Radio Transcript

WHY I’M A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST (04)

THE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH

Broadcast Date – January 27, 2002 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

If a person were to get in his car and take just a short drive throughout our city, he would soon see a number of churches, each wearing a different name, teaching a different doctrine, and worshipping in a different way. Yet the Bible teaches that Christ built only one church (Ephesians 4:4). It’s only reasonable for a person to ask, "Why are there so many churches? Why is there so much confusion in the religious world today?" After all friends, Jesus did not cause this confusion nor does he desire that it exists. It’s only natural for a person to ask, "With all the different churches around us today, which one of these churches is the church I read about in the Bible?"

In order to find the New Testament church in our community today, we must consider the origin of the New Testament church. If a church cannot trace its’ beginning to the right time, the right place, and the right founder, then it cannot be the church we read about in the New Testament. It cannot be the church that Jesus built.

Friends, one reason I am a member of the church of Christ is its origin. Christ’s church was not an afterthought, but was part of God’s eternal purpose. Consider the following, from Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus: "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:" (Ephesians 3:10-11). Numerous prophecies in the Old Testament speak of Christ’s church. In II Samuel 7:12-13, God promised David that he would place David’s son on his throne. "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever." Joel promised the coming of God’s Spirit. Consider the following from Joel 2:28-32: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."

Isaiah prophesied of the time when Christ’s church would be built. "And 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).

Daniel 2:31-45 records king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, interpreted by Daniel. In this dream, Nebuchadnezzar had seen a great image consisting of four different elements. The head of gold represented the Babylon Empire. The breast and arms of silver represented the Medo-Persian Empire. The belly and thighs of brass represented the Greek, or Macedonian, Empire. The legs of iron and feet of iron and clay represented the Roman Empire. In his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel explained the Christ’s eternal kingdom, the church, would be established in the days of the Roman rulers.

Friends, all of these passages together include at least six things concerning Christ’s kingdom, the church. First, the son of David would sit on the throne of an eternal kingdom. Second, God’s Spirit would be poured out at the beginning of the church. Third, it would take place in the "last days." Fourth, it would be during the reign of the Roman rulers. Fifth, salvation would then be available to those who called on the Lord’s name. Sixth, the word of God would be sent forth from Jerusalem.

Christ’s church was not only prophesied in the Old Testament, it was prepared by John and by Jesus. John preached saying: "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). John came to prepare the way for Christ. Friends, notice Jesus’ words, recorded in Matthew 11:7-10: "And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.". But friends, John was not in the kingdom, or church "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11). At the time Jesus promised to build his church, Matthew 16:16-18, John was already dead. Therefore, the church could not have been established during John’s time.

Jesus began his public ministry by preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). Jesus taught his disciples to pray for the coming of the kingdom. "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-10). Jesus foretold that some of His contemporaries would still be living when his kingdom came. "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power" (Mark 9:1). After Jesus was resurrected, he commanded the apostles to wait in Jerusalem. Notice the following from Acts 1:4-8: "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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 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." Friends, notice two things Jesus told his apostles. First, they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Second, they would be witnesses to all the world.

Friends, the church of Christ came into existence on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts the second chapter. All of the prophecies pertaining to the coming of the church were fulfilled on that day. Acts 2:16-17 indicates it was in the "last days" as Joel had prophesied. Luke 2:1 and 3:1 indicate it was during the reign of the Roman rulers, just as Daniel had prophesied. It was in Jerusalem as Joel and Isaiah had prophesied. The Holy Spirit was poured out, just as Joel had prophesied. Notice Peter’s words, recorded in Acts 2:16: "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." The Son of David, that is, Christ, was reigning at the right hand of God as had been prophesied in II Samuel 7:12-13. Notice the following from Acts 2:29-31: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption."

On the day of Pentecost, salvation was available to those who called upon the name of the Lord, just as Joel had prophesied. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-38). The word of God went forth from Jerusalem unto all the world as Isaiah had prophesied. To the church at Colosse, the apostle Paul rote: "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" (Colossians 1:23).

Friends, the church of Christ began in Jerusalem on the first day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. All of the many denominations in existence today had their beginning at some time other than the day of Pentecost and at some place other than Jerusalem. Consequently, none of these denominations is the New Testament church we read about in the Bible.

Friend, you can become a member of the church of Christ the same way those present on the day of Pentecost became members of the church of Christ: by repenting of your sins (Acts 2:38), by confessing your faith in Jesus Christ to others (Matthew 10:32-33), and by being baptized in order to receive the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38).