; they also sought to live out their faith in tangible ways. In Acts 2:42, we read that they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” They were committed to learning from the apostles and to building community with one another.
The book of Acts gives us many examples of the early Christians living out their faith through acts of compassion and service. In Acts 3, Peter and John heal a man who was crippled from birth. In Acts 4, we read about the believers sharing their possessions and providing for one another’s needs. In Acts 9, we see the conversion of Saul (who later became the apostle Paul) and his subsequent commitment to sharing the gospel with others.
The early Christians faced persecution and opposition from those who opposed their message. In Acts 4:18-20, Peter and John were commanded by the religious authorities not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
The early Christians were also willing to suffer for their faith. In Acts 7, we read about the stoning of Stephen, who was one of the first Christian martyrs. Despite facing persecution and even death, the early Christians remained committed to their faith and to sharing the gospel with others.
The early Christians’ commitment to living out their faith had a powerful impact on the world around them. In Acts 17:6, we read that the early Christians were accused of “turning the world upside down” with their message. Their radical commitment to Jesus and to living out the gospel message was contagious, and many people were drawn to their message of hope and salvation.
The early Christians’ example can inspire us today as we seek to live out our own faith. We too are called to be disciples of Jesus, to follow him in word and deed. Like the early Christians, we are called to be committed to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship with one another, and to prayer. We are also called to live out our faith through acts of compassion and service, and to share the good news of Jesus with those around us.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the example of the early Christians and their commitment to living out their faith. Help us to follow in their footsteps, to be faithful disciples of Jesus and to live out the gospel message in our daily lives. Give us the courage to share the good news of Jesus with those around us, and to live out our faith through acts of compassion and service. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
