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Is the church we read about in the New Testament, the church of Christ, a
reality today? If one looks at the religious world around them —
"Christianity," so called — with all its confusion and complexity the
answer would seem to be "No!". Surely Jesus did not die for such a
conglomerated, corrupt, confusing, man-made mess! The honest searcher longs
for something better; created by God. Some out of frustration grasp what
they consider to be second best — a denomination.
Yet the pages of the Bible warn us not to settle for second or third best when it comes to spiritual matters. The church which our Lord "purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28) in its perfection is available today. It was established almost two thousand years ago on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. Any church established after that day is too late. That perfect "church of Christ" can be entered exactly the same way it was on that day. The word of God reveals to us how this divine institution came into being. These wonderful words of hope and joy were proclaimed by Jesus Christ as he began His public ministry (Matt. 4:17). He told His apostles that He would soon build "my church" (Matt. 16:18). That church ("ecclesia or the called out") would be "the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 16:19). That kingdom or church would come into being during the time of His hearers (Mark 9:1) — not at some far off date. It was not to be a physical empire as some fantasize (John 18:36) but the rule and reign of Jesus in the hearts of human beings (Lk.17:21). Christ's church is not an accident or an afterthought, as come contend. It was "the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God" (Eph.3:9). This mystery is no longer hidden, but has been made known to heaven and earth "by the church" (Eph.3:10). The church is Christ's spiritual body, composed of all those "in Christ" (Eph.1:22-23). Unmatched blessings are found in this divine fellowship: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph.1:7). Where did the church begin? Not in Rome, New York City, Salt Lake City or Mecca, but in Jerusalem, the city of David, the city of peace. Jesus foretold the place of the church's birth, "And he said unto them, 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" (Lk.24:46-47) [ emphasis RLR ]. Forty days after His resurrection He ascended into Heaven. He told His Apostles that they should "wait for the promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4). That promise was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. After they had received that promise they were to be "witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost (the first day of the week or Sunday morning), in Jerusalem, the Bible says this promise was fulfilled. "And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance"( Acts 2:4). Speaking in human languages they had never learned the Apostles preached the gospel to Jews from all parts of the known world. The Apostle Peter responded to the amazement of the temple audience by explaining that this was all a fulfillment of the miraculous events prophesied for the "last days" by the prophet Joel (Acts 2:17-20; cf.Joel2:28-29). They were now to be saved from their sins by "calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 2:21). Peter showed these people that they had crucified the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. God had proved to the world that Jesus was the Christ by raising Him from the dead (Acts 2:24; Acts 17:30-31). Jesus had been raised up from dead to sit on David's throne (Acts 2:29-30; cf. 2 Sam.7:12-13). He now sat "by the right hand of God exalted" (Acts 2:34) as "the only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Tim.6:15). Many in the audience of pious, religious people upon hearing Peter's message were "pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). It was obvious that these people now believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. They had fulfilled the first requirement for entering the church — belief (John 8:24; Mark 16:16). But belief or faith alone was not enough for them to be saved. Peter told them to "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 2:38). To receive forgiveness or remission of sins and to enter the kingdom of Christ they had to repent of their sins. What sins? In addition to all their sins of transgressing God's law (1 Jn.3:4) they had denied and crucified the Son of God (Acts 2:36). Repentance of sins was shown to also be a requirement for becoming a Christian. By implication we can also know that the Pentecostians confessed Jesus as the Son of God (Matt.16:16). The Scriptures record sinners in later accounts of conversion doing this very thing. "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). But Peter also commanded these sinners to baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). These penitent sinners "called upon the name of the Lord" by being immersed in the watery grave of baptism (Rom.6:3-4). This was a command of Jesus Christ in order to enter into His kingdom (Matt.28:19,20; Mark 16:16). Baptism for remission of sins is the step of obedience that separates the sinner from the saved (1 Pet.3:21; Col.2:12). Those who believed — "gladly received," (Acts 2:41) — Peter's message were baptized. And they were "added" to something. They were not added to a human organization like a club or a secret fraternal order. They were not added to a modern day denomination because those did not yet exist. They were added by the Lord to "the church" (Acts 2:47). My friends, you too can to added to the same church as those people were almost 2,000 years ago. The church of the New Testament, the church of Christ, is a reality today. It is not of human origin but divine. It is not in the process of becoming perfect but is already the perfect jewel in Christ's crown. By fulfilling the terms of admission you can become a citizen of Christ's kingdom. "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). |