•8:00 AM
When did the church begin?
Topic(s): Church
As Jesus was with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, on the coast of the Sea of Galilee, He asked, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (Matthew 16:13). Although some had suggested John the Baptist, or one of the prophets, Peter correctly answered, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Because of Peter's confession of faith, Jesus said, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:18-19). Christ said I will build my church, indicating that the church was then still in the future. John the Baptist was already dead, so he could not have established the church.
The prophets had long predicted the coming of Christ, and the establishment of His church. Isaiah prophesied, it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3). From Isaiah's prophecy it is clear that the church would be established in Jerusalem (also called Zion); that all nations shall flow unto it, and that it would occur in the last days.
Events of Pentecost (Acts 2) fulfilled Isaiah's prophecies. Peter affirmed that the events of that day fulfilled prophecy it shall come to pass in the last days (Acts 2:17); and Luke says there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5). It was in the last days (church age), devout Jews and proselytes from many nations were gathered for Pentecost, and it was in the city of Jerusalem.
As the resurrected Christ prepared His disciples for the establishment of the church, He said, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:46-49). Before He ascended, Christ also told them, Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). As the apostles preached on that day of Pentecost, multitudes obeyed the gospel of Christ, and became members of the Lord's church. Three thousand baptized that day continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42), and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).
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