SEARCHING FOR THE EARLY CHURCH

By conservative estimates there are more than 20,000 Christian denominations in the world today. They differ in doctrine and practice; some call others heretic, as they themselves are called heretic. And some truly are heretical with teaching that contradicts scripture. All of this disunity, contradiction, and confusion cannot be from the Holy Spirit.
A growing number of Christians are looking for a congregation that reflects the character of the early Christian Church; a church that presents the teaching and practice that is consistent with the Apostolic Church, unchanged over two centuries. And many pastors oblige by claiming their congregation is "early church". However with all the claims that they have the Truth, there seems to be something missing and the search goes on.
Of course the first question one must ask when searching for the Apostolic Church is , "How will I know it when I find it? What is the standard by which a church is to be judged?" Actually, the first question we must ask is, "What is a church?" To many, the church is represented by a pastor: good sermons equals a good church. Others may see the church as providing good bible studies, mission support, and family activities. However, none of these make a church. All of this can be done in a secular organization.
Paul's epistle to the Ephesians defines the church and its function. Two verses are particularly helpful:

And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all. (Eph 1:22)

...members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Eph 2:19-22)

  We, the people, are the Church, the dwelling place of God, not a building. We are the body of Jesus with Jesus as the head, not a pastor. Paul was not given to metaphors without explaining them. We must consider the literal meaning of these statements. If the members of Jesus' Church have Jesus dwelling in them, then we should expect that something changes within them; and indeed there are.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom 8:29)

But we all, with unveiled face, behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the same Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor 3:18)

These verses may be the clue to identifying the Apostolic Church in modern times. The congregation of an Apostolic Church will have members in whom Jesus is indwelling and are in the process of becoming like Christ, i.e. Conforming to His image. Good sermons and bible studies may very well help in the process, but unless they are bearing fruit within the congregation, it is not an Apostolic Church.
So, what does it mean to be Christ like?  First Jesus is holy. The word holy is hagios in Greek and means sacred or set apart. Set apart from what? Worldliness. At the Last Supper Jesus prayed the following: "I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (Jn 17: 14). Paul says "He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." (Eph 1:4). A true Christian is in a lifelong fight against the passions that draw him towards the pleasures and comfort of the world.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 Jn 2: 16)

The Christian is in a lifelong battle, torn between denying the pleasures of this world and the striving for the glory of the next. The Apostolic Church provided the spiritual support and power that guided the Christian, through repentance, toward increasing holiness.

Second, God is love (1 Jn 4: 8) and this love is manifested to us through Jesus (vs. 9). If we are to be Christ like, His love must manifested through us as well.  This is not normal love; it is agape love, unconditional love. "God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 Jn 4:16) You will recognize a true Christian church by the love manifested through its people.

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 Jn 4: 20)

However, it is easy to mistake friendliness for love, particularly agape. The true Christian love is a manifestation of Jesus dwelling within. This love comes from a life of holiness; it come from above. It is the type of love Jesus showed for us when He died for us and when the martyrs died for Him. It is the type of love in which you willingly would die for a brother Christian. It is the type of love in which you willingly die to the world.
We are not born holy or full of agape love. And it does not happen automatically when one is baptized or answers an altar call. Becoming Christ like is a life long process. When one finds a congregation that is teaching this process, check it out. It may be an apostolic church.