The New Testament Church
Is Divine In Origin
By Louis Rushmore
The divine origin of the New Testament church is evident
since: (1) its conception was first in the mind of God, and (2) the church
was established by the power and authority of God. After the careful Bible
student learns these truths, he will have no difficulty identifying the
church of the Bible, despite much denominational confusion.
While explaining God’s plan of salvation to the Ephesian
church, the apostle Paul wrote that God always planned to save mankind
through the church. Therefore, according to Acts 2:47, the Lord adds the
saved to the church. The church was God’s idea, not man's idea.
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship
of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been
hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that
now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known
by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:9-11) (emphasis
added)
The establishment of the church or kingdom in complete fulfillment
of numerous Old Testament prophecies is remarkable testimony of the establishment
of the church by God. The apostles made no distinction between the church
and the kingdom. Paul addressed the "church" at Corinth (1 Corinthians
1:2) and used the word "kingdom" referring to the church in Colosse (Colossians
1:13). John also referred to the church as the kingdom (Revelation 1:9).
Jesus, too, used the words church and kingdom interchangeably (Matthew
16:18-19).
Isaiah 2:1-5; Joel 2:28-3:2; and Micah 4:1-3 identify
the city of Jerusalem as the beginning place of the kingdom or church --
which it was. Daniel 2:31-45 teaches the Lord's kingdom would be established
during the time of the Roman Empire -- which it was. Mark 9:1 states the
kingdom was to come with power during the lifetime of those to whom Jesus
spoke on that occasion -- which it did.
Churches of human origin were begun without the power
of the Holy Spirit and later than the generation to whom Jesus spoke. Neither
were denominational churches begun during the reign of the Roman Empire.
Further, man-made churches were begun in other cities than Jerusalem. Human
churches do not fulfill kingdom or church prophecies and are unacceptable
to God. ". . . Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted,
shall be rooted up" (Matthew 15:13).
According to Luke 8:11, the Word of God is the "seed"
of the kingdom. Therefore, when the Word of God is planted in honest hearts
it produces Christians -- which comprise the New Testament church. In this
way souls today can become members of the one church which is divine in
origin. Friend, is the religion of which you are a member divine in origin?
Or, will your religion "be rooted up" by God someday? |