FOUNDATIONS

Lessons designed to promote the integrity of scripture and church!

I Corinthians 3:11“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is    JESUS CHRIST  

All articles are written using the NKJV, unless otherwise noted! All articles are written by David Hicks, unless specified otherwise.

 

THE BODY OF CHRIST

THE BEGINNING -

LESSON 6.

 

 

The Body in Perfection

2. The Establishment of the Body.

In our previous lesson, we noted the perfect Foundation that “The Body of Christ” would be established upon. No other Foundation could any man lay (1 Corinthians 3:11); God would make Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6); and as the only true Foundation, He is the only one with preeminence and authority for “The Body of Christ”. I know that we have stated this often; however, get used to it, as we will state it many more times. It is the elevation of human wisdom and influence that has created the mass diversity in the so called religious world today.

 

All things have beginnings and this is also true for “The Body of Christ”. In this lesson we will look at the beginning.

 

First, let me call your attention to the last words of the Lord before His ascension to the Father:

Luke 24:47-49 “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

 

It was prophesied in Isaiah that the word would go forth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). In fulfillment of prophecy, the Lord instructs His chosen to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5), as this is where they will begin to distribute the word (the Gospel that would be preached to the whole world – Mark 16:15).

 

Second, ten days after the Lord would ascend to His Father (7 Sabbaths and a day after the resurrection – 50 days, Leviticus 23:15-16, to the day of Pentecost, minus the 40 days he remained among them resurrected – Acts 1:3), the apostles of Jesus would receive the power they were promised. The twelve began to speak to the devout Jews from every nation in their native language, as they were assembled in the temple complex for Pentecost – Acts 2:5-13

(Matthias now added to their number – Acts 1:26).

Peter's words were recorded by Luke, as the apostles began to dispel the notions that they (the apostles) were drunk and simply stated that the events transpiring at that moment were exactly what was spoken by the Prophet Joel (Acts 2:14-21 - which included the prophecy of the pouring out of the Spirit on all mankind ).

They would then preach the first Gospel sermon, which would for all time be the premise of the Gospel's message, note:

 

Title – Jesus of Nazareth

Point #1 – A Man Attested by God (signs and wonders), Acts 2:22.

Point #2 – You Killed Him (the Jews), Acts 2:23.

Point #3 – God Raised Him from the Dead (which the apostles were eye witnesses to and which fulfilled the prophecies of David – Psalms 16:8-11; Psalms 110:1), Acts 2:24-35.

Point #4 – God has Made Him both Lord and Christ , Acts 2:36.

 

Many of the Jews that heard this sermon preached, acknowledged the convicting words of this sermon and wanted to know how to remove their guilt. They cried out “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” - Acts 2:37

 

As they had been instructed by the Lord, the apostles then preached repentance and remission of sins beginning in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47), note:

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

With many other words he testified and exhorted them and those who received the word gladly were baptized, as instructed (Acts 2:40-41).

 

They would continue to learn concerning their new responsibilities and begin to worship together (all worship is a collective act), as this was the first day of the week (Acts 2:42); the day the Lord established for His saints to come together to worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).

 

Their daily lives would be changed as well, and they would know unity, mercy, and simplicity as they praised God (Acts 2:43-47).

 

From this day forward, “The Lord added to the church (the called out) daily those who were being saved” Acts 2:47. “The Body of Christ” had now begun and the Lord was able to add to it.

 

As Peter would give a defense of his preaching the Gospel to an uncircumcised Gentile (Cornelius and his household), to the Jews in Jerusalem; he would look at the events that he would have just participated in and remember the similar events that had transpired on the day of Pentecost, “at the beginning” (Acts 11:15).

 

What we learn from this:

  1. The Pentecost after the Lord's resurrection marks the beginning (Acts 11:15).
  2. It marked the beginning of the Gospel to the world, which included the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ and the preaching thereof. It also includes the preaching of repentance and remission of sins as demonstrated by the apostles of Jesus (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38).
  3. It marked the first of those who would obey the preaching of the Gospel (Acts 2:40-41). They would then constitute “The Called Out” in collective worship, individual godliness, and praising God in an established relationship (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:9).

 

This marked beginning would also be the blue print for the growth of “The Body of Christ” everywhere. Everywhere the Gospel would be preached, including everything in #2 of this blueprint; then #3 would ensue.

We will see everywhere else after this that the Gospel was completely preached would result in “The Called Out” in each location. So, as all things have a beginning, the beginning would take place in Jerusalem the Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This would be the only significance that Jerusalem would play! Jesus had already taught concerning a change in thinking that would take place when this beginning would come.

John 4:21-24 “Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

 

Two important things come from this teaching.

First, is that it was no longer going to be significant where true worshipers would worship. So, Jerusalem would have no other significance than a place for a beginning.

Second, is that God is seeking only those who would be willing to worship Him in spirit and truth (both the heart and doctrine sound). People! “The Called Out!” Not a building or a place.

 

Going back to our understanding of the True Foundation and only His preeminence, we know that it was God's intent that there would not be any [superior location] of “The Called Out”, nor any superior “Called Out” based on when they became obedient to the Gospel's call (2 Thessalonians 2:14) – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

Each and every “Body of Christ” that we will read of in existence in the New Testament (Samaria, Antioch of Syria, Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth, Rome, etc…), and every “Body of Christ” that is born after the exact same pattern as the first (up to this very day), are one and the same “Body of Christ” universally.

All to be bound by the singular doctrine of Christ (which we will voyage into, in the next series), locally governed, and autonomous in their efforts towards a universal goal (proclaiming the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light – 1 Peter 2:9; the perfecting the saints; the benevolence towards needy saints; and the edifying of “The Body of Christ” Ephesians 4:12). We will talk more about the universal and local “Body of Christ” in future lessons.

 

The last point of significance concerning the beginning and all the early “Bodies of Christ” we read about having been born of the universal pattern in the New Testament (starting in Jerusalem), comes from the illustration that we are all familiar with who use computers.

The origin of these early “Bodies of Christ”; having been born of the pure Gospel of Christ, and subsequently all following the pure doctrine of Christ, gives us, to this day, a reset point. A place in time to go back and restore “The Body of Christ” to its pure origins and undefiled nature; to be virus free from false doctrines and human re-organization. To be “The Called Out” that God purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

This is the Body in perfection!

 

Next: “Series Two – The Pillar and Ground of Truth!”