Practically since the inception of Christianity there has been an ongoing disagreement among believers regarding the relationship between faith and works. Some propose that faith can stand independent from works while some adamantly claim that faith demands the inclusion of works. That debate will continue and cannot possibly be resolved with one post on a rarely read blog. But I do want to make an observation regarding the immediate reaction early Christians had to their redemption.
In Acts 2 we see the earliest folks who were receptive to the gospel message, obeyed the gospel, and were added to the church (vs. 41). One thing that has always stood out to me about those earliest Christians wasn’t necessarily their initial obedience. Instead, what has always stood out to me was what is immediately said of them after that obedience. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers” (vs. 42). What did that include? It included worshipping together, but it also included sacrificially serving the needs of those around them (vs. 44-45) and spending time together in the sweet bonds of fellowship, implying that they enjoyed one another’s company (vs. 46). In other words they viewed service as a natural response to their redemption. Service and obedience should come just as naturally to us as a redeemed people.
In Acts 4, shortly after the gospel’s great success on Pentecost we read of an even greater day of success. Compared to the 3,000 who were obedient at Pentecost upwards of 5,000 were obedient (vs. 4). From there the narrative of the chapter shifts to the local government’s response to the apostles’ actions, but later on in the chapter those 5,000 are brought back to the center of attention. It is said that “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (vs. 32). Again you have a group of people who were redeemed who viewed their immediate submission and service as a natural response to their redemption in the exact same ways, through unity of purpose and sacrifice service. Coincidence? I think not.
Later, in Acts 9 we see the exact same story on a more personal level. Instead of 3,000 or 5,000 converts this chapter talks about what happened in the life of one man. That day Paul was introduced to the gospel and became what he had long hated, a Christian. But notice that while much of this was all new to him that within a matter of days he was “in the synagogues proclaiming Jesus, that he is the Son of God” (vs. 20). And notice who he immediately joined himself to in his work – Barnabas, who had in some ways led the movement among the early Christians to sacrificially serve one another (Acts 4:36-37). That no doubt had an impact on how Paul conducted himself in this regard throughout his life as a Christian. And all of this came naturally. To them it was just the way that Christians were supposed to function.
Now, take those three accounts and notice the common theme. In a religious world that discredits and devalues the necessity of service and works as a part of the Christian faith New Testament Christians need more than ever to display how that works are not just an important part of Christianity, or a necessity of Christianity. We need to display how that the New Testament indicates works, obedience, and service are natural responses to Christianity. In other words works, obedience, and service are so much a part of the Christian life that we cannot realistically claim to be Christians without them. It just came natural.
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work. After righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:21-22).
-Andy