To learn the real truth about early Christian life one must go to the Bible, the only accurate source for such. Do not make the mistake of going to any other book, including the so-called church fathers. Especially the book of Acts will give factual snippets of early Christian life, as they followed Jesus and lived godly separated lives in their society. Ponder the following and see how closely you understand the Christian life.
Christian Life Specifically
Early Christian life two thousand years ago included a devotion to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42), persecutions because of obedience to God (Acts 4:3; 5:40; 8:1; 12:5; 13:50), threats for obeying God (Acts 4:21), holiness preaching which focused in upon the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:10-12; 10:43; 16:30,31; 20:21; etc.), great fear of God among the believers (Acts 5:11), jealous and angry opponents (Acts 5:17; 5:33; 13:45); feeding widows (Acts 6:1,2); verbal debates over doctrines resulting in slander and false witnesses (Acts 6:11-13; 9:20-22; 9:29;); martyrdom (Acts 7:59,60; 12:2); exorcism (Acts 8:7); apostasy (Acts 8:13 cf. 8:20-23); the miraculous conversion of Paul (Acts 9:1-9); Christian Jews realizing Gentiles were granted repentance unto life too (Acts 11:17,18); new converts being encouraged to remain true to God (Acts 11:23,24); missions (Acts 13:2,3); fleeing persecution (Acts 12:17); the word of God being spread (Acts 12:24; 13:49); opposition to the word of God by a child of the devil (Acts 13:8-10; etc.); aggressive and bold soul winning (Acts 13:16-41); persecuted disciples being filled with joy (Acts 13:52); enemies poisoning the minds of potential converts (Acts 14:2); enemies pursuing the Christians to persecute (Acts 14:19); sharp disputing over salvation related doctrine (Acts 15;1,2); etc.
Christian Life In General
Elsewhere in Scripture, the Christian life is likened unto running a race with perseverance, putting your hand to the plow and not looking back and being a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3), who needs armor in his battle (Eph. 6:11-18)! Never is the Christian life represented as an easy “cake walk” with a focus on material prosperity or self indulgence. It is a life of denying self to rescue and help others in their desperate spiritual conditions (Lk. 9:23). Furthermore, Jesus taught that the road to life is difficult (Mt. 7:14). Christians are in a life or death battle for truth and righteousness. False teachers and false prophets are a constant danger. SOULS, the most valuable things on the planet, hang in the balance as we fight the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12) holding out the word of life (Phil. 2:16). Furthermore, as all other things occur in the Christian life there are the normal cares of life and schemes of the devil designed to hurt and lethally destroy us if possible. There are many spiritual casualties in this most important spiritual war. He who endures to the end will be saved (Mt. 10:22; Heb. 3:14). This was early Christian life.
