Jesus’ Involment in Starting the Christian Church

If we began a study of the first century church, 9 times out of 10 we would begin with Acts chapter 2.  The Holy Spirit comes as promised, and Peter preaches a fiery message proclaiming Jesus is the Christ.  Certainly by the end of Acts 2, we see the first Christian believers come together in an organized way.  But if we back up a just a few chapters, Jesus gives the disciples instructions on what will happen next, going beyond his death, burial and resurrection.

Critics of Christianity, as an organized religion (the Church), even claim that Jesus had no intention of starting a new church or movement of any kind, but rather his followers started one in his name.  To put it mildly, these critics have not studied the Bible.  Jesus speaks almost exclusively throughout John chapters 14-17.  In chapter 14 he assures them that he will prepare a place for them and come again.  Beginning around the 15th verse, Jesus begins to explain the work of the Holy Spirit.  He will continue this line of thought in chapter 16.  In John 15, Jesus describes himself as the vine and the disciples as his branches.  He then prophecies that the world will hate his followers as it first hated him.  He is giving specific instruction as to how they are to proceed once he is no longer physically on the scene.  In the next chapter, he not only tells them again that he must go, but it is to their advantage.  If he does not go, the Comforter will not come.  Jesus is revealing the Trinity to the disciples. John 17 is well known as the High Priestly prayer.  Jesus Christ, while in the presence of God the Father, is at once the sacrifice and the priest.  At the same time, his earthly followers are led by the Holy Spirit, who calls all things to their remembrance.  Jesus himself, in chapters 14-17 of John’s gospel, is preparing his disciples to do the work of the church. 

And what of Peter?  Clearly he is the most vocal leader of the disciples in Acts 2.  Many are familiar with the conversation in John 22 in which Jesus commands Peter to feed his sheep.  Is this being sprung on Peter for the first time?  No.  Read Matthew 16:13-19.  God the Father has already made special revelation to Peter, and Jesus has said what?  That he will build his church on this rock. 

It was the will of God from the very beginning for the New Testament church to spread His Word.  Jesus said that it would happen, mentioning Peter by name.  He revealed to the disciples the relationship of the Trinity, and before his ascension told them to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit to take place. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit worked in concert to begin the New Testament Church in the first century; a work that Christians continue today as we build the Kingdom. 

“I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…”  -Rev 7:9

 

UPDATE: I need to add one thing.  Psalm 118:22 says “the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”  Three of the Gospels record Jesus quoting that verse.  As Peter responds to charges in Acts 4, consider his reference to Psalm 118: 

…Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.  This Jesus  is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

On the Lighter Side (3)

It’s been a long time since I tried to spread the laughter here on The Master’s Table.  Have a Coke and smile!

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it.
The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up,
stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, ‘Good morning Alex.’
‘Good morning Pastor,’ he replied, still focused on the plaque. ‘Pastor, what is this?’
The pastor said, ‘Well son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.’
Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex’s voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked, ‘Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?’

Jesus Was Not Religious

I’ve said before that the problem with religion is that it’s easier than following Jesus.  It is usually a given that something is wrong with us, wrong with the world, perhaps critically or else just a little off, but most people agree that something must be done because all is not right in the world as it is.  Religion, in most cases, offers us the chance to do something.  If we read the right book, say the right things, act right, talk right and treat each others the right way we can “fix” what is wrong.  Religion, as such, is worthless.  But what could I mean that Jesus was not religious?

Father Abraham (A Father’s Day Sermon)

There’s a lot of negative things to say about topical preaching, but I know two things: 1) Father’s Day will be one of the most searched terms today on the Internet, and 2) No matter what “topic” I begin with, before the sermon is over I will preach the Gospel. 

“Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had Father Abraham.”  So goes the old children’s song.  While we recognize Abraham as the primogenitor of the Jewish nation, like any member our fallen race he was far from perfect.  One danger of celebrating historic lives is that we elevate a person too high by never mentioning certain shortcomings or character flaws.  Historians have to be careful in their presentation of certain figures, particularly the ones they like. 

Bible Survey, The Flood

When I set out to begin Bible Survey, I said that it would not be a verse by verse commentary on the entire Bible.  Well, the problem is that I was doing almost exactly that.  I’m working on it.

The Flood, Gen. 6-8  is now available.  I invite you to join this journey through the Bible, and welcome an open discussion in the comments.  Did the flood really happen, was it a global or local event, how did Noah get all the animals on the ark?  Did the ark look like a boat, or is the “shoe box” design more accurate?  Hit me.

Can A Person Get Saved Reading the Old Testament?

I certainly teach that the whole Bible is about Jesus.  The Bible, on the whole, is the story of how a holy God relates to a sinful and fallen people.  Jesus is at the center of that story.  You’ve heard all this before.

The question I heard raised this morning is “Can a person get saved only reading the Old Testament?”  II Timothy 3 tells us that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.  Obviously the New Testament is God-given, and we need to read and study it.  If the Old Testament was sufficient, why would God give us another?  But still, if the gospel is all over the Bible, is there enough there to lead a person to Christ?  And I say, yes it is possible. 

America Is Not The World

Many of us in the United States are so richly over blessed that we are out of touch with the rest of the world.  I remind my students a few times each year that America is not the world, and it happened again today.

Saving(?) the SBC

The Internet Monk is at times the most critical voice of the SBC, even while on the inside.  At the close of Advance 09, he aknowledges there are problems that the SBC needs to work through in order to remain effective, and wonders how we will do it. 

History Repeats Itself

“History repeats itself” is actually a terrible misquote.  It leads students to ask questions like “If history repeats itself, why do I have to learn it the first time?”  No, the actually quote is “Those who do not learn history (the past) are condemned to repeat it.”  Google George Santayana.  The point is that if we learn from history, we can avoid making the same mistakes.  Here’s an example of New Testament people not learning their Old Testament history.

The Jesus Disconnect

This blog has two stated purposes, clearly displayed in the headline banner: to be God honoring and Christ centered.  Those words are written there to both advertise what this blog is about, but also to remind the author what this blog is supposed to be about.  We must keep our eyes on the prize; so said the Apostle Paul, in a manner of speaking.  For the Christian – take note of the first five letters of that word – Christ must be the central theme running through everything we do, from studying the Bible to blogging on the internet. 

I’ve written on this several times before (read the About page) and have to fight the temptation to repeat everything.  InternetMonk has posted on nothing but the Jesus Disconnect  for the past couple of days.  He notes that many professing Christians show interest in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but are less focused on his actual ministry.  Some do not see his ministry as having any relevance to “our ministry” at all.