In fulfillment of God’s eternal plan (Eph. 3:10-11) the church was born. Jesus fulfilled His promise to build the church (Matt. 16:18) on the first day of Pentecost after His resurrection. From Acts chapter two on the church that Jesus built almost becomes the center of focus. Churches belonging to the Lord began to spring up in city after city throughout the Roman Empire. How was this church designated in the Scriptures?

A careful reading of the New Testament will reveal designations that can be divided into three groups. These designations were used with real meaning, expressing function, ownership, and relationship. These designations were given by divine direction and fulfill a divine purpose. Let’s take note of them. » Continue reading “Does God Care How The Church Is Designated?”

There is a commonly held belief in the religious world that the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to set up or establish His kingdom, but because He was rejected by the Jews, He postponed His kingdom and set up the church instead. Those who hold to this view believe that Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth when He returns the second time.

This concept relegates the church to the role of a stop-gap arrangement, a kind of after-thought conceived by Christ to provide something to fill the gap between His return to the Father and His return to the earth. It is also believed that the prophets said nothing about the church since they saw only the first coming of the Christ and His yet to come, earthly kingdom. » Continue reading “Was The Church Predicted By The Prophets?”

There are different ideas about when the church began. There are those who speak of it as beginning in the Old Testament period, though such a view is a misunderstanding of what the church is. Others believe that it began with the ministry of John the Baptist. Still others believe that the Lord’s kingdom has not yet been established. With such different answers to our question it is no wonder people are confused.

The correct answer is rather easily determined, if one notices the tense of the verbs used in reference to the church. Throughout the Old Testament all references to the Lord’s kingdom are future. Notice just a couple of them: » Continue reading “When Did The Church Begin?”