Eschatology and Eschatology and EcclesiologyEcclesiology

The Inauguration of the ChurchThe Inauguration of the Church

Some Inaccurate Some Inaccurate SuggestionsSuggestions

The Church began with AdamThe Church began with Adam ““As New Testament saints are saved through faith in the As New Testament saints are saved through faith in the

Christ of history, so Old Testament saints were saved Christ of history, so Old Testament saints were saved through faith in the Christ of prophecy. . . . And so through faith in the Christ of prophecy. . . . And so Isaiah, David, Abraham, Abel and a host of others were Isaiah, David, Abraham, Abel and a host of others were members of the one body of Christ, His church. And if we members of the one body of Christ, His church. And if we assume, as undoubtedly we may, that Adam and Eve assume, as undoubtedly we may, that Adam and Eve believed the promise of God [Gen. 3:15]. . . then it may believed the promise of God [Gen. 3:15]. . . then it may be asserted that they constituted the first Christian be asserted that they constituted the first Christian church” (R. B. Kuiper, church” (R. B. Kuiper, The Glorious Body of ChristThe Glorious Body of Christ, pp. , pp. 21-22).21-22).

The Church began with AbrahamThe Church began with Abraham ““The church under the new dispensation is identical with The church under the new dispensation is identical with

that under the old. It is not a new Church, but one and that under the old. It is not a new Church, but one and the same. It is the same olive tree (Rom. 11:16,17). It is the same. It is the same olive tree (Rom. 11:16,17). It is founded on the same covenant, the covenant made with founded on the same covenant, the covenant made with Abraham” (Hodge, Abraham” (Hodge, Systematic TheologySystematic Theology, 3:549)., 3:549).

Some Inaccurate Some Inaccurate SuggestionsSuggestions

The Church began with Christ’s earthly ministryThe Church began with Christ’s earthly ministry ““The church, therefore, was established in the days of The church, therefore, was established in the days of

Jesus’ sojourn in the flesh and the work of its construction Jesus’ sojourn in the flesh and the work of its construction was begun with the material prepared by John the was begun with the material prepared by John the Baptist, later the twelve apostles of our Lord” (R.V. Baptist, later the twelve apostles of our Lord” (R.V. Clearwaters, Clearwaters, The Local Church in the New TestamentThe Local Church in the New Testament, p. , p. 26).26).

The Church began with Paul The Church began with Paul (Ultradispensationalism)(Ultradispensationalism) ““Perhaps the most evident distinction. . . is the fact that Perhaps the most evident distinction. . . is the fact that

the church of Matthew and of Pentecost is one which was the church of Matthew and of Pentecost is one which was prophesied or predicted by the Old Testament prophets, prophesied or predicted by the Old Testament prophets, whereas the church of Paul’s epistle is specifically whereas the church of Paul’s epistle is specifically declared to be part of a great body of truth which in declared to be part of a great body of truth which in former ages had been hidden in God and never before former ages had been hidden in God and never before revealed to the sons of men” (Charles Baker, revealed to the sons of men” (Charles Baker, Bible Truth – Bible Truth – What We Believe and Why We Believe ItWhat We Believe and Why We Believe It, p. 69)., p. 69).

Bible Truth: The Church Began Bible Truth: The Church Began at Pentecostat Pentecost

Proved by the baptism of the Spirit (Acts Proved by the baptism of the Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 11:15; 1 Cor 12:13).1:8; 2:1-4; 11:15; 1 Cor 12:13).

Proved by the Church as a Proved by the Church as a mysterymystery, i.e. , i.e. that which was previously unknown but that which was previously unknown but now revealed (Eph 3:2-6; Col 1:24-26).now revealed (Eph 3:2-6; Col 1:24-26). The The contextcontext of the mystery: Gentile alienation of the mystery: Gentile alienation

from God (Eph 2:11-22).from God (Eph 2:11-22). The The contentcontent of the mystery: Jew and Gentile as of the mystery: Jew and Gentile as

fellow heirs in the Body (Eph 3:1-6)...a distinct fellow heirs in the Body (Eph 3:1-6)...a distinct entity from Israel!entity from Israel!

Proved by Christ’s promise (Matt 16:18)Proved by Christ’s promise (Matt 16:18) Future tense indicates a future event.Future tense indicates a future event.

Contextual Flow of Matthew’s Contextual Flow of Matthew’s GospelGospel

Matthew 1-10 show the Lord’s credentials as Matthew 1-10 show the Lord’s credentials as King: birth, baptism, temptation, His teachings King: birth, baptism, temptation, His teachings on the spirituality of the Law, His supernatural on the spirituality of the Law, His supernatural power.power.

Matthew 11-12 are transitional chapters and Matthew 11-12 are transitional chapters and emphasize the official opposition to and emphasize the official opposition to and rejection of Christ. “Mysteries of the kingdom” rejection of Christ. “Mysteries of the kingdom” (Matt 13) born out of this rejection.(Matt 13) born out of this rejection.

After further opposition in Matthew 14-16, and After further opposition in Matthew 14-16, and Peter’s correct identification (Matt 16:16), Peter’s correct identification (Matt 16:16), Christ announces His promise to build His Christ announces His promise to build His “assembly,” those that would believe in and “assembly,” those that would believe in and follow Him.follow Him.

Next Week: The Organization Next Week: The Organization of the Churchof the Church

Syllabus pp. 133-142Syllabus pp. 133-142

Saucy pp. 98-126Saucy pp. 98-126