I Love to Hear the Story

Be Strong, Be Well — Saturday, November 7, 2020

We must guard against growing weary of hearing familiar Bible stories, especially when we hear them over and over again. God’s word is designed as the powerful means of salvation and guide for righteous living (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12).

One of the great stories of scripture is when Peter acknowledged and confessed Jesus as the Son of God. The Lord responded with the promise to build His church or kingdom on that foundation of truth that He was/is the Son of God (Matthew 16:18).

This story continues to develop on the first Pentecost after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven (Acts 2). On this day God's message of salvation was preached for the first time. Three thousand people obeyed the directive to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). They responded to the message by being baptized. In turn the Lord added these saved ones to His church (Acts 2:41, 47).

Christ’s church is God's family. All of His children are in His family. They all wear the family name, Christian, which was given by God Himself (Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26; Ephesians 3:15). God only has one family. Sometimes it’s identified as Christ's body (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14). He had one body while He was on earth. He has only one spiritual body, the church, on earth today (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

It has been a long time since the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, but the story has not grown old or ended. The Lord continues to add every obedient, saved one to His body, the church. When He returns, He will deliver that kingdom back to God in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24).

How grateful we are for the story of grace, salvation, and hope. We love to hear it over and over again. —Chris