A Scriptural Beginning Church of Christ 101 A Scriptural Beginning

Where Are You? LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3

A scriptural beginning What does the Old Testament say about the beginning of the Church? What does the New Testament say about the beginning of the Church?

Passage 1 - Isaiah 2:2-3 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

Passage 1 - Isaiah 2:2-3 3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Breaking Down the Passage WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY All Nations Lord’s House Latter Days Jerusalem ?

What are the “Latter Days” Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son… Not the end of the world, but rather the Christian age (often called the Christian Dispensation).

What is the Lord’s House? 1 Timothy 3:15 …I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Summary During the Christian age, the Church would be established in the city of Jerusalem for the benefit of all nations.

Passage 2 – Luke 24:46-49 “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Breaking Down the Passage WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY All Nations Holy Spirit Witnesses Apostle’s Lifetime Jerusalem Repentance and Remission of sin

Clarification of Time #1 Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Clarification of Time #2 Mark 9:1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

Verification? Can we verify the beginning of the Church in the Scriptures based on these descriptions?

Passage 3 – Acts 2:17-21 (Joel) ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

Passage 3 – Acts 2:17-21 (Joel) 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

Passage 3 – Acts 2:17-21 (Joel) 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

Breaking Down the Passage WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY All Flesh Pour out the Spirit Last Days ? Salvation

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

“This is that….” Acts 2:16 “But this is what was spoken of…” (NKJV) Acts 2:16 “But this is that….” (KJV) The prophecies of Joel (as well as Isaiah, Daniel and others) were spoken in reference to the establishment of the Church!

Breaking Down the Passage WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY All Flesh Acts 2:5 Pour out the Spirit Acts 2:4 Last Days Acts 2:1 Jerusalem Acts 2:14 Repentance and Remission of sins Salvation Acts 2:38

What about the Church? Acts 2:47 …And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Summary On the first Day of Pentecost after the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, in the city of Jerusalem, the Church of Christ had its beginning. This is the scriptural beginning of the Church, and it can be verified by studying the account found in Acts 2.

Time, Place, and Purpose These three aspects are necessary to mark the beginning of any organization.

Time, Place and Purpose Time First Day of Pentecost after the crucifixion Place City of Jerusalem Purpose To lead the obedient to salvation

Does it fit? If any church claims to have been established before this day, it does not have a scriptural beginning! If any church claims to have been established after this day, it does not have a scriptural beginning!

Does it fit? If any church claims to have been established outside of the city of Jerusalem, it does not have a scriptural beginning!

Does it fit? If any church claims a purpose other than leading the lost to salvation, it does not have a scriptural beginning!

Conclusion The question is a simple one, yet will resound throughout eternity….. Are we members of a Church that has a scriptural beginning?