THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH
by Dave R. Mode, Jr.

The 1st century church is regarded as the model and pattern for the Christian faith of our day. However, a majority of believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) are not aware of what the 1st century church was like in teaching and practice from both a biblical and historical perspective. A look a some of the following points will give a brief outline of the 1st century church. 

 According to history and the Scriptures the 1st century Church:

1) Believed in salvation by grace. (Ephesians 2:8)

2) Believed the lifestyle of the believer is to keep the commandments 
-The way that pleases God (I John 3:22)
-The way of intimacy with God (loving God) (I John 2:3, & 5:3)
3) Celebrated the 7 annual Feasts of YHVH according to Leviticus ch. 23: 
Two of these 7 are noted in the New Covenant Scriptures.
-Shavuot/Feast of Weeks (Pentecost - Acts 20:16) 
-Passover (Lord’s Supper - I Corinthians 11:20)

4) Saw themselves as the true Israel - the Israel of God that received the New Covenant prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34. (Galatians 6:16; Hebrews 8:6-12)

5) Was recognized as a sect of Judaism called “the Nazarenes”. (Acts 24:5) 

6) Saw believers from other nations (Gentiles) as grafted into Israel through the Messiah Yeshua. (Romans 11:13-18)

7) Congregation (Assembly) in Jerusalem was the model for all the other assemblies throughout the world to follow. (I Thessalonians 2:14)
8) Worshipped on the 7th day Sabbath, and after the Sabbath on the evening of the 1st day of the week (after sundown on Saturday night - see Acts 20:7). (Acts 13:14, 15:27, 16:13, 17:2, 20:7)

9) Used the interlocking menorah, star of David and fish symbol as a seal of identification. This seal was imprinted on many artifacts found in the baptismal area of the Upper Room where the Jerusalem Congregation was located. This is the same Upper Room of Act 1:13. (See the seal of the 1st century Church below) 

The Seal of the 1st Century Church