“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:46,47).

This is the first mention in the Book of Acts (which describes the development of the New Testament church) of the word “church” (Greek, ekklesia, “those who are called out”). Since that first church, there have been a great multitude of different “churches” established with widely varying doctrines and practices. Many groups of such churches from time to time have tried to restore what they considered to be the type of church described in Acts and the Epistles.

However, it should be obvious that there can be no such thing today as a true New Testament church, for the good and sufficient reason that the churches described in the New Testament did not yet have the New Testament! They had to be guided in their faith and practice to a large degree by the direct teaching of the apostles, as well as that of special prophets and other men of supernatural insight whom the Lord sent in accord with particular needs.

Today we have a far greater blessing than any New Testament church ever had—that of the complete and final word of God, the inscripturated revelation that had been “For ever . . . settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89) and is now fully transmitted to men, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17).

The Lord, through the centuries, has graciously used many different kinds of churches, despite all their variations, and even in spite of their many failings and failures. Wherever and whenever a church believes the Bible to be God’s inerrant word, and preaches the glorious gospel of Christ, He will still add to the church daily such as should be saved. HMM