2. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

3. To be exact, we talked about seven!
Last Sunday morning we were talking about some descriptions we find in the Bible regarding the church.
To be exact, we talked about seven!
The called our Body.
The Body Of Christ.
The kingdom of God.
the household of God.
The temple of God.
The vineyard of The Lord.
The bride of Christ.

4. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH (5) When Did The Church Begin (1)

6. Ephesians 3:10-11 NKJV[10] to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, [11] according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

7. God’s Eternal Purpose
The church was in God’s plan before the world was created
Several Old Testament prophecies demonstrate this.
Why was the church so important for God?
Why did God thought about the church from the beginning of the Creation?
Is the church important according to the plan of God?
Is the church important in 2019?

8. About the church of Christ

9. Isaiah 2:2-4

10. God’s Eternal Purpose
Isaiah 2:2-4 NKJV[2] 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. [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. [4] He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.

11. God’s Eternal Purpose
Isaiah – BC. Isaiah witnessed the fall of Samaria (northern Israel) and prophesied to both Israel and Judah
A book of warnings of numerous sins including idolatry
Many Messianic prophecies

12. God’s Eternal Purpose
Micah 4:1-3 NKJV[1] 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 peoples shall flow to it. [2] Many nations 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 the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. [3] He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.

13. Isaiah 2:2-4 God’s Eternal Purpose Text identifies a future kingdom
It shall come to pass – future time
In the latter days – WHEN this will happen
WHAT will happen? The mountain of the Lord’s house will be established – mountains can mean kingdoms (cf. Jer 51:25)
Isaiah is referring to a Kingdom that it was to come way after him. He did not have a clue of what that Kingdom will be like?

14. Isaiah 2:2-4 God’s Eternal Purpose Text identifies a future kingdom
ALL nations shall flow to it – TO WHOM will this apply?
Some details – Many will come and invite others to come with them.
He will teach us His ways and we will walk in His paths – a time of learning!
This will be something brand new for many. People will be curious to come and see what this new thing will be.

15. Isaiah 2:2-4 God’s Eternal Purpose Text identifies a future kingdom
WHERE will this happen? Out of Zion, Jerusalem
From there – the word of the LORD and the law will go forth
Vs. 4, a kingdom from which judgment will take place and a kingdom of peace.
The church of the Lord is exactly what Isaiah describe it to be!

16. About the church of Christ

17. Joel 2:28-32

18. Joel 2:28-32 God’s Eternal Purpose
Joel 2:28-32 NKJV[28] "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. [29] And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. [30] "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. [31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. [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.

19. Joel 2:28-32 God’s Eternal Purpose
Joel prophecies to a nation devastated by locust (either plague or enemies).
Corruption, especially of the priesthood is identified.
Joel 2 is a call to repentance
Joel 2:28-32, is a prophecy of something destined to occur in the future.
When we read future, we know is Bible Prophecy that will take place at any time.

20. Joel 2:28-32 God’s Eternal Purpose In this prophecy:
When will it happen? “Afterwards” NOTE: Peter in Acts 2 uses the expression, “last days” as in Isaiah 2:2
Peter in the day of Pentecost goes straight to Joel and when he was preaching he quotes exactly what Joel wrote BC

21. Joel 2:28-32 God’s Eternal Purpose In this prophecy:
WHAT will happen? “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” It will be a notable time with notable events
These events include: Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions, Your servants will also experience this Spirit

22. Joel 2:28-32 God’s Eternal Purpose In this prophecy:
OTHER spectacular events
(30) Wonders in the heavens & earth Blood and fire and smoke (31) The sun turned into darkness The moon into blood
This will happen “before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD”

23. Joel 2:28-32 God’s Eternal Purpose In this prophecy:
WHAT will be the result of these events?
(32) Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
WHERE will this happen? In Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance!
Among the remnant, called…

24. About the church of Christ

25. Daniel 2:44

26. Daniel 2:44 God’s Eternal Purpose
Daniel 2:44 NKJV[44] And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

27. Daniel 2:44 God’s Eternal Purpose Background:
Daniel is carried to Babylon (prob BC) and prepared to serve Nebuchadnezzar. He excels (Daniel 1)
Daniel 2 – the king has a dream and demands his wise men tell the dream and then interpret it (cf. 2:9)
Daniel offers to tell the dream and its meaning. See 2:17-23.

28. Daniel 2:44 God’s Eternal Purpose
Daniel 2:17-23 NKJV[17] Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, [18] that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. [19] Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. [20] Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. [21] And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. [22] He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. [23] "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand."

29. Daniel 2:44 God’s Eternal Purpose The dream:
2:31-35, The king sees a statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thigh of bronze and legs of iron, with its feet partly iron and partly clay. A stone cut out of the mountain strikes the image at the feet of iron and it breaks in pieces. The stone then grows into a mountain and fills the whole earth.

30. God’s Eternal Purpose Daniel 2:31-34
[31] "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.
[32] This image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
[33] its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
[34] You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

31. Is in the days of this fourth kingdom that God’s kingdom will come.
God’s Eternal Purpose
The interpretation :
2:36-43, the different elements are different kingdom. Babylon was the head of gold and the other kingdoms would come from it and not be as impressive. The fourth kingdom would be divided.
Is in the days of this fourth kingdom that God’s kingdom will come.

32. God’s Eternal Purpose
The interpretation :
2:44, And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

33. God’s Eternal Purpose What will happen?
WHEN? During the time of the fourth kingdom (which is Rome)
WHAT would happen? God would set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed
Its character – consume all other kingdoms

34. The church in preparation
Prophecies were looking toward events well into the future.
With the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus, the message changed
Matthew 11:13, Luke 16:16
Luke 16:16 NKJV[16] "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
Matthew 11:12 NKJV[12] And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

35. The church in preparation
John the Baptist Luke 1:15-17
Matthew 3:2, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3:1-3 NKJV[1] 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!" [3] For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'"
Luke 1:15-17 NKJV[15] For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. [17] He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

36. The church in preparation
Jesus – His message
Luke 1:31-32, He will be given the throne of David
Mat 4:17, the kingdom of heaven is at hand
Mat 4:23, “the gospel of the kingdom”
Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come…”

37. The church in preparation
Jesus – His message
Matthew 10:7, sending the 12, preach, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
Matthew 16:18-19, I will build My church, give the keys to the kingdom
Matthew 16:28, it would happen in that generation (cf. Mark 9:1)
John 16:36, “My kingdom is not of this world”

38. The church in preparation
AFTER His resurrection -
Acts 1:3, for 40 days He spoke of things pertaining to the kingdom of God
Acts 1:6-8, Told to wait in Jerusalem until they received power

39. The kingdom/church begins
Acts 2:1-4, on the day of Pentecost, the apostles are baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:14ff,
Acts 2:16-21, this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel

40. The kingdom/church begins
Acts 2:29-30, David spoke of Christ raised to sit on his throne (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16)
Acts 2:34-36, his conclusion – God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.

41. The kingdom/church begins
AFTER this, the church/kingdom is in existence
Acts 2:47, added to the church
Acts 13:1, 14:23 – the church
Acts 8:12, 28:23, 31; 1 Corinthians 15:24, Hebrews 12:28, etc. – the kingdom

42. Are you a part of the church He created?