Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
The early churches were established on the Gospel of Christ and faith in the Finished Work of Christ on the Cross of Calvary. We read in the 16th Chapter of the Book of Acts that Paul and Silas traveled to many Churches and delivered to them written statements by which they were to govern their congregation. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem. (Acts 16:4)
The Churches had only been established for about two years but they were already drifting off track and allowing the Law to creep in. This is why these decrees were formulated and distributed to each Church by Paul and Silas as they traveled throughout the region. These decrees could be referred to as the first by-laws for the Church.
These decrees were not laws as such but rather Doctrines to which the Churches should adhere to. This should be the case even today but unfortunately, most churches today have developed their own by-laws and written constitutions which is not at all Biblical.
As the early Churches adhered to the Doctrines set forth in the decrees delivered to them by Paul and Silas, their churches grew quickly and became strong. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. (Acts 16:5) Please notice in this Passage of Scripture that it reads the churches established in the faith, with the emphasis on the words THE FAITH. This would indicate that it was a certain faith that caused the people to convert and the churches to grow.
The Faith that is referred to here is Faith in the Finished Work of Christ on the Cross of Calvary. Faith in anything else is worthless in the spiritual sense. Sin is man’s problem and the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is God’s answer for that problem. There is no other remedy or solution for sin.
Therefore there is no other faith that will bring Redemption to anyone. We are all in a fallen state until we place our faith in what Jesus accomplished on the Cross for us. When we believe in our hearts that Christ died for us, we will be Saved and born again. That is The Faith spoken of here by Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, and inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. the churches established in the faith,
Are you established in THE FAITH? Is the church you attend adhering to the Doctrines laid down in the New Testament and founded on THE FAITH or are they operating under a man-made set of by-laws and a constitution formulated by people?
God’s Pattern for His Church is in His Word. It’s all right there and that’s what we should use to govern His Church. The Word of God is to be our Constitution and By-laws.
The Doctrines found in the Word will……….turn the tide………..in the Church.
Governed by the Word of God, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
