│<The Church│>The Church on the Rock│

Origin of The Church

The Church of Christ was not founded with Adam or Abraham as some claim. The word "Church" in Acts 7:33 should be translated "congregation," referring to Israel. The Old Testament does not give a single direct reference to the Church. It discusses the Jew and Gentile, but not the Church. In Eph. 3:1-11 Paul states that the church is a "mystery, which in other ages (O. T. times) was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." This passage states that the church was unknown before Christ.

Some claim that the church was instituted on the day of Pentecost. This view is unscriptural. In Matt. 16:18 Christ states "I will build my church." He left it not to man to build. The church was in existence when Christ gave a rule to discipline in Matt. 18:17 when He said "Tell it to the church." The two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's supper, were given during His earthly ministry. Do you think He would give the church ordinances before He instituted the church? The Great Commission (Matt.28:19,20) was given before Pentecost. Jesus sang amidst His church during the supper on the night before the Crucifixion. Hebrews 2:11,12 says: "For which cause he (Christ) is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church I will sing praise unto thee." When did Christ sing among His brethren (disciples)? Mark 14:26 says "And when they had sung an hymn (after the Lord's supper) they went out into the Mount of Olives." The church was in existence on the night of the supper which was many days before Pentecost.

The record of the institution of Christ's Church is found in Luke 6:12-16. After praying all night Jesus selected twelve apostles. Here His Church began. The apostles were first added to the church. In a sense they are the foundation of the church and Jesus is the chief cornerstone. I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:19,20; Revelation 21:14. The church in conference selected a successor to Judas (Acts 1:15-26) before Pentecost and was in prayer on the day of Pentecost. The church was "energized" and not "organized" on the day of Pentecost.

Taken from A Brief History of the Baptists by Hugh L. Tully