When Did the Church Begin?
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Arguments For When the Church Began
Arguments For When the Church Began
1. Not possible for the church to exists before the death of Christ
1. Not possible for the church to exists before the death of Christ
Because of the image of the Bride.
Christ gave his life for the bride.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
The church is the espoused bride of Christ at the present
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
The betrothal of the bride to the bridegroom requires a bridal price to be paid.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Thus, it is not possible for the church to exist before the death of Christ.
2. Not possible for the church to exist prior to Christ’s resurrection and ascension
2. Not possible for the church to exist prior to Christ’s resurrection and ascension
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
What is the church according to vv. 22-23? Christ’s body.
What is Christ in relation to the church? Christ is the head of the church.
Can a body exist without a head? Obviously not!
When was Christ given as the head of the church? Christ was not given as the head of the church until after he ascended into heaven as was seated at the right hand of the Father in heavenly place (v. 20).
So it is not possible for the church to exist prior to the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
3. The body of Christ is constituted by the baptismal work of the Holy Spirit which began at Pentecost
3. The body of Christ is constituted by the baptismal work of the Holy Spirit which began at Pentecost
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Must be able to understand and explain the baptizing of the Holy Spirit!
When did the Baptizing of the Holy Spirit begin?
When did the Baptizing of the Holy Spirit begin?
1. Only clear reference to the church in the gospels is future.
1. Only clear reference to the church in the gospels is future.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
What is the rock?
Rock is Peter
Rock is Peter’s confession
Rock is Apostolic company of which Peter was the spokesman
Rock is Christ (not possible- Christ cannot be the builder and the foundation)
What use of ekklesia is this? Metaphorical (Universal church)
Build my church (sing) not churches (plural)
Church is the universal church
What are gates of Hell & how will they not prevail? Remember- this is a promise of a future resurrection- all saints during the church age will be resurrected.
2. At the beginning of Acts the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is future
2. At the beginning of Acts the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is future
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
3. In Acts 2:46-47 the Church seems to be in existence
3. In Acts 2:46-47 the Church seems to be in existence
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
4. Acts 10-11
4. Acts 10-11
Someone summarize the account of Peter and Cornelius.
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
Peter begins to preach the gospel- he retells the story of Jesus.
Peter doesn’t even get the chance to finish his sermon!
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Peter explains enough of the gospel at this point in his sermon, that look what happens next!
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
What does it mean, “the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word”? Baptism of the Holy Spirit
45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
What is this an evidence of? Salvation. What implications does this have? No magic words that save you!
47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
This is the first time that Gentiles were baptised by the Spirit into the body of Christ! This then creates quite the uproar in the Jerusalem church. Peter must then go and give an account of what happened.
We will pick up mid story:
13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
Cornelius knows he was not saved until Peter spoke!
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
The experience that Cornelius had was the same one that Peter and the rest of the followers of Christ had at the BEGINNING.
What beginning? Beginning of the church!
What was that experience?
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Experience = baptized with the Holy Spirit
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Same gift given to Cornelius as given to Peter at Pentecost.
Pentecost = the beginning of the church.
If the church began at Pentecost then...
Covenant theology is wrong in equating the church with Israel. Nor did the church begin with the ministry of Christ with John the Baptist (Landmarkism)