Introduction
Matt 16:18: … upon this rock I will build My Church...
Baptist Confession of Faith: (a few observations of this article)
- Baptized believers – new birth required to be proper candidate for baptism
- Associated in Faith and Fellowship – the Faith and Fellowship of Christ
- Observing the Ordinances of Christ – see meaning of ‘observe’ in Matt 28
- Governed by His laws – the New Testament contains the Lord’s laws

I. The Church Instituted by Christ
- First members were converted and baptized under the ministry of John, see Matt 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Act 1:5 and 22.
- They were called out and compacted together by the Lord.
The author and I see the actual point of organization differently.
- I understand the statement from 1st Cor 12:28 to indicate that the apostles were set in the Church to initiate it. The Lord was laying the foundation.

Supporting texts:
1) The Holy City, which is the Bride, has the names of the apostles in its foundation (Rev 21:14). The foundation of any building is set in place first.
2) Isaiah 2:2-3 tells us the Lord’s House would be established in the top of the mountains. Luke 6:12-17 describes the Lord up in the mountain,
choosing and ordaining and setting in place the foundation of His house.
3) Psalm 72:16 the handful of corn sown on the top of the mountains. This handful of corn is like the mustard seed used to describe the kingdom.
4) I believe there were scripturally baptized believers who followed the Lord to the mountain. These believers were the material that John the
Baptist prepared (Luke 1:76). The Lord used that material to establish His Church after consulting in prayer with God the Father all night.
5) After (6) on page 27, the author and I agree.
Relationship between Church and Kingdom:
- Local congregation is the unit in the militant Kingdom
- The Kingdom in its current form consists of all true Churches
- The Lord taught the presence of the Kingdom in such places Luke 17:21
Support for the article from the Baptist Confession of Faith
1) Baptized believers only: See practice of John in Matt 3:7-9
2) Faith and Fellowship: See association of Lord with Church, John 14:9
3) Observing Ordinances: John 4:1-2 and Matt 26:26-27 show both
4) Governed by His laws: The Lord is the head; He commissioned it
- The word Church occurs 112 times in the New Testament. In most every instance, it refers to a local assembly of believers.
- Good example verses in book showing this fact – No Universal Church
II. The Church Instituted Before Pentecost
- 3 schools of thought on when the Church was organized: 2nd is correct
- The author lists 15 reasons why the Church was Not setup on Pentecost.
7) No commission given on this day
8) No law given to be executed
14) No form of Church government given
- The author lists 15 things the Church possessed BEFORE Pentecost
4) The Church had taken part in both ordinances
6) The Kingdom had suffered violence, Matt 11:12
10) The Church had the rule of discipline, Matt 18:15-18
12) The Church had an ordained ministry
- Quote from Baptist Succession, pg 48, “Jesus Christ Himself, during His personal ministry, before He died upon the cross, set up His own New
Testament Kingdom and Church, to “stand forever.” Any other personage, whether man or angel, presuming to be the founder of the
Church of God is a blasphemous usurper and antichrist. This New Testament Kingdom, which includes the scriptural churches, is to endure
forever, paralleled with the eternity of Jesus Christ Himself. Isa 9:7, this government established by Christ is to have “no end”. Dan 2:44, it is an
everlasting Kingdom never to be destroyed. Matt. 16:18, the Church, which is the executive in the Kingdom, shall “stand forever”. Luke
16:16, the same kingdom of God was preached and entered into from the days of John the Baptist, “until now”. This “until now” applies to the
present as well as the time of Christ, when it was uttered.”

Questions – DIFFERS FROM THOSE IN THE BOOK
1. What does the word “Church” mean?
2. Who instituted the Church? When?
3. Who were the first members of the Church?
4. What was happening when the Lord prayed all night on the mountain?
5. What happened the next morning after this prayer?
6. Who were the first apostles?
7. Name the three schools of thought on origin of the Church.

Optional written assignment
In three pages or less, give the reasons which make the most sense to you
for believing that the Church was started before the day of Pentecost.

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