How early Church Christians began their walk with Christ...

[derrick09]

Hey guys, I have a question on how early Christians began their faith and or relationship with Christ. I know that today many Christians (and so did I) started their relationship with praying the sinners prayer or a similar type prayer, basically it began with prayer and initial belief. Now then, from what I was wondering since no such thing as the sinner's prayer was around during the times of the early church how did those people begin their walk with Christ? Did it begin with baptism, or was it just an initial decision to start believing? I think that's how C. S. Lewis did when he became a believer, he didn't pray a initial prayer he just started believing after some time of intellectual research. But anyway I was just curious about this. Let me know what you think. Thanks guys.

[jlay]

Good question. A question that ought to make us all the more suspicious of things like the sinner's prayer.

This comes up all the time with children as you have tons that repeat a prayer at VBS or similar event, only to later start questioning if they really had any idea what they were doing. I deal with this every year at camp, where I will have a number of kids come up to me wondering if they were ever really saved? I always try to help them understand that their salvation is not tied to a formula, but to faith. Are they trusting Christ? It is a great opportunity to go deeper with a child as to the issue of sin, the cross, etc. and how it all applies personally to their lives.

The bible makes it clear that the early church was formed through the disciples reaching out to the dispersed Jews who gathered in Jerusalem for Passover, who would then take the message to all corners of the world. Their message was to 'repent and believe." When Israel fell, Paul's message went into effect with the preaching of Christ crucified, which continued to reach these dispersed Jews, but utlimately became the gospel of grace to the gentiles. Within only 25 years of Jesus' death, Paul's letters were duplicated and passed amongst the churches. During this time a more formal structure was coming together and orthodoxy regarding conversion.

People are saved the same way today as they were under Paul's preaching. By believing on Christ Jesus.

[Canuckster1127]

Early Christians suffered under great persecution and so the idea of "sinner's prayer" would likely have been confusing. Early Christians were identified by the pagan Romans, as those who did not fit into their society. They actually thought of early Christians as "atheists" because they rejected the pantheon of Roman/Greek Gods. They were singled out because of certain behaviors which included, their refusal to serve in the military, their refusal to take oaths of allegience to Rome or the Roman Caesars, their practices of communion which were misunderstood by many outside as literal cannibalism etc. So, to be categorized as a Christian and singled out for martyrdom and persecution, these were the types of behaviors that were focused upon by those outside.

Literacy rates at the time were higher than most people think, but not as high as today. "Scripture" was the Old Testament, and for the Gentiles (which quickly became the greatest compenent of the church) most of them didn't speak Hebrew or read it and so the Septuagint (a greek rendering of the Old Testament) was what they knew. Mostly their focus was upon Jesus Christ. He was "the Word" (logos) and the encapsulation of their message. That message was spread through oral tradition in the personal witness of His followers, and in particular they put a great deal of emphasis upon those disciples or apostles who directly sat under Jesus' ministry and teaching.

Paul arose as a leader outside of that, although he personally attested to his meeting Christ personally on the road to Damascus and he interacted intimately with many of the original apostles over time, enough to hear from them much of Jesus message and teaching about Himself.

Jerusalem ceased to be center of early Christianity when it was destroyed in 70 AD. The primary center after that was Antioch and then further over time, there was a moving toward Rome as a center with the Bishop of Rome gradually emerging as a primary authority figure (or more accurately I think, first among equals with many of the recognized leaders in other areas.)

The church didn't really formally "organize" in the sense of actual offices with power attached to them until after Constantine. Scripture didn't really include the OT formally until the 4th century. Scripture didn't really become a common thread in the reach of the masses until the reformation in the 15th century and following.

The Sinner's prayer, finds it's roots in Charles Finney, Billy Sunday and modern evangelicalism. Billy Graham was (and is as he's still alive) it's chief promoter through his crusades.

The focus of early Christians was Christ personally, as the Son of God and the human bridge between us and God. Everything else, including many of the things we can focus and emphasize today, were secondary to that.

[jlay]

The church didn't really formally "organize" in the sense of actual offices with power attached to them until after Constantine.

Not sure if you were referring to my comments here, but when I used the word formal, I was not referencing the RCC, or any religious structure. Not at all. We have pretty solid evidence that by the time Paul had completed his writings, that creeds (formal statements) had already been provided and were being used to establish an orthodoxy. 1 Cor 15:3-4 is believed to be an example of such. Which also verifies that the OT had a specific official capacity as "THE SCRIPTURES." And as evidenced in the Philip's witness to the Ethiopian in which he explained the scritpures. And in Jesus teaching after His resurrection where He "opened their minds to the scriptures." luke 24:45. So to say that The OT wasn't formall scritpure until the 4th century is just not accurate. It WAS the scripture, officially before Christ was born. It wasn't until the council's that the epistles and letters were canonized. Even though they were already being used as authoritative long before.

Paul arose as a leader outside of that, although he personally attested to his meeting Christ personally on the road to Damascus and he interacted intimately with many of the original apostles over time, enough to hear from them much of Jesus message and teaching about Himself.

It is important to note that this is not how Paul came to his knowledge. In fact it was quite a while after his conversion that he had contact with these men. And Paul says, "I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." (Gal 1:11-12)
This is essential because it directly relates to the question in the OP. How did early Christians begin their walk.

[Canuckster1127]

Jlay, Sorry I wasn't clear. By 4th century I was referring to the New Testament in the sense of formal canonization. The OT was recognized as Scripture by both Jewish and Gentile believers. Gentile believers, with a few exceptions, when they used written references were referring to the Septuagint.

The revelation of Christ was the Road to Damascus experience in my opinion. Keep reading in Gal 1:13-24. Paul met with James and Peter for at least 15 days about 3 years after his original conversion. He spent 3 years among the brethen in Arabia and we don't know a lot of that time. Certainly he was under protection and direction by those believers. He may have been in communication with other leaders including apostles. We don't know. Certainly by the time he wrote any epistles Paul was and had been in communication with the Apostles as well as close communication and fellowship with John Mark and Luke, the writers of two of the synoptic gospels.

The gospel all of the apostles and early believers (to the extent it was true to person of Jesus Christ) was not of human origin, but it certainly was of human means (and verbal plenary inspiration in no way refutes this) transmitted by the preaching of the Word (Jesus the logos). Romans 1 summarizes Paul's credentials in that regard clearly.

[B. W.]

Is the sinner's prayer without merit?

What did Jesus say about such prayers?

Luke 18:13, 14c, "...And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner.' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." KJV

God be merciful to me a sinner a short simple prayer...

Now from the book of Acts we learn this:

Act 2:37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42a, "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." NKJV

People were cut to the Heart... leading them to ask a question - what shall we do? and Peter responding - Repent etc and etc...

That's how it says it was done in those early days. This principle is not a formula, or rote, but demonstrates how the members of the early Church became Christians. How - They recognized their sin and that they are sinners and basically asked the Lord to have mercy on them so they could live a life of repentance and transformation i.e. whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved – Romans 10:13

Look at what Paul wrote in...

Titus 3:2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7, "...to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life…"

Look at other passages - there is no formula other than... believe in Christ required...

Acts 13:47-48 , "For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I HAVE SET YOU AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BE FOR SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.' " 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." NKJV

Acts 17:31, 32, 33, 34c, "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them."

Acts 17:11, 12c, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 17:12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men."NKJV

Acts 18:27, "And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace." NKJV
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[Canuckster1127]

The sinner's prayer is not without merit. It certainly has however, become something of a gimmick and something that in the mind's of many has become a formulaic approach to God. The door to God is not a formulaic prayer, it is the God-Man Jesus Christ. Reciting words are only as meaningful as the heart behind who is speaking them and the resultant relationship with Christ. The fact that 1900 years of christian history has had people coming to Christ and knowing Christ, without "the sinner's prayer" is ample evidence enough that the emphasis placed upon it in some circles is disproportianate. That said, I believe many sincere people have come to Christ and follow Him today who were introduced in that manner, and that's wonderful. Those who've recited it that haven't and perhaps remain deluded in their belief that simply reciting that prayer has determined their future with no ongoing relationship with Christ, concerns me, but that's ultimately between them and Christ.