The Origin of the Church

1. VARYING VIEWS
1. In the Old Testament
1. Source
1. Taught by many, if not all, reformed or covenant theologians
2. They stress that throughout all history there is but one people of God and that these saved people comprise the church.
2. Outcome
1. The church has no New Testament significance.
2. The church is made up of the elect of all ages, therefore, the church must have begun with the first person who was saved.
3. The saved in our day take the place of Israel, and all of Israel’s promises belong to us.
4. Baptism takes the place of circumcision.
2. During the Ministry of Christ
1. Source
1. Taught by many early Baptists
2. Taught by many Bible believing Christians
2. Arguments
1. The principle of the church was established (Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
   See All...; Matthew 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
   See All...).
2. It had a Head - Jesus Christ (Matthew 23:8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
   See All...).
3. It had a Pastor - Jesus Christ (John 10:11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
   See All..., 14).
4. It was called a “flock” (Matthew 26:31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
   See All...; Luke 12:32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
   See All...; Acts 20:28-29 [28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. [29] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
   See All...).
5. Discipline was enacted (Matthew 18:15-17 [15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
   See All...).
6. Baptism was established (Matthew 28:16-20 [16] Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. [17] And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. [18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
   See All...).
7. The Lord’s Supper was established (Matthew 26:26-29 [26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. [27] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; [28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. [29] But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
   See All...).
8. The church had a treasurer (John 12:6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
   See All...; John 13:29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
   See All...).
9. Christ sang praises in the church (Psalm 22:22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
   See All...; Hebrews 2:12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
   See All...; Mark 14:26And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
   See All...).
10. The church was commissioned (Matthew 28:16-20 [16] Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. [17] And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. [18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
    See All...).
11. The church held a prayer meeting (Acts 1:14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
    See All...).
12. The church held a business meeting (Acts 1:15-22 [15] And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) [16] Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. [17] For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. [18] Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. [19] And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. [20] For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. [21] Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
    See All...).
13. The church elected officers (Acts 1:23-26 [23] And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. [24] And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, [25] That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. [26] And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
    See All...).
14. Three thousand souls were added to the church (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
    See All..., 47).
3. At Pentecost
1. Source
1. Taught by moderate dispensationalists
2. Taught by many Bible believing Christians
2. Arguments
1. There could be no church in the world until Christ’s death to redeem the church with His blood.
2. There could be no church in the world until Christ arose from the dead to provide her with resurrection life.
3. There could be no church until Christ ascended on high to become her head and intercessor.
4. There could be no church until the advent of the Holy Spirit.
4. During the Ministry of the Apostle Paul
1. Source
1. Taught by hyperdispensationalists
2. Many who teach this will also deny water baptism as an ordinance for the body of Christ.
2. Arguments – Taken from A Dispensational Theology by Charles Baker
1. There was already a church in existence at Pentecost, but this was not the body of Christ.
2. At Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that Israel’s last days had arrived (Acts 2:17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
   See All...), but he did not proclaim the first days of the body of Christ.
3. The phrase “the church, which is his body” is only used by Paul. When he uses the phrase “the church, which is his body,” he is implying that there is another church which is not His body.
4. Pentecost primarily, if not exclusively, dealt with Israel.
5. Paul declared that it was because of the blinding of Israel that his message of reconciliation had been sent to the Gentiles, but at Pentecost, Israel had not yet been blinded.
6. Not only was Israel not blinded at Pentecost, but it is here that we find the first real offer of the kingdom to Israel. It was because of their rejection of the King and the kingdom that a new dispensation under Paul was ushered in.
7. The body of Christ is a joint body of Jews and Gentiles, but at Pentecost there is no mention of the Gentiles.
8. At Pentecost the believers received water baptism for the remission of sins. There is no record that Paul ever practiced baptism for this purpose.
9. Everything that happened at Pentecost was in direct fulfillment of prophecy. Peter quotes Joel and David in Acts 2, but Paul says that the truth about the body of Christ is a “mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but is now made manifest to his saints” (Colossians 1:24-26 [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
   See All...).