CREATING NEW CHRISTIAN HABITS
When we’re creating new Christian habits, we often need to break an old habit first.
This is true of many things in life.
YOU MUST BREAK BAD WORLDLY HABITS AS YOU’RE CREATING NEW CHRISTIAN HABITS
This can be observed in Acts 2, where the Bible shows us how people first received salvation through Jesus Messiah.
To break bad worldly habits, Acts 2 shows us to do 2 main things: Distinction and Separation.
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
(Acts 2:40)
Make the Distinction
In Acts 2:40 – notice how the people had to discern, so they could make a Distinction – “this perverse generation.”
- The word “perverse” is the Greek word skolios (skol-ee-os’) which can mean “warped” or “crooked.”
- Back then it was a warped, crooked, perverse generation.
- Today’s generation is even more warped, more crooked and more perverse.
What defined the world around the early church still defines the world around the church today. We are certainly living in the Last Days.
You must become aware of your situation. Thus, you can then make a change, to not be part of “this perverse generation.”
This is essential, in order to be creating new Christian habits.
Make the Separation
Awareness of the Distinction (“this perverse generation”) must lead to a Separation (“be saved from”). This is why Biblical Repentance from a life of sin must be done.
This is just as Peter had said a couple verses prior.
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
(Acts 2:38-39)
Making a separation from this perverse generation is also essential, in order to create new Christian habits.
YOU MUST GET SAVED
Turning away from a life of sin in “this perverse generation” to “be saved from” it, is typically the point when the born again experience occurs.
Thus, because of turning away from a life of sin, and turning to Jesus, the person is now birthed anew by God’s Spirit.
HOW ABOUT YOU? Make sure you have turned away from living a life of sin in “this perverse generation.”
Accept God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Messiah, who had died on the cross as your sin sacrifice.
Jesus then rose from the grave and ascended into heaven.
And now Jesus desires to offer this free gift of eternal salvation to you, so that you can “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
Acts 2 is the story of many born into the “church.”
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
(Acts 2:41)
The Church gets a birth
In the book of Acts, in Acts 2:47, the word “church” first occurs.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
(Acts 2:47)
What is the “Church”?
The word “church” is a word made up of 2 words:
- the 1st word means “out of, from, by, away from” (source: Thayer’s)
- the 2nd word speaks of “to call”
Thayer’s gives us an interesting definition of “church” and says, “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.”
Here’s a simple definition of the “church.” The “church” is an assembly of people whom the Lord Jesus had called out. They are “the called out ones.”
And yes, throughout the New Testament, we get a more expansive definition and more metaphors of what the church is.
But here in Acts 2, where the church is first formed on Pentecost, we must see the origin of how the church was birthed.
It’s important for you to see the details surrounding it.
It’s the context here which helps provide the clarity.
What did the Lord call this assembly of people out of?
Okay, so you ask: What did the Lord Jesus call this assembly of people out of, or away from?
You see the context from Acts 2:40 – God calls the church out of “this perverse generation.”
“Oh!” so you say…”That makes sense.”
In this new life, God began creating new Christian habits
Because people had been given a new life, there was now a need for them to experientially learn how to live out this new life.
Everything was new.
It was a new Church, and God began teaching His Church new habits.
This still continues today! God still wants to create new Christian habits within you and others brought into the Family of God.
God created these new Christian habits within His Church
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(Acts 2:42)
We learn from Acts 2:42 that there are 4 main functions that existed in the early church.
These same 4 main functions still exist today in every church.
And we, too, must continue steadfastly in these 4 functions:
- Bible Study (“the apostles’ doctrine”)
- Fellowship
- Communion (“the breaking of bread”)
- Prayer
COMMIT TO NOT QUIT
As a Christian, you must COMMIT TO NOT QUIT GATHERING IN PERSON FOR BIBLE STUDY.
- As a born again Christian, you have a new written guide for life: the Word of God!
- You need to read, know and apply God’s Word so that you can grow and mature as a Christian.
We must also COMMIT TO NOT QUIT GATHERING IN PERSON FOR FELLOWSHIP
- As a born again Christian, you now have a new family: the eternal Family of God.
- Fight against isolating yourself – a common tactic of selfishness and the “perverse generation” that you were saved by Jesus from!
As a Christian, you must COMMIT TO NOT QUIT GATHERING IN PERSON FOR COMMUNION
- As a born again Christian, you must keep yourself humble and remind yourself of Christ’s sacrifice for you.
- In Communion, you do this to remember how Jesus gave of His body and blood to fully pay for your sins. Jesus is your sacrifice for your sins and you must remember this and remain humble.
As you’re now a Christian, you must COMMIT TO NOT QUIT GATHERING IN PERSON FOR PRAYER
- As a born again Christian, you now have someone new to guide you in life: God Himself! God is now your Lord and you must learn to listen to Him and to obey what He says for you to do.
- Prayer is essential and is your connection with the Lord. You must learn to speak with Him, and learn to listen for how He convicts your heart so that He may guide you in life.
- When you gather with other Christians for prayer – you learn how to pray. You learn to be prayed for. You learn to pray for one another. Christian fellowship is the only way you can learn both to pray, and how to pray.