Calling Out the First Church

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WHEN WAS THE CHURCH ORGANIZED?

 

Introduction:

The past few Sunday mornings I have preached on the founding of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ from Matthew 16:13-20.  I showed two things in those messages.

1.       The beginning of everything is knowing Jesus Christ as the personal saviour.  If you don’t know Jesus, nothing else matters. The beginning of service to God is knowing Jesus as your personal saviour.

  1. The next step is to know that true service is in the church organized by Jesus Christ during his personal ministry.

 

We have learned that a church is not all the saved of all the ages, or all the saved who are alive on the earth at any given time.  The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an assembly of saved, scripturally baptized believers who have covenanted together to serve and worship God.

 

Why Was The Church Organized During The Personal Ministry Of Christ

 

This morning, we want to study when the church was organized, but before we begin that topic, I want to answer the question: Why is it important to study when the church was organized?

1.       We ought to know all we can know about proper service to God in the church.  Ephesians 3:21 declares Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  I know all of God’s children want to give God glory, so we must understand what the church is, so we can give him proper glory and honor.

2.       Also because Jesus Christ is the head of the church as declared in Ephesians 1:22,23 which states, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  Colossians 1:17-19 declares that Christ is have the preeminence above all things.  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;  As we struggle to give God glory and honor in this life, understanding what the church is that Jesus organized becomes increasingly important.  Christ is the head of his kind of church, therefore for us to know that the head is saying we ought to get in that body, and be obedient to all his commands.  These are some of the reasons we are studying this subject.  So saved people will understand more and more how they can be faithful to God in this increasingly sinful world.

3.       Notice some of the things that happened before the Day of Pentecost, during the personal ministry of Christ.  It is important to understand that Christ organized his kind of church during his personal ministry, before the day of Pentecost, especially if we are to give him proper glory, honor and praise.

1)       John 1:6 – John the Baptist was a man sent from God.  Since John the Baptist was sent from God, we ought to be able to follow his teachings, knowing they also come from God.  And John the Baptist came to prepare the material (members) Jesus would use to begin to build his kind of church.  John the Baptist preached the gospel, people were saved, then he baptized them, then Jesus called them to follow him, to be members of the first church.

2)       If it is true that we ought to go to a church that preaches the gospel, why don’t we go to a church that preached the gospel before the day of Pentecost?

a.      Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

b.      John the Baptist - Matthew 3:2 - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

c.      Jesus Christ - Matthew 4:17 - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

d.      The apostle Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost.  This is a gospel he already had.

3)            Why don’t we go to a church that had scriptural baptism before Pentecost?

a.   John 1:6 states, There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  That man was John the Baptist - Matthew 3:5,6 - John administered baptism from God.  Mark 1:1-4 declares The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2  As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4  John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

b.   Who baptized Jesus Christ?  John the Baptist - Matthew 3:13-17 - John baptized Jesus after He had walked all the way from Galilee to Jordan, a distance of about 60 miles.  Jesus must have thought that it was very important for John to baptism Him to walk that far.  Jesus didn’t get somebody in Galilee to baptism Him.  God evidently thought Jesus did the right thing by letting John baptism Him for He said, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

c.      John 4:1,2 - It was rumored that Jesus baptized more disciples than John, but Jesus baptized not, but his disciples (apostles).  When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) This scripture shows that the disciples (the church which was already organized) was already baptizing people before the Day of Pentecost. 

d.      John 3:22,23 states, After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 

1)      John 3:22,23 and John 4:1-3 records that the early church was baptizing before Luke 6 takes place. 

2)      This is significant because many believe the church was not organized until Luke 6, but the church was organized by Christ before that. 

e.      The chronology of Christ (Harmony of the gospels) reveals that almost as soon as Jesus began to call out his disciples, they began to baptize other believers. 

f.       These scriptures should prove conclusively that baptism was in force before the day of Pentecost.  [1]

4)            Why don’t we go to a church that believes Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper before Pentecost?

a.   Matthew 26:26-29 - Jesus began the memorial of his perfect blood and body before Pentecost.

b.   Mark 14:22-25 - Proves the same thing as Matthew 26:26-29.

c.   Luke 22:14-20 - Proves the same thing as Matthew 26:26-29.  [2]

 

WHEN WAS THE CHURCH ORGANIZED?

 

Now – with these things in our minds, let us begin our Biblical search for the beginning of the kind of church Jesus organized during his own personal ministry.

1.   Matthew 16:13-19 - Jesus is the foundation of his church.  He will build his church, the Holy Spirit will not do that.  Verse 18 records, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The church will be build upon the Rock of Ages, not Peter, who is a little stone, and not on the confession of Peter. 

2.   Matthew 4:18-22 - Here is the place Jesus began to call out his church (local assembly which followed him every day – just like we are supposed to do) during His personal ministry.  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.  Why are the names of these men mentioned here?  Because Jesus wants us to associate these men with the founding of the first church.  Jesus wants us to remember the names of these men for future reference.  It is no accident their names are given, and that their names are repeated in direct relationship to the church Jesus organized during his personal ministry.

3.       Luke 6:12-17 - After Jesus prayed all night, he called his disciples unto him to the mountain top.  The disciples are followers of Christ.  Of those disciples He chose 12 whom he named apostles.  And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13  And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14  Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15  Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16  And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. 17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

a.       Now read the passage carefully, and you will notice some very important distinctions in the people that were present.

b.       Notice – some of the men mentioned in Luke 6 are the same men of Matthew 4.

1)      Simon called Peter.

2)      Andrew his brother.

3)      James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

c.       Verse 13-16 gives the names of the apostles.

d.       The 1st group – Verse 17 states that Jesus came down the mountain with the apostles and stood in the plain.

e.       The 2nd group – Then verse 17 mentions that the company of the disciples (these are disciples, not apostles) were with him,

f.        The 3rd group – Plus, verse 17, there was a great multitude of people (visitors – they are not called disciples or apostles) out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.

g.       Isn’t this what we normally have today in all our church services?  (the leaders of the local church [pastor, deacons], the church members [these are what are called “lay people,” and visitors.)

4.   Note I Corinthians 12:28.  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

b.       I Corinthians 12:28 - The first official leaders God set in His church were the apostles.

c.       When did Christ set the apostles in the church?  In Luke 6:13-17 – after he had prayed all night, receiving instructions from his father about this very important event.

1)      I Corinthians 12:28 states that Christ set the apostles in the church. 

2)      I Corinthians 12:28 does not state Christ organized the church, but set the apostles in the already organized church. 

3)      Acts 2:41 states 3,000 were added to the church at Jerusalem, not that the church was organized on the Day of Pentecost. 

d.       It might be good right about here to note the qualifications of an apostle given to us in Acts 1:21-22:  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22  Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

(1)    He must have accompanied Christ from the very beginning of His ministry.

(2)    He must be baptized with the baptism of John the Baptist. The names are given in verses 14-16.  [3]

(3)    Acts 1:13 gives the names of the apostles (there were 11 of them at this time).  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

(4)    Acts 1:14-16 tells us there were other church members present, who numbered about 120 people altogether.  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16  Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

(5)    Acts 1 takes place before the Day of Pentecost, and give us the same divisions of members as in Luke 6.  Of course there wasn’t any visitors present.

5.   These scriptures are either true or the whole Bible is a lie and we can’t believe any of it!

 

I.        Question:  Where is the scripture that says Pentecost is the “Birthday of the church”?

A.     Some say that the appearance of God on Sinai was the birthday of the Jewish nation, so Pentecost was the birthday of the church.

B.     Where does the Bible say that the appearance of God on Sinai was the birthday of Israel?

1.       It is actually very wrong to declare that Israel began at Sinai because even the Jews believe that Abraham is the father of the Jews.

2.       The Bible also teaches this truth.

C.     Where does the Bible say that Pentecost in Acts 2 is the birthday of the church?

1.       Is this the birthday of the church, or the manifestation of the power of the church?

2.       Principle of Scriptural Interpretation - “Let scripture interpret scripture.”

a.      Acts 2:41-47 - The result of the preaching on the day of Pentecost is that the Lord added to them (church). Acts 2:41 states, Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

b.      Note the words “added unto them.”

c.      There had to be a church already organized, established and in operation to add to it.

 

II.     Power was revealed as being in the church Jesus organized instead of the Jewish nation on the Day of Pentecost.

A.     Acts 1:1-8

1.       Verse 4 - Assembled with them (church) {the church is an assembly, this is the definition of the word}.  Verse 4 declares, And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

2.       Verse 8 - Wait until ye receive power.  Verse 8 declares, But 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.

B.     John 14:15-26 - The Holy Spirit (comforter) promised so the believers (the church assembled) won’t be left alone.

1.       Verse 15-18 declares If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

2.       Verse 25-27 declares These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  [4]

C.     John 20:19-23 - After the resurrection of Christ, He appeared to them, and showed them his pierced hands and side.

1.       In verse 21, He gave them peace.  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

2.       In verse 22, And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

3.       In verse 23, He gave them the power to remit and retain sins.  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

D.     These scriptures clearly show us that the believers (the assembled church) already had the Holy Ghost before the day of Pentecost.  What happened on the day of Pentecost was the manifestation of that power to an unbelieving Jewish world.

 

Some say it doesn’t make any difference which church you go to as long as you are sincere and that church preaches the gospel.

 

1.   It doesn’t make any difference which job you go to as long as you go to work and you are qualified to do that job.

2.   It doesn’t make any difference which car you drive as long as you are licensed to drive that type of vehicle.

3.   It doesn’t make any difference which house you go to when you come home from work as long as that house is the same color as your house.

4.   It doesn’t make any difference which wife you go to bed with as long as that wife is the same age as your wife.

5.   It doesn’t make any difference which pay check you receive as long as you need the money.

6.   It doesn’t make any difference which road you take to go home as long as you are sincere about going home.

7.   It doesn’t make any difference which child you spank as long as you don’t abuse the child, and are honestly wanting the best for that particular child.

8.   It doesn’t make any difference which doctor you go to, as long as you want to get well.

9.   It doesn’t make any difference which hospital you go to, as long as you have insurance.

10.  It doesn’t make any difference which operation you have, as long as your doctor knows what he is doing.

11.  It doesn’t make any difference which medicine you take, as long as you are sincere, and want the medicine to work.

 

Conclusion

 

I know the above assumptions are completely stupid and irrational.  We consider them to be stupid and irrational because we know they simply won’t work in the real world.  We would get in a terrible amount of trouble if we used “Christian” logic in the real world.  Will we get in any less trouble with God by not using what brains He has given us when we serve Him?

 

 

Another question:  Why does the Bible use different words to describe the same thing?  Or does the Bible use different words to describe different things?

The word “saved” means those people who have redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

The word “church” means the assembly of believers.

Why do people today insist that the definition of the word “saved” and word “church” mean the same thing when it is obvious they do not have the same meanings?

What are we going to do with the word “family of God”?

What are we going to do with the word “kingdom of God”?

What are we going to do with the word “Israel”?  Are we going to insist that Israel and the church are the same when the Bible clearly describes them as different?

Are we going to insist that these words are all speaking about the same group of people?  If they are the same people, why does God confuse the issue by using different words?  Wouldn’t it be better if He would have instructed the Holy Spirit to use the same word to describe the same people?

I seriously fear much of the religious world has become so engrossed in their own methods of worship they have replaced true worship.  Much of the religious world have given their own definitions to Bible words, making the Bible say what they want it to say, rather than letting the Bible say what it means to say.