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When did the church begin? First we need to understand the Holy Spirit living in believers is what the church is. There was no Church in the Old testament (there was an assembly of the Jews) before Jesus time nor during Jesus time until he went away, ascending, after he made the new covenant. The church is made of both Jews and Gentles. Gentiles do not become Jews but spiritual gentiles. The Church of God Jesus had purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28), which means he had to die first. After Christ raised from the dead and ascended he sent the Holy Spirit to birth a new entity, the church. The Greek word is ekklesia (which is used 114 times in the New Testament) which means a called out assembly (Ek = out of, Kaleo= to call). It is never used of a building, or of the kingdom of God. The Church is not the kingdom, but included in it. The Church is an invisible living spiritual organism, composed of all the believers worldwide, from the time of its inception on Pentecost, until it is taken away at the rapture. The church did not begin in the middle of Acts, neither in Acts 9 or Acts 13. It began in at the feast of Pentecost with the Holy Spirit sent, as Jesus said I will build my church. On the feast of Pentecost as they were baptized in the Spirit and Gods glory was seen above their heads for the first time on people temporarily showing what is taking place 1 Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. This is how one enters the Church, by the Spirit who comes to dwell inside us and unites us with the rest of the body which is invisible and visible. So the sequence is like this, the promise is given to wait for him. They chose another to replace Judas Acts 1:4-5 Do not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now ." Acts 2:2-4 as sound as a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. They speak other languages to the people who are gathered at Pentecost early in the day. Peter speaks his first public evangelistic message that is based on Scripture so they realize what Has taken place among them and what Scripture says about it. After Peters message 3,000 respond and were saved (which means they became part of the church) as they committed by baptism. Acts 2:41-42 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. this is long before Acts , 5 or 9 when the Gentiles entered in through Paul And Barnabas It speaks of the church where Ananias and Saphirra broke their promise, Acts 5:11 great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. Persecution against the church is seen in Acts 8. In v:3 (and chapter 9) Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. It is the same church that is mentioned early on and later on in the book of Acts of the Apostles. Acts 11:15- 17 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? This was the Gentiles salvation experience to be baptized in the Spirit. the same as the Jews in Acts 2 when they attended Pentecost. The communion which is a fulfillment of the Passover is now understood. 1 Cor. 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? The church has koinonia from Christ's body and blood. Eph. 1:22-23 Jesus is the head over all things to the church, which is His body , the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph. 5:30-31 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. Col. 1:24 Paul explains we as His body, is the church 1 Cor. 12:27 " Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." Notice collectively and individually. This means one does not have to belong to a certain denomination or group but to Christ. The Church transcends denominational barriers, it exists within denominations, as well as outside of them (those who hold to the core doctrines). While denominations may have differences on peripheral issues, they do hold to the core beliefs that would make them part of the body of Christ, which is the Church. This Universal Church has continued from the beginning of Pentecost and is the same church in our day.
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