Articles
The Church Is From God
If you were just released from prison, would you immediately go back to publicly doing the exact same thing that landed you there in the first place?
In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles did exactly that. Once released, they were back preaching and teaching immediately. Someone came running into the officials and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” That was certainly in violation of what they had been warned, so they rounded them back up, and again brought them before the authorities. The authorities said, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”
Peter and the other apostles, at the risk of more prison time, perhaps torture and likely death said, “We must obey God rather than human beings!...".
That alone is certainly worthy of admiration, but it set the stage for what followed. The people wanted them re-arrested, and put to death, but a smart guy, named Gamaliel, who was very honored among the people, a teacher, used some common sense. Here is his argument:
“Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case, I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Now we know these men were teaching and preaching about Jesus and His church and they were of God, in fact, sent specifically by Jesus to do exactly that. Gamaliel was right, the world was not able to stop them, and hasn't been able to to this day. Today, the church that belongs to Christ still stands. It is NOT of human origin, it hasn't failed and it never will. Jesus, just prior to predicting His death and explaining it to His disciples (Matt 16:13-20) used Peter to confirm that He was indeed the Son of the living God, and told Peter that based on that fact, He would " build [His] church, and the gates of Hades (or Hell) will not overcome it." And try as they might, Satan and his evil host have not overcome the church, and they never will.
Friend, today are you unsure if the church is for real? It has stood the test of time, it has survived everything Hell could use against it, and it is still here. The church of the New Testament would not have withstood 2000 years of abuse and persecution if it were of human origin, it would have failed long before our generation. It is here today because it was begun by God, and belongs to God. Like Gamaliel said, "... if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Are you fighting against God, the God who loves you and wants you to be a part of His "family", which is "the church of the living God"..."the pillar and foundation of the truth"? (I Tim 3:15)
