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| Volume 26 Number 3 March 2024 |
Page 7 |
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| Volume 26 Number 3 March 2024 |
Page 7 |
Brian R. Kenyon
History is very interesting, even intriguing, and it is something people must learn lest they repeat the atrocities in it (Judges 10:11-16). This is especially true of church history. From the New Testament church to Roman Catholicism to the multiple thousands of denominations today, there are many lessons to be learned. However, the basics of church history appear in the God-breathed Book of Acts and throughout the New Testament. With an understanding of the facts of church history below, we can better understand and evaluate what has happened to “Christianity” over the past two thousand years, and, more importantly, we can be better equipped to “…keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NKJV).
Church Established
In response to Peter’s confession, “…You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus promised, “…on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:19). Although future from when Jesus spoke, the building of that church would be during the life of some then present (Matthew 16:28), including Peter (Matthew 16:19). That future time came in Acts 2 when the Lord singled out the twelve apostles as His spokesmen (Acts 2:1-4). Peter’s sermon was the one detailed, but all the apostles preached on that first Day of Pentecost following Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2:14, 37). As Peter concluded, some hearers responded, “…Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37), to which Peter replied, “…Repent, and …be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (v. 38). Further exhortation occurred so that “Then those who gladly received his [Peter’s] word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41). Who were the “them” to which these souls were added? Luke revealed, “…the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Thus, the church that Jesus promised to build in Matthew 16:18 was built in Acts 2 and has existed ever since! Any church that began after the first Day of Pentecost following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ cannot be the church that belongs to Christ!
Church Multiplied
From his evangelistic insights from the Book of Acts and the life of Paul, Jackie M. Stearsman, Florida School of Preaching director and instructor, ingrained in his students’ minds the truth, “We cannot evangelize the world any faster than we can plant and stabilize local congregations.” Acts 2:41-8:3 focuses on the newly established church in Jerusalem. This church preached the Gospel (Acts 3:12-26), answered questions before civil authorities (Acts 4:1-12), overcame persecution (Acts 5:24-42), witnessed severe church discipline (Acts 5:1-11) and dealt with various benevolent challenges (Acts 4:32-37; 6:1-6). Only after being grounded through learning and applying God’s Word was that initial church ready to move forward with the evangelistic plan Jesus gave to “…be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Thus, “those who were scattered [by persecution] went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). The church multiplied by preaching the resurrection (Acts 2:24-36; 13:16-47), by their devotion to spiritual things (Acts 2:42-46) and by carrying the Gospel beyond themselves (Acts 1:8; 8:4; 16:10). Only obedience to the Word of God can save souls and thus multiply local churches (1 Corinthians 12:13)! Establishing or perpetuating denominations will never multiply the church of the Bible (Romans 16:17-19; Galatians 1:6-9). Any church whose membership is based on anything other than Gospel obedience cannot be Christ’s church!
Church Overtaken and Restored
Jesus told Peter when He promised to build His church, “…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven…” (Matthew 16:19). The tenses of these verbs actually carry the meaning, “whatever you bind on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven” (NAS). It was not the case that Peter or the apostles invented doctrine and then God ratified it! Rather, Peter and the apostles simply bound and loosed what God had already bound and loosed. No apostle, preacher, nor anyone else has a right to bind or loose what God has not already bound or loosed (Galatians 1:6-9). Churches that bind what God has loosed are in error (Acts 15:1, 5; 1 Timothy 4:1-3). Churches that loose what God has bound are in error (2 John 9-10; Revelation 22:18-19). May God give us wisdom to ascertain the difference between what God truly requires and what He deems optional (1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23). Churches can be in error and those in them spiritually lost, no matter how much good they do!
When churches are in error, they need to be restored (Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19). Denominations are built on either binding what God has loosed or loosening what God has bound. People in these erroneous churches must have the attitude displayed by the eunuch, who sought guidance to understand God’s Word (Acts 8:30-34), and like Cornelius, who sincerely wanted to “…hear all the things commanded you by God” (Acts 10:33). With those kinds of attitudes, the outcome of obedience is predictable. The eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?... Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:36-38). With Cornelius and his household, Peter “…commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). Not only must there be the proper attitude for restoration, but there must also be the desire to know the truth and to be a part of God’s revealed plan (John 7:17; Revelation 22:17). Finally, for restoration, there must be penitent obedience to truth (Acts 8:13-24). History tells us many churches and their members need to turn from error and obey what God requires (Acts 2:38; Romans 1:5; 16:26).
Church Glorified
When the church glorifies the Lord, God will glorify the church. Note the comparison of husbands loving their wives “…as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her… that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:25-27). The church can only glorify God by “…whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31). Doing something in the “name of the Lord” is not merely dedicating to Him what we think He wants (Matthew 7:21-23), but it is actually doing and serving as He directs (Luke 6:46). Whether preaching, teaching or in other service to the Lord, it must be done as God has given and/or supplies “…that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).
Conclusion
Understanding church history is vital, especially the God-breathed church history found in the New Testament. We must learn from that inspired source what made the New Testament church the body of Christ, how this church grew, what it meant to fall into error, how those in error could be restored and how the church could glorify God. May we learn from church history never to “…be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).
