Early Church Covenant

Many believe that the early Church of God did not have a covenant to join the church. They claim that people were automatically members of the church upon salvation. However, this scripture reveals otherwise.

Act 5:11-14 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. (12) And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. (13) And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. (14) And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

The then popular Church must have had many people wanting to get on the “gravy train” with those that had “all things common”, but some may not have been true believers. (Act 2:43-47) Ananias, with Sapphira must have been one of these. After their deaths, great fear fell upon all the church…AND as many as heard these things.

A curious statement was made in verse(13) And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

Those who were looking for the gravy train experience were too afraid to join (in this case “cleave”) themselves to the church…even though the people magnified them.

BUT “BELIEVERS were the more ADDED to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Notice, that those who were added to the Lord (his Body) were already believers. Those who were not true believers now were too afraid to join this power filled Church.

What Covenant did the early church partake of? They certainly knew the Old Testament Holy Scriptures and followed their examples.

(Exo 19:8) And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

(Exo 24:7) And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

2Ki 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.