The word "church" comes from the Greek word "ekklesia" which
means "a called out assembly". (Psalm 22:22; Heb.2:12 kjv).
When Christ called out His disciples in the shores of Galilee and assembled
them, the real meaning of the Greek word "ekklesia" was satisfied. (Matt.4:18-22;
18:20).
Christ personally built His church. He said, "I will build
my church...."(Matt.16:18). Jesus is the founder but the Holy Spirit
is the adminstrator when Christ ascended bodily to heaven. The verb "Will
build" from Greek word "OIKODOMESO" means to strengthen, enlarge, or edify.
Example, when a man says "I will build my body by physical exercise in
a gym", it does not mean that he does not have a body.
Christ taught church discipline during His personal earthly
ministry. If a man made an offense to another, it must be settled
between two persons involved. If the offender will not repent, then the
offended party will have two bring witnesses with him. But if he
still will not repent, Jesus said, "...tell it to the church". But
how can they tell it to the church if there was no church existing at that
time. (Matt. 18:15-17)
The Lord's Supper is a church ordinance to be observed by
the church. Matt. 26:26-28. It was given by the Lord to His church.
If there was no church at that time, to whom was it given?
Christ sang in the church during the Lord's Supper. Matt.
26: 30, Heb. 2:12, Ps. 22:22.
The Great Commission is a church commission. Matt. 28:18-20.
If there was no church at that time to whom was it given?
The authority was given to the church during Christ's earthly
ministry. ( Mark. 13:34, I Tim. 3:15) The church during Christ's eartly
ministry has the limited commission to preach and baptize (Matt.10:5-6).
Later, after Christ's resurrection and before His ascension, He gave the
great commission (Matt.28:18-20).
The Lord Jesus Christ set apostles in the church. (I Cor.
12:28) When did Christ instituted the apostolic office in the church?
It was during His earthly ministry. Luke 6:12-16 teach that Christ
already has an assembly of baptized disciples, and He chose 12 whom He
named as apostles. (Mk. 3:13-14). How can one set the flowers on
the table if there is no table? How can Christ set the apostolic
office in the church, if there was no church existing yet at that time?
There was already a company of baptized believers started
by Christ after the baptizing of John the Baptist. This congreagation
is distinct from that of the Judaism. Acts 1:21-22
The church had the Holy Spirit before Pentecost (John 20:21).
The 3,000 converts were just added to the existing church.
This is not the beginning of the Lord's church because the word "added"
was used. Therefore, there is already an existing church before Pentecost
(Acts 1:15, 2:41, 47).
The church had the Founder, the Head, the Pastor,
and Treasurer before Pentecost. Jesus is the founder, Head, and Pastor
while Judas was the Treasurer. (Matt.16:18, Eph.1:21-23; Col.1:18; John
10:27).
The church had worship services, preaching, teaching, , prayer,
singing, and evangelistic programs before Pentecost (Matthew 5; Luke 11:1;
Matt.28:9, Mark 6:12, Heb.2:12, Mark 8)
The congregation that went in and out with Jesus is composed
of baptized believers. They believed in the doctrines of Jesus.
They listened to the teaching and preaching of Jesus. They followed
the Lord and they had a mission to reach to the lost. They had worship
and evangelistic services. Jesus is their founder, head, and Pastor.
They were taught church discipline. They had the church ordinaces
--baptism and Lord's Supper. Their baptism is a Christian baptism
not of Judaism sinec there is no baptism by immersion in Judaism.
If they were not a church, what were they?
For your comments, email: Pastor Edwin
Jardinel, Box 30523 Lipa City 4217 Philippines, Tel. (63+43) 7565052