INTRODUCTION
Christianity is centred on the life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour of all who believe in Him and live according to His teachings. In essence, no one can claim to be a practising Christian if they do not know the basic teachings of Jesus Christ well enough to be guided by them in their everyday lives. This fact becomes easily understandable when we realise that Christianity is supposed to be a way of life. The point here is that you cannot fully live a life you know little or nothing about.
It is with this view in mind that I feel the Lord is leading me to undertake the task of expounding the Holy Scriptures in this series of studies under the title _Understanding the Basics of the Christian Faith._ The sole aim is to help both those in the Church and those in the world at large who desire to know the ways of God more accurately, providing them with the opportunity to do just that through this series of doctrinal teachings, so that they may order their lives accordingly.
The study is going to be quite lengthy. Therefore, I have decided to break the series into subtitles to be taught piecemeal, in order to avoid discouraging those who may not be able to endure reading lengthy literature. Accordingly, I shall divide the study into three major subtitles, namely:
_1. A Brief History of the Teachings and Lifestyle of the Early Followers of Jesus Christ_
_2. The Forsaken Basic Doctrines of the Christian Faith in Contemporary Times and the Consequences That Follow_
_3. Revisiting the Basic Bible Doctrines of Jesus Christ Bequeathed to His Church_
Furthermore, each of the three major divisions of the study outlined above will be further subdivided into smaller parts, where necessary, to make the teachings easier to handle.
It is my hope and prayer that readers will find this study material immensely beneficial to their lives as they follow the study with open and unbiased minds, in Jesus Christ’s mighty name. Amen!
SUB-TOPIC 1: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TEACHINGS AND LIFESTYLE OF THE EARLY FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST
*Jeremiah 6:16*
_“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk therein.”_
This series of teachings, which we are beginning, has become very necessary for the Body of Christ, given the unfortunate turn of events in the ecclesiastical circle in these days.
Since the good old days of the early Church, the shift in emphasis from spiritual priorities to material interests has deeply marred the Christian faith, _“which was once delivered unto the saints”_ *(Jude 1:3).* So much so that what is mostly practised as Christianity today in some churches bears no resemblance at all to what we read in the Holy Bible, both in the accounts of the life and activities of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and in those of His first disciples and all the Bible saints in general.
The only resemblance we can point out without mistake is the use of the names of Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ, which have endured throughout the ages, from the creation of the earth until now.
But should this be a surprise to the true Christian? Has this not been foretold by the Holy Spirit since the early days of the Church, during the time of the holy apostles of Jesus Christ?
The only surprise for us is that these words are being fulfilled in our time, yet very few preachers care to draw their congregations’ attention to them. This is necessary to awaken believers to the reality of this sure prophecy and help them avoid being carried away by the tide of this evil end-time apostasy.
The Holy Scripture says:
*1 Timothy 4:1–3*
_“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in_ _hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”_
However, as the opening Scriptures of this study admonish us, God is calling us to turn away from the various forms of religious services and ceremonies that mortal men have multiplied for themselves in defiance of the only Way, who is Jesus Christ. He is also calling us to seek the old and enduring path which, if we faithfully follow it, will give rest to our souls. The only way to do this successfully is to return to the doctrines that Jesus Christ taught His early disciples and to imbibe the virtues of their simple yet deeply reverent and godly lives. These virtues characterised their daily lives and ministries and enabled them to serve God faithfully.
Of this exemplary life and Christian service, the Apostle Paul wrote in *1 Thessalonians 2:3–11,* thus:
_“For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth_ _our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been_ _burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the_ _gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”_
While it is clear to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear that the pattern of sound doctrine and godly living portrayed in the Scripture above is almost non-existent today in most local churches, it is still—and indeed should be—the desire of all who truly want to live for God to keep searching for the true way to heaven among the many false ways that man has created for himself to compete with the only Way that God has revealed to the whole world. That Way is Jesus Christ, and there is just one feature that enables us to recognise whether we have truly found this Way: it gives rest to the soul, not to the flesh. See again *Jeremiah 6:16:* _“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”_
The rest referred to here is not necessarily freedom from physical labour, life’s challenges, or the responsibilities that come with living in this world. Rather, it is the spiritual rest that comes from finding and following God’s way. It is the peace, assurance, and inward satisfaction that come from a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This rest must not be confused with the pursuit of worldly comfort, material possessions, personal gratification, or human recognition. While these things may provide temporary pleasure, they cannot take the place of the spiritual rest that God offers to those who walk in His way.
As the Holy Spirit clearly foretold in the last sentence of the Scripture above, man has consistently declined to follow God’s chosen way to eternal life and rest in Christ Jesus.
But for those who are willing to follow the good way, we must search for it in the Holy Bible and see how the early Christians lived and served God acceptably.
In doing this, however, we would first do well to ask ourselves some questions so that we may have a clear point of reference in our search for the acceptable way of serving God today.
The questions are:
How did the early saints of God and the disciples of Jesus Christ serve God?
What did they do differently from what we are doing in our own time today?
Are we better off or worse off in comparison with their exploits for the Kingdom of God?
These are the questions we will seek to address in this first phase of the study. Below are some points to consider in answering them.
1. Their Way of Life and Service to God
In answer to the first question, the account of the Holy Bible shows that the early Christians lived simple but very focused, godly, Christ-like lives.
Although they mingled with the people of the world when and where they had to, it was clear that they had no time for the pursuit of the world and its ungodly values.
Their relationship with the people around them did not mean that they adopted the ungodly attitudes, values, or practices of the world. Rather, they lived among others while seeking to maintain their commitment to God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Their example shows the distinction between living in the world and allowing the ungodly values of the world to determine one’s conduct and priorities.
Thus, their interaction with people was not an excuse to compromise their faith. Instead, they were expected to remain faithful to God while conducting themselves in ways that reflected the godly character and teachings of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Their commitment to heralding the coming Kingdom of God and the salvation of His Christ, Jesus, the righteous Saviour, meant that they had little or no time to compete for or struggle to achieve dominance in any affair of a less noble cause than that of God’s heavenly Kingdom.
*Galatians 2:20*
_“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”_
There were rich Christians *(1 Timothy 6:17; Colossians 4:1; Acts 10:14–15),* but the riches they possessed had no chokehold on their lives, quite unlike what we see today among some wealthy people in Christendom, some of whom would even deny their faith in Christ for financial or material gains.
But it was not so with the early Christians. For instance, Joses was a rich man who used his money so generously in God’s work that the apostles gave him the surname Barnabas, which means son of consolation *(Acts 4:36–37).* We can only imagine how much consolation and encouragement he brought to God’s people through the use of his wealth and riches, thus demonstrating the character reflected in the name given to him by the apostles.
Again, Onesiphorus was another faithful Christian who showed great care for Paul while he was in prison, using his resources to minister to him *(2 Timothy 1:16).*
Also, Philemon was a man of substance who personally cared for the needs of the saints of God *(Philemon 1:7).*
Similarly, Dorcas (or Tabitha) was a woman of substance who made garments for widows and cared for those in need *(Acts 9:36, 39).*
There were also educated Christians among the ranks of Christ’s early followers, such as Paul the Apostle, Zenas, and Luke. Zenas was identified as a lawyer *(Titus 3:13),* while Luke was a physician *(Colossians 4:14).*
Paul, on the other hand, received his education under Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the Jewish law *(Acts 22:3).* Although this passage does not expressly identify Paul as a lawyer, his training under Gamaliel gave him a thorough grounding in Jewish law and its interpretation. In this sense, his education may be understood as comparable to legal training, although it should be distinguished from the modern profession of law.
These are just a few examples of people whose abilities, resources, and personal achievements could be put to use in the service of God.
We can clearly observe that these Christians were not commended merely for the things they possessed or for their personal achievements. Rather, their lives were characterised by good works through which they used their resources, abilities, and achievements to serve others and bring glory and honour to God.
Self-seeking and self-glory were not the focal points around which their lives revolved. Rather, they pursued holy and peaceful lives through faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrating good works among men as evidence of the new life they had received from God.
Scriptural references: *2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews* *12:14–17; 1 Peter 1:13–17; Philippians 2:3–7; 3:7–11.*
*Philippians 3:8–9*
_“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”_
2. Their Expectation of the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ
In answer to the second question, concerning what the early Christians did differently from what we are doing today, we do not have much to say, because the Scriptures clearly show that the early Christians genuinely expected the imminent return of Jesus Christ to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. This expectation shaped their daily lives and made them sober, watchful, and vigilant in their Christian faith.
However, in contrast to the Christians of our own era, it is unfortunate that we have largely lost that expectation of Jesus Chtist’s imminent return for the Church and have consequently become overtaken by the cares of this life. This is the direct consequence of taking our eyes off Jesus Christ.
We have allowed ourselves to be carried away by our own sense of timing, reasoning that two thousand years of waiting for Christ’s return is far too long. This erroneous reasoning has weakened the faith of many today, causing them to become less watchful and less vigilant than they used to be. But it would be a grave mistake for a Christian to consider it wiser to stop waiting patiently for Christ because of the length of time involved. To do so could lead to becoming lukewarm, backslidden, and eventually cast into hellfire, where such people would pine away for eternity, continually awaiting a deliverance that would never come.
*Revelation 14:11–12*
_“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”_
This passage highlights the seriousness of remaining faithful to God in the face of spiritual deception and opposition. It contrasts the fate of those who worship the beast and receive its mark with the patience and faithfulness of God’s people, who keep His commandments and maintain their faith in Jesus.
Although the passage specifically addresses the worship of the beast and the reception of its mark, its emphasis on the patience and perseverance of the saints reinforces the importance of remaining steadfast in our faith. In the context of this study, it serves as a reminder that Christians must not allow prolonged waiting, worldly distractions, or spiritual complacency to weaken their commitment to God.
The expectation of Christ’s return should therefore be reflected not merely in what we profess to believe about the future, but also in how we live today. It should inspire holiness, faithfulness, vigilance, and perseverance, regardless of how long we may have to wait.
Preachers now encourage members of their local churches to settle down and compete with the people of the world in acquiring whatever portion of the world their fancy catches, much to the detriment of their faith in Christ’s imminent return.
Nothing brings this sad development more forcefully to light than the celebration of temporary worldly achievements above spiritual ones. People throw parties when they build houses, buy cars, get promoted, win big contracts, or graduate from college. Yet, it is rare to see such celebrations held for spiritual achievements, such as when a person is born again or achieves victory over a longstanding battle with a besetting sin.
*1 John 2:15–17*
_“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”_
This imbalance in what we celebrate calls for a reassessment of our spiritual priorities. There is nothing inherently wrong with rejoicing over legitimate achievements such as graduation, marriage, employment, or the acquisition of a house. These may be occasions for gratitude to God. The problem arises when material accomplishments receive greater recognition than spiritual growth and godly living.
Christian families and congregations should therefore learn to recognise and celebrate spiritual milestones as well. These may include genuine repentance, reconciliation between estranged believers, victory over sinful habits, growth in Christ-like character, commitment to prayer and the Word of God, and faithful service to others.
Such recognition should not be intended to glorify individuals or encourage spiritual pride. Rather, it should give thanks to God for His transforming work in people’s lives and encourage others to pursue spiritual maturity. In this way, the Church can help restore the proper balance between appreciating God’s blessings in our earthly lives and valuing the eternal realities of His Kingdom.
We can also see this misplaced emphasis in the use of God’s tithes and offerings to purchase luxury cars and private jets for ministers and to build vast church auditoriums, sometimes while hungry people and lost souls remain neglected. Although church buildings, transport, and other ministry facilities may serve legitimate purposes, the expenditure of church resources should be guided by wisdom, moderation, accountability, and the priorities of God’s Kingdom.
Where excessive spending on luxury or unnecessary projects takes precedence over the needs of the congregation and the wider community, the Church must seriously reconsider its stewardship. Some of the money spent on such things could instead be used to support evangelism, care for the needy, and meet the immediate needs of poor foot soldiers of the Cross, whose personal and family needs, if adequately addressed, could enable them to serve God more effectively and reach more souls.
The issue, therefore, is not simply whether a church owns an impressive building or provides its ministers with necessary facilities. Rather, it is whether the resources God has entrusted to the Church are being used responsibly and in a manner consistent with the Gospel it proclaims.
Church leaders must remember that financial resources entrusted to them are not merely for the advancement of personal comfort or prestige, but also for the fulfilment of their spiritual responsibilities. Sound stewardship requires that the needs of the congregation, the welfare of the poor, the work of evangelism, and the teaching of God’s Word receive appropriate attention.
Looking away from the imminent return of Christ has contributed to this sorry state of affairs in the Church. Anyone who fails to recognise the danger of allowing worldly interests to overshadow spiritual priorities risks becoming blind to important spiritual realities concerning God’s Kingdom.
*Revelation 3:17*
_“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”_
This lack of vigilance today has set our era far apart from that of the early Christian Church, just as the prudence of the five wise virgins set them far apart from the five foolish virgins and their indiscretion *(Matthew 25:1–13).*
The urgent call to the Church today is to awake from our slumber and divorce ourselves from the illicit romance we have been having with the world. The salvation of our souls should matter more to us than our fleshly comfort if we are truly as wise as the early Christians. At the very least, this should be one sterling quality that we exhibit, but which today’s Church clearly lacks, notwithstanding our false claims to superior spiritual and academic enlightenment.
*Luke 21:34–35*
_“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”_
*Luke 21:36*
_“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”_
May God deliver today’s Church from its woeful spiritual state, in Jesus’ name.
3. Are We Better Off or Worse Off Than the Early Church?
Lastly, in answering the third question concerning whether the present-day Church is better off or worse off than the early Church, do we need to look any further than the wealth of evidence we have already presented in answering the first two questions?
The majority of our local Churches in which we take so much pride have been backslidden for a long time. Both their leaders and their members are deceiving one another and being deceived by the devil.
The distorted views held by many church leaders and members today clearly testify that we are not truly serving the same God as the early Christians did, despite our constant claims that we are walking in their footsteps. I am sure they would cry out in alarm in the streets of God’s heavenly city if our blasphemous claims were ever allowed to reach their holy ears.
There is nothing being done in some churches today that even resembles what was done in the early Christian Church. The only thing that clearly links some of today’s churches with the early Church is the name of Jesus Christ, which both call upon. Even in this, however, there is a clear distinction: the early Christians called upon the name of Jesus with true and pure hearts, whereas many Christians today do so with hypocritical hearts.
*2 Peter 2:1–5*
_“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction._
_And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of._
_And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not._
_For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly… “_
WE ARE WORSE OFF!
We have missed the purpose of our calling in Christ!
We must return to the Lord Jesus in repentance and thereafter learn the elementary principles of repentance from dead works, faith in God, and good works in everyday life. This has become necessary because we seem to have lost all these.
The Scriptures remind us that repentance from dead works and faith towards God are among the foundational principles of the Christian faith. These principles must not be neglected if we are to return to the acceptable way of serving God.
*Hebrews 6:1–2*
_“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”_
This passage identifies repentance from dead works and faith towards God as foundational Christian teachings. However, the purpose of laying this foundation is not for believers to remain at the elementary stage of their faith, but to progress towards spiritual maturity.
Therefore, if we have departed from the teachings and practices that characterised the lives of the early Christians, we must return to the Lord in genuine repentance and renew our commitment to the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. This renewal should be evident not merely in our words or religious activities, but also in our daily conduct, our service to God, and our relationships with others.
*Hosea 6:1–2*
_“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”_
The call to return to the Lord in this passage provides an important lesson for the Church today. When we recognise that we have departed from God’s ways, we must not remain content with merely acknowledging our spiritual condition. We must respond with sincere repentance and a renewed determination to know and obey Him.
Returning to the Lord involves more than expressing regret over our failures. It requires a genuine change of heart and direction, demonstrated by a renewed commitment to His Word and a willingness to walk in His ways.
The promise of healing and restoration in this passage also reminds us that spiritual decline need not be the end of our story. When we turn to God sincerely, we place ourselves in the position of seeking His mercy, correction, and restoration.
Therefore, the Church must return to the Lord Jesus Christ, recover the foundational truths of the Christian faith, and renew its commitment to the godly principles exemplified by the early followers of Christ.
_TO BE CONTINUED._