The Jew, The Gentile, The Church

The Church: the Body of Christ

1

Lesson II

October 31, 2004

Read Ephesians 1:22-23

The true Church comprises all generations since the Church began and includes only believers.

I) The first mention of the Church

1) Matthew 16:18 The first mention is always important.

a) Jesus did not say, “I have built,” “I have been building,” “I have been gathering material to build.”

b) He did say, “I will build.” At the time these words were spoken, He had not started to build. The Church was still in the future.

c) Notice that Jesus will do the building. “I will build my Church.” It is His possession.

2) Acts 2:47 The Lord "added…"

a) He said He would build, now in Acts, He is doing so. Church history begins in the book of Acts.

3) 1 Corinthians 12:28 “HE” hath set some in the Church.

a) First the Apostles. If they are the first, then there was no Church before them. This excludes Old Testament Saints.

II) When did the Church Begin?

1) Colossians 1:18 At the resurrection, Jesus became head of the Church. He is the first born from the dead. The first of His kind.

2) 1 Timothy 6:16 He only hath immortality

a) cf, Romans 6:9 "He dieth no more."

3) 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 We shall put on immortality.

a) As first-born from the dead Jesus entered a new realm, a new position. He began a new creation. It was from His place in Glory that He came to the Apostles and breathed on them (John 20: 19-22).

b) After breathing on them and before the day of Pentecost, He taught the Apostles whom He had chosen for 40 days.

(1) Acts 1:3-8

(2) Ephesians 4:8-11

c) The questions asked by the Apostles reveal that Jesus did not teach them then about Israel nor Israel’s kingdom (subjects very prominent in Old Testament Scriptures).

d) We gather from that which follows, He was teaching them about the new program for the Church. A program that was to become active after Pentecost.

(1) Luke 24:49

(2) Acts 1:4

e) They were to continue a ministry to the Jews and at Jerusalem, but now they were to lift-up their eyes beyond the Jews and also go to all the Nations.

(1) Mark 16:15

(2) Acts 1:8

III) Conclude

We believe:

1) The Church was conceived in John 20:19-20

2) The Church became active after Pentecost Acts 2:1-4

3) The Church, the body, will be completely formed, every member having been added and then born a “complete body” at the Rapture.