The Responsibility of the Saved

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching . . fellowship . . .breaking of bread . . . prayer.”

Christ came to save the lost, this is very clear from His stated mission in Luke 19:10. He also commanded us to make disciples in His Great Commision - disciples, not simply converts. This is hard work – it requires follow-up to conversions, and it’s where many churches drop the ball. Many of the new believers fall away quickly because they don’t get grounded in God’s Word or get involved in fellowship. This weighs heavy on the heart and mind of the people witnessing, as it should. But . . .

Not all of the responsibility lies on the church. There is a responsibility of the saved. The people in Acts 2 that responded to Peter’s message, believed and were saved – and then they devoted themselves to learning the Word and to fellowshipping with other believers. They didn’t just lie there with their mouths open and say, “Feed me!” They didn't wait around for the Apostles to make church entertaining and comfortable for them. They actively responded to the new life within them and pursued God. They felt the hungering and took steps to find the food.

A saved person, one who truly responds to their own sin and to the love of Christ, will want to move forward, will have an in-born desire to press into God. They will have some ‘devotion’ to the cause. This doesn’t release the church from our responsibility of discipling, I’m just saying that we shouldn’t have to feel like we’re pulling teeth trying to get the ‘saved’ to read their Bible or come to a Bible Study or get involved in church. Sometimes I get frustrated with the level of energy that seems to be required to get those who are supposedly professing Christ as their Savior to have any personal urgency to get to know Him better. Again - it really shouldn't be that hard.

Am I questioning whether they have truly had a conversion experience? Honestly – yes. Yes I am. I used to pass it off as simply as a weak or immature Christian. But I think it's time we wake up to what it truly means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.