The Effects Of The Cross (Acts 2:42-47)

For us to better understand the meaning and appreciate the relevance of our text for today, it would be good for us to consider

its immediately preceding context –In Acts 2:14-41 Peter preached to a crowd of Jewish pilgrims who were then in Jerusalem.

The Apostle Peter preached that Jesus, was chosen and sent by God and was sinless. But because of our sin, we nailed him on the cross. The Jews who heard Peter were convicted and believed the message about Jesus.That day more than 3,000 people were baptized.

A missionary once told the story of Jesus in an Indian village. Afterwards he showed the life of Christ in slides projected against

the white-washed wall of a house.When the slide of the Cross appeared on the wall one man suddenly rose from the audience and ran forward. “Come down from the cross, Son of God,” he cried,

“I, not you, should be hanging there.”

When we come to understand what happened on the Cross, and realize that it is our sin that caused Jesus Christ’s suffering and death, we cannot but feel pierced in the heart.

But beyond repentance and faith the message of Christ’s death had at least four effects on the life of those who understood the meaning of the cross.

The effects were not contrived or forced. They came as natural fruits of their faith in the Christ who died sacrificially on their behalf.

One of the effects of experiencing the crucified Christ is…

TOGETHERNESS

“All the believers were together” (Acts 2:44)

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together…” (2:46)

While I do not think we are commanded to copy what the early believers did, that is, they were together every single day,our union with Christ gives us a mystical kinship with our fellow believers.

Mere professing Christians think that if one has worshipped on a Sunday, even without interaction with other believers, that is enough. They are those who hurriedly leave the sanctuary after the benediction is given.

Other professing Christians are even satisfied with merely watching the preaching of TV evangelists on a Sunday morning in the comfort of their living rooms. The advantages, they say, are as follows:

That they do not have to dress up, or spend for gasoline or transportation. The best thing about it, they say, is that there is no collection of offering.

A true believer of the Lord Jesus Christ has a hunger for fellowship with fellow believers. Filipinos who work overseas as contract workers and come to know the Lord in strict Muslim Countries, clandestinely gather for worship once a week. even at the risk of being apprehended, whipped or deported.

And those who have been away from the church for some reason or another, after some time come back. Why is that so? There is an irrepressible longing to be with those who share one’s faith.

Biblically and theologically, there is no such thing as a Solitary Christian.

William Barclay commented, “The Church is only a real church when it is a band of brothers (and sisters).”[1]

One of the effects of knowing Jesus Christ is togetherness - the longing to be in fellowship with fellow members of the household of faith. Another effect of experiencing the crucified Christ is…

MUTUAL CARING AND SHARING

“All the believers…had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave it to anyone as he had need.” (2:44b-45)

Because they have experienced God’s gracious love, care and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the early believers had an intense feeling of responsibility for one another.

Christian fellowship goes beyond refreshments after a church service or a meeting. It is more than just chatting and munching together.

The Greek word is Koinonia, which means “sharing, being a partner.”

It involves both sharing something with someone as well as sharing in something with someone.

A. Sharing Something with Someone

The early Christians voluntarily shared or gave their material resources to provide for those who did not have enough for the essentials of living.

Somebody said, “A real Christian could not bear to have too much

when others have too little.” Christian caring, however, is not limited

to sharing of material things to a fellow believer who is in need.

It is also…

B. Sharing in something with someone

Christians demonstrate that they care for one another

when they share in each other’s emotions, grief and joy, triumphs and defeat, dreams and frustrations. The English word “comfort” came from two Latin words: “com” which means “with” and “fortis” which means “strength.” Together they mean “providing strength by being with someone.” There are times when the best expression of one’s loving concern is not money, or words,no matter how well-intentioned they may be,but one’s presence.

A seven-year old boy was asked by his mother to buy something from the nearby sari-sari store.

It took him a long while to come back. When he arrived his mother asked, “What took you so long? Where have you been?”The boy answered, “A boy with a broken bicycle was crying by the road side.” The mother inquired, “Why? Do you know how to fix a broken bicycle?” “No,” the boy replied, “I just helped him cry.”

There are a thousand and one small gestures of love to a brother/sister in the faith· An offer of a ride on a rainy day

· A phone call to a sick member to tell the person that he is being prayed for

· A note or word of thanks to somebody whom you appreciate or has become a blessing to you

· Offering to help somebody with an unpleasant task to get it done in half a time;

· A sincere smile to someone who has offended you.

GLADNESS OF HEART

“They…ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God…” (2:46)

An older sister was sitting next to her younger brother

in Church one Sunday morning unsuccessfully trying to keep him still and quiet. Finally she said, “I wish you would calm down.” “I can’t”, he said, “it’s just so boring.” With that his sister turned and said,

“It’s supposed to be boring.”...

Take for instance the interaction

between a pastor and young boy in a certain congregation. It seems this particular congregation loved good fellowship and always served coffee after the sermon. One Sunday the pastor asks a little boy

if he knew why they served the coffee. "I think," said the boy, "it’s to get the people awake before they drive home."

WINSOMENESS

“…enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you

Accdg. to one research made on small children those who are without adequate body contact become irritable and hyperactive.

Those who had the most physical contact with parents or attendants

learned to walk and talk earliest and had the highest IQs.

III. THE RESULT OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY

“Kung gayo’y makikilala ng lahat na kayo’y mga alagad ko.”

[1] Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, The Daily Study Bible, p. 26