THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH

7/19/06 | ALPHA-8-25-02

[alpha-8-25-02]

THE CHURCH BEGAN AT THE LAST SUPPER,NOT AT PENTECOST.

Jer 31:31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-

Mt 26:28 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mr 14:24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.

Lu 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

1Co 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

2Co 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Heb 8:8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

Heb 8:13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Heb 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Heb 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (NKJV)

CONVENANT OF GRACE, the eternal plan of redemption entered into by the three persons of the Godhead, and carried out by them in its several parts. In it the Father represented the Godhead in its indivisible sovereignty, and the Son his people as their surety (Joh 17:4,6,9; Isa 42:6; Ps 89:3).

The conditions of this covenant were, (1.) On the part of the Father (a) all needful preparation to the Son for the accomplishment of his work (Heb 10:5; Isa 42:1-7); (b) support in the work (Lu 22:43); and (c) a glorious reward in the exaltation of Christ when his work was done (Php 2:6-11), his investiture with universal dominion (Joh 5:22; Ps 110:1), his having the administration of the covenant committed into his hands (Mt 28:18; Joh 1:12; 17:2; , and in the final salvation of all his people (Isa 35:10; 53:10,11; Jer 31:33; Tit 1:2). (2.) On the part of the Son the conditions were (a) his becoming incarnate (Ga 4:4,5); and (b) as the second Adam his representing all his people, assuming their place and undertaking all their obligations under the violated covenant of works; (c) obeying the law (Ps 40:8; Isa 42:21; Joh 9:4,5), and (d) suffering its penalty (Isa 53:1-12; 2Co 5:21; Ga 3:13), in their stead.

Christ, the mediator of, fulfils all its conditions in behalf of his people, and dispenses to them all its blessings. In Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24, this title is given to Christ. (See Dispensation.)

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, at the beginning of the New Testament dispensation, announces the same great principle. "The promise [just as to Abraham and his seed the promises were made] is unto you, and to your children" (Ac 2:38,39).

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." (NKJV)

Dispensation

(Gr. oikonomia, "management," "economy"). (1.) The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards men is called a dispensation. There are usually reckoned three dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic or Jewish, and the Christian. (See Covenant, Administration of.) These were so many stages in God's unfolding of his purpose of grace toward men. The word is not found with this meaning in Scripture.

(2.) A commission to preach the gospel (1Co 9:17; Eph 1:10; 3:2; Col 1:25).

Dispensations of Providence are providential events which affect men either in the way of mercy or of judgement.

(Lu 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded. "The covenant of grace is called new; it succeeds to the old broken covenant of works. It is ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent; and under the gospel it is dispensed in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" (Brown of Haddington). Hence is derived the name given to the latter portion of the Bible.

Testament

occurs twelve times in the New Testament (Heb 9:15, etc.) as the rendering of the Gr. diatheke, which is twenty times rendered "covenant" in the Authorized Version, and always so in the Revised Version. The Vulgate translates incorrectly by testamentum, whence the names "Old" and "New Testament," by which we now designate the two sections into which the Bible is divided.

THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER AND BELIEVERS THROUGH THE SON WAS ENTERED INTO AT THE LAST SUPPER.

THE NEW TESTAMENT DISPENSATION WAS AT PENTECOST,THEREFORE THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH WAS WHEN THE FATHER ENTERED INTO THE COVENANT RELATION.

[alpha-8-25-02]

FOR DISCUSSION AND COMMENT!

GODSPEED!

[alpha-8-25-02]

THIS WILL BE A STUDY WITH THE LOCAL FLOCK THIS SATURDAY!

PLEASE OFFER YOUR GRACE FILLED COMMENTS!

5 SOLAS!!

[George W. Bush]

I would say that the form of the church and certainly its ordinances (sometimes called sacraments) were established at the supper. Whether Christ's church was established at the supper or at the moment of Jesus' death or at the moment of resurrection is a murkier question. I tend toward the moment of resurrection but given that the sin-debt of His flock was paid at the moment of the Lamb's sacrifice, perhaps the church was established at that moment.

I guess I just don't have extremely strong opinions on this matter.

[Rippin]

Wasn't the Church Created in the beginning? Even before Adam with the Angels?

[Uri’el-2012]

Je. 31:31 “The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make
a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

Je. 31:32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to
[Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac covenant, and I turned away
from] them,” [Or was their master] declares the LORD.

Je. 31:33 “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in
their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

Je. 31:34 No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his
brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all
know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the
LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will
remember their sins no more.”

But the New Covenant is with the house of Judah and Israel not the church.

We are only grafted in (see Romans)

b'shem Y'shua

[George W. Bush]

But the New Covenant is with the house of Judah and Israel not the church. We are only grafted in (see Romans)

Granting your point for the moment and whether it is a significant distinction, you've managed to escape actually telling us when the Church began.

I have a parallel interest in scripture similar to this one. I've been trying to determine for some time whether salvation in Christ became effective at the moment of Christ's sacrifice or at the moment of His resurrection. I don't generally get into a great debate over it because, as with many matters in scripture, the precise moment is far less important than the actual fact of it. So I try to avoid extremely divisive but pointless distinctions. Still, I can't help being a bit curious to know these things...

Perhaps the problem with spending time on these matters is that it is far easier to dispute such fine points instead of doing more basic things like examining and correcting one's own walk or witnessing to unbelievers or those of false doctrine or doing more for the cause of Christ instead of merely arguing about matters God has not chosen to teach us.

[Uri’el-2012]

The word Ekklesia in Koine Greek means the called-out ones.

It does not mean a corporation nor a building.

b'shem Y'shua

[George W. Bush]

Koine and Hebraisms aside, you still haven't actually expressed a discernible opinion on the topic of alpha's thread.

Perhaps you require a phrasing like: "When did the called-out ones actually constitute the first body of believers or when did Christ's flock become the Church?

Is that specific enough?

[Louis Foxwell]

The Church is the body of Christ. Jesus tells us that God is spirit and those who worship Him do so in spirit. The church is in spirit. It is not in flesh. Whether or not any institutions are created in the name of Christ His church exists. He is His church and it lives in the hearts of those called by Him.
The institution of the church may or may not be the Body of Christ. His Body, the Church, exists despite the institutions that claim Him. He does not need building, creeds, and institutions. He needs only His eternal Spirit reaching into the lives of whomever He chooses.

[Ciexyz]

Faith-sharing bump.

[DungeonMaster]

Acts 2
Coming of the Holy Spirit
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord[a] in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

[sola gracia]

I would say that the Church was formed in eternity pass. If Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, and if Christ is the chief cornerstone of the foundation of the Church, then it stands to reason that the Church was formed in eternity pass. According to Stephen in Acts 7:38 the chruch existed during the OT dispensation. Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

[sola gracia]

See comment 12. Sorry, pass should have been spelled past

[AZhardliner]

The church began in the garden and is God's people whom he has called out and called together since then.
Read "The Church" by Edmund Clowney, published by Inter-Varsity

[DungeonMaster]

I get what you are saying. He is the head of the body, the church, and He is eternal. But I think the focus of the question is really, when did the first Christian(s) become Christians(s)? So that is really the question I was answering. If that wasn't the question then there goes my bad reading skills again.

[Uri’el-2012]

NAS Deuteronomy 4:10 "Remember the day you stood before the LORD
your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Assemble the people to Me,
that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all
the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'

This is the first use of the word Ekklesia in the Holy Word of G-d.

b'shem Y'shua

[Rippin]

Thanks for the St. Stephen quote, very good.

[Fzob]

THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER AND BELIEVERS THROUGH THE SON WAS ENTERED INTO AT THE LAST SUPPER.

Although this may sound nit-picky, I have to disagree with your statement. The word covenant (or Testament in 1 Cor 11:25) is defined in Strong's as

diathēKer̄
dee-ACTH-Au'-kay
From G1303; properly a disposition, that is, (specifically) a contract (especially a devisory will): - covenant, testament.

The concept of a devisory will or a contract indicate to me the cross must come first in establishing a new covenant. In other words the cross provides a relationship between God and man not the last supper. The last supper was a set of instructions to memorialize this new covenant (I know some will disagree)

See Eph 2:12-22

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (14) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (17) And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye also are build together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

Or to sum it up, without the blood of Christ nothing counts. Regards and thanks for your post.

[Zuriel]

**See Eph 2:12-22**

Excellent passage.

Hebrews 9:16,17 is also.
....for a testament is of force after men are dead....

[Zuriel]

Acts 2, obviously is the beginning of the church (souls filled with the Holy Ghost).

"At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" John 14:20

Jesus to Peter, in Luke 22:32, "..and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethern."

Jesus, before ascending to heaven: "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49

Peter testifying of the conversion of Cornelius and his household: "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us AT THE BEGINNING." Acts 11:15