When people hear the word “Church,” they often think of a brick and mortar building or an institution of some kind. But the Church is much, much more than that. The Church is not just a collection of churches across the world, but it is also a body of Jews and Gentiles who know Christ and whose sins are forever forgiven by God.
Because Israel rejected Jesus at His First Coming, God paused His program for Israel for an undetermined period, which we call the Church Age. This Age encompasses the period between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel, as discussed in Time of the Gentiles: Daniel’s Prophecies. During this Age, the Church was established as the “called of God” with a specific destination and purpose.
In this post, we will discuss the anticipation and beginning of the Church. We will also explore how the Church is an heir of God and partakes of the New Covenant.
God’s Plan
From the beginning, God’s plan of salvation included the entire world. God chose the nation of Israel to bring the message of light to the world. From Israel came Jesus, the Light God had promised, yet his people, Israel, rejected Him. This rejection came as no surprise to God; it was part of His ultimate plan to save us all.
Because the Jews rejected Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, He extended His invitation to all who would follow Him, Jews and Gentiles alike. God’s plan that both Gentiles and Jews who believe in Jesus share equally in His inheritance was not made known in the Old Testament. It was only after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit that this mystery was revealed. When either a Jew or Gentile trusts Jesus as their Savior, they become a child of God, and are part of the Church.
Promise of the Holy Spirit
Jesus had been ministering with His disciples for nearly three years. He tried to prepare them for what was to come by telling them that He wouldn’t be with them much longer. He said that He was going somewhere and they couldn’t come now, but not to worry because He was preparing a place for them in His Father’s house and would come back for them (John 13:33-35, John 14:1, John 14:2-3). He told them that after He leaves, He will send a Helper, the Holy Spirit who will be with them and in them forever (John 14:15-17). He promised that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things, help them remember all that He has taught them (John 14:26), and guide them into all truth (John 16:12-13).
The disciples’ hope died with Jesus on the cross – only to be resurrected with Jesus three days later. Jesus appeared to them and instructed them to wait for the Father’s promise, the Holy Spirit. He told them that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would receive power and be His witnesses throughout the world (Acts 1:4-8).
Not even Jesus’ words could prepare the disciples for the reality of the moment the Holy Spirit appeared: they were gathered together under one roof when suddenly they heard a loud noise like a violent wind filling the house. Next, what seemed like tongues of fire rested on each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking languages previously unknown to them.
Because it was Pentecost, Jews from every nation had gathered in Jerusalem. When they heard the noise of the rushing wind, they came to investigate. They were “amazed and astonished” because they heard “mighty deeds of God” being spoken in their own language!
Emboldened by the Spirit, Peter, the same Peter who had denied Jesus three times, stood in front of an audience of Jews and preached the Gospel for the first time. He explained that Jesus, who they had crucified, was now exalted to the right hand of God; He had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and now poured the Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2:33).
Peter then told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). He went on to tell them that the gift of the Holy Spirit was not just for them and their children but for all who are far off, as many as the Lord will call to Himself (Acts 2:39). 3,000 were baptized that day: the Church was born!
The Church is for Jew and Gentile Alike
The Jewish Christians soon learned that the Messiah and the gift of the Holy Spirit were not just for the Jew but also the Gentile. This truth became apparent to Peter when he went to Cornelius, a Gentile, and began to tell him and his family and friends about Jesus. As he spoke, the Holy Spirit fell on them, and they started to speak with tongues exalting God. Peter then baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:44-48)
By revelation through the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul was given wisdom concerning the Church. The Church was a mystery hidden in the Old Testament and only made known after Jesus’ first coming. The mystery revealed to Paul was that “the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6). Both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God through Christ, and both have access in one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:14-18).
The Church’s Inheritance
The word “Church” is a translation of the Greek word Ekklesia which comes from the verb “Kaleo,” which means “to call.” The Church is the “called” of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6). As the called of Jesus, we are citizens of heaven and not earth. Our spirit testifies with the Holy Spirit that we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). Our inheritance is imperishable and undefiled; it won’t fade away, and it is reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4-5).
We eagerly await Jesus to come for His Church in an event we call “the Rapture.” When He comes, the dead in Christ will be raised first, and then the living Christians will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). When we are raised in Christ, we will get imperishable bodies and be transformed to be like Christ (1 Corinthians 15:50-54, Philippians 3:21).
After the Church’s rapture, we will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12) and will be rewarded based on what we have done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). This is not a judgment to determine our salvation but a reward for our work on Christ’s behalf (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).
The Rapture will also initiate a period of great tribulation on earth for those who were left behind. At the end of the Tribulation, the Church will return with Christ to set up His kingdom on earth, and Christ will give us authority over the nations (Revelation 2:26), and we will sit down with Him on His throne (Revelation 3:21). Christ will then rule for 1,000 years on earth. After that, we will spend eternity with Christ in the New Jerusalem on the new earth serving God (Revelation 22:3).
The Church’s New Covenant
God promised Israel a future New Covenant that would replace the old Mosaic Covenant (Jeremiah 31). This New Covenant promised to prosper Israel with an abundance of physical and spiritual blessings. The spiritual blessings promised to Israel include heart transformation, the forgiveness of sins, and a relationship with God. The Church, through Jesus Christ, receives the blessings of this New Covenant.
God promised that all nations would be blessed through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22:18). Jesus Christ, Abraham’s Seed made this blessing possible. Galatians 3:13-14 explains that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Jews and Gentiles that believe in Jesus are the true spiritual children of Abraham because they follow his example of faith (Galatians 3:7). These believing Jews and Gentiles which we call the Church are heirs of the world (Romans 4:13).
Jesus Confirmed the New Covenant
During Passover, right before His death, Jesus ate His “Last Supper” with His disciples. Here, He spoke of a “new covenant” that would soon be in effect. Luke 22:20 describes what happened during the Last Supper like this” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” (Matthew 26:28). Jesus poured out His blood on the cross for us so that our sins could be forgiven. After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven and then initiated the New Covenant by pouring out the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This New Covenant replaces the old Mosaic Covenant.
Gentiles participate in this New Covenant because “in Christ Jesus” they were brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). Under the New Covenant, believing Jews are also united with Christ. Jew and Gentile are both brought into this New Covenant through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For those Jews who have rejected Jesus as their Messiah, the New Covenant won’t be fulfilled for them until Christ’s Second Coming.
The Church is another piece of God’s plan to save the world. It is not His will that anyone perishes:
God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth. 5 There is only one God, and there is only one way that people can reach God. That way is through Christ Jesus, who as a man 6 gave himself to pay for everyone to be free. This is the message that was given to us at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:4-6 ERV
As the Church, we are children of God and fellow heirs of Christ, and through Jesus Christ, the Church receives the New Covenant’s blessings promised to the children of Abraham. Jesus confirmed this New Covenant with the Church when He poured out His blood on the cross for us.
