The beginning
The Book of Acts talks of the beginning of the Church age, when Jesus empowered His disciples to go into all the world preaching the gospel and making disciples.
Acts chapter one, verse one speaks of ‘all that Jesus began both to do and teach’ before He ascended (Acts 1:1). It was the start of something radically new and exciting that would change the world forever.
Then we can read through the Book of Acts and see the amazing commencement of the Church, first in Jerusalem, and then, through a series of events, out into the known world, importantly impacting Jewish converts, but also reaching the rest of the known world, the Gentiles, what we know as the nations.
All ethnic groups and families came into the picture, just as God had promised to Abraham, that ‘in you all the families of the earth will be blessed (Gen.12:3).’
Still going
Although there are chapters and verses in the Book of Acs and it ends its particular account with the Apostle Paul going to Rome, in real terms, the Acts have never ended.
They have continued through the ages and we still see that what Jesus began goes on in the Church of today. It will continue until Jesus comes again for His Church.
What we see in the Book of Acts is the miraculous works of Jesus being continued through the Body of Christ. His power and influence have never diminished.
He is still the Healer, the Deliverer, the Saviour and the Redeemer, only, today, He works through His followers, the believers, His disciples.
Although this grace is apostolic, it is not totally dependent on the apostles of the days of the Book of Acts, who, of course, have gone to be with the Lord. It is we who are the Church in the earth for today.
They were part of the initiating team, and the Scriptures are built upon the Apostles and the Prophets, but the work has been passed on to successive generations; to those who believe (John 14:12).
Until this gospel ministry reached us, and then we are responsible to pass it on to the next generation, should the Lord tarry, until Jesus comes again.
Ours to give
This gospel ministry afforded us to continue is the power of God onto salvation to those who believe (Rom.1:16). Freely we received. Freely we give (Mat.10:8).
We have such power and grace accorded to us. We are not hopeless or helpless in the face of anti Christian opposition. God is at work in us through the Spirit of Christ and by the Word of God.
Our testimony of God’s grace working in and through us is an important tool as we continue to preach the gospel and make disciples as Jesus commanded us so long ago (Mat.28:19).
We can act like Acts is continuing, with the same Lord leading through the Holy Spirit in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, operating through the Body of Christ.
We can have confidence that what Jesus has begun He will continue until the time for the end of this present age is complete.
