Southern Baptists (SB's):
SB's believe that the Baptist movement was started in the 16th century.
SB's believe Roger Williams started the first Baptist church in Providence, RI. BUT technically he did NOT start a Baptist church.
He started ONLY a church.ALL the Baptist movements who believe the above are apostate.
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(John Adams' book)
John Spillsbury, a strong Baptist of England, baptized John Clarke.
Dr. John Clarke started the first Baptist church in America at Providence, RI.
He was run out of the state of Massachusetts.Wallie Amos Criswell, Jr. is politicking for a Southern Baptist Ph.D.
He was the author of booklet received in this course.Southern Baptists do NOT believe John was the first Baptist.
Dr. J.R. Graves has good books, but does NOT believe in the New Testament succession of the Baptists.
The Essenes were NOT tied to John the Baptist.
David Benedict's 'History of the Baptists' original 1813 ed. has been revised.
However, this revision has some stuff taken out.Roy Mason's 'The Church That Jesus Built'.
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Did John the Baptist train ALL of the twelve (12) disciples?
I do NOT think so.
Matthew was NOT trained by John. See the book of Matthew.
"(35)Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; (36)And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (37)And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (38)Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (39)He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (40)One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. (41)He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (42)And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (43)The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me." (John 1:35-43)Philip.
Theology of conjecture.
"(9)And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him." (Matthew 9:1)
Verse 9: Matthew is called to follow Jesus.
"And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." (John 3:23)
"(29)The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (30)This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. (31)And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." (John 1:29-31)"(60)Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? (61)When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? (62)What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? (63)It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (64)But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (65)And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. (66)From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (70)Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (John 6:60-66,70).SOME disciples went back from Jesus which included Judas Iscariot.
Did Jesus Himself baptize?
"(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)" (John 4:2).
Is this a particular situation only? -- ambiguous.
Did John the Baptist ever get baptized?
This is NOT recorded in the Bible.
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." (Malachi 3:1)
John's baptism is in succession. The chain of authority was NEVER broken.
The churches are the same way.
Succession is important.
What church did you baptize them into?
World Baptist
Bible Baptist Fellowship
Dr. Rod Bell, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA
How do you combat baby baptizers?
Acts 8
Were ALL the apostles baptized by John [again]?
"(21)Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22)Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection." (Acts 1:21-22)They had to have John's baptism.
John's baptism is simply baptism like John's.
We have the Lord's promise that the local church will NOT fail.
We have the true faith, BUT we NEED to be gracious about this.
John the Baptist is a friend of the Bride and Groom.
Do preach on the Baptist Bride of Christ. It helps keep members faithful.
1. Faithful to Christ
2. Faithful to His (Christ's) Church
3. Faithful to His Word"(1)Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. (2)For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (II Corinthians 11:1,2)"chaste virgin"
Christ is NOT going to be married to an unfaithful, ecumenical bride.
Spiritual adultery, spiritual fornification.
"(22)But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (23)To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect," (Hebrews 12:22,23)."general assembly" in Heaven --> 'paneguris' --> includes ALL believers except those in the "church of the firstborn"
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{pan-ay'-goo-ris}
AV - general assembly (1)1) a festal gathering of the whole people to celebrate public games or other solemnities
2) a public festal assembly
----------------------------"church of the firstborn" --> ekklesia --> the assembly --> the Bride
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{ek-klay-see'-ah}AV - church (112) - assembly (3) [115]I) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly 1) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating 2) the assembly of the Israelites 3) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously 4) in a Christian sense 4a) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting 4b) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake; those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body; the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven.
"(7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8)And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9)And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:7-9)The Lamb's wife.
C.I. Scofield, a plagerist and a Protestant
"they which are called"--NOT everyone is going to be invited
Matthew 25--bride reference
Doctrine for rewards.
"(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20)Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (21)Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (22)Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (23)For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (24)Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (25)Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26)That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27)That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (28)So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (29)For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (30)For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (31)For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (32)This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (33)Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5:19-33)Verse 32: the key verse (bride).
Old Testament type
Great book on the Bride of Christ: M.V. Hall's The Song Of Solomon
Groom coming in the air; one sees the bride waiting for him.
John the Baptist did NOT fully comprehend the kingdom.
Emminent rapture keeps us busy and faithful.
Was John the Baptist trying to find out who Jesus Christ was when he was in prison?
Yes, John was. He probably wanted to make sure he was giving his life up for the right cause.
We NEED to understand that this was on the other side of Calvary.
How many people were there at the baptism of Jesus?
The Bible does NOT specifically spell it out.
He MAY have been ALONE.
John's baptism of Jesus References:
"(13)Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (14)But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (15)And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (16)And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (17)And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17) "(9)And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. (10)And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: (11)And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11) "(21)Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (23)And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli," (Luke 3:21,23) "(32)And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (33)And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." (John 1:32-33)Jesus walked some 60 miles to be baptized.
How many people were there out in the desert with John the Baptist?
"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Matthew 3:7).
Quite a bunch of Sadducees (couple hundred?) and Pharisees (300?).
"(32)And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (33)And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (34)And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-34)"John bare record"
The religious guys felt threatened by John's baptism. They were trying to find answers; they knew Old Testament Scriptures.
Since John's baptism was good enough for Jesus it is good enough for me.
Jesus had to have scriptural baptism before the start of His ministry.
Was there baptism before John's time?
Good reason to believe so.
Devil is clever and is a copier.
False raptures.
"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:5)
The rapture today is being just about totally discredited.
Vulgar talk.
Al Lacy's books will NOT last, because he uses today's venacular ONLY.
Treat everybody like ladies & gentlemen.
Do NOT build your ministry on emotionalism and sensationalism. It does NOT build a church.
Is I John 5:6 a reference to baptism?
"(6)This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (7)For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (8)And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." (I John 5:6-8)Their is great confusion as to what is being said in I John 5.
Verse 8 is supposed to be there.
Is the baptism with fire a picture of judgment?
Yes.
A. The Baptism of Jesus Christ.
This is the beginning of the local church.
"(13)Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." (Matthew 3:13,15)Why was Jesus immersed?
Verse 15: "to fulfill all righteousness."
Dr. S.E. Anderson's books: 'The First Baptist' & The First Baptism
What is meant by righteousness?
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (I John 3:7)
What is the context of righteousness?
Man's disobedience, sin reigning.
Baptism is a righteous thing.
"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:21)
"(1)What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2)God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (3)Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4)Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:1-4)What is the context?
Salvation in Jesus Christ and living for Him.
To fulfill ALL righteousness in baptism is to tell the world: 'I am saved. I am going to live a new life for Jesus Christ.'
Baptism preaches.
"(13)Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (16)Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:13,16).Anyone that does NOT get baptized will never fulfill ALL righteousness.
We need scriptural baptism to be in the perfect will of God.
God does NOT call unscripturally baptized to preach.
Symbolism in Baptism
"(18)For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (19)By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (20)Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (21)The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" (I Peter 3:18-21).Your getting baptized into a New Testament church is following His example which we need to to.
"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21)
You glorify God by getting immersed and serving Him in the New Testament church.
"But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" (Luke 12:50)
Baptism of service; the baptism of the life.
Baptism nails you to the church door.
- figure (symbol)
- indicates obedience
- We honor Christ in baptism.
- We profess our faith in baptism.
- ONLY way to get into a church is by baptism.
- You do not baptize them and then vote them into the local church.B. Whose baptism is a valid baptism?
The battleground of the ages rages over baptism.
The dividing line is baptism.
In the 1st century, a Constantine (NOT the Constantine) sprinkled water on a sick person in bed. This then started infant baptism.
"(23)And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? (24)And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. (25)The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? (26)But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet." (Matthew 21:23-26)Authority was going through their minds, the religious crowd.
Immersion of the right person (saved) under the right church (authority) for the right reason.
Roman Catholic Church's (RCC) baptism has NO authority from God; they have sprinkling.
Protestant baptism authority came from the RCC.
Martin Luther was thrown out of the RCC. However, he never repudiated his RCC baptism.
We are following Christ.
True Baptists follow Jesus Christ.
We follow Jesus Christ's example.
Who has the authority to administer scriptural baptism?
The authority of the scriptural church.
"(16)Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (17)And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. (18)And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:16-18)The local church calls a Pastor to do the duties.
Men go haywire.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19).
Who is the "ye"?
The local church.
Teach--'paideuo' - instruction
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{pahee-dyoo'-o}AV - chasten (6?) - chastise (2?) - learn (2?) - teach (2?) - instruct (1?) [13?] 1) to train children; to be instructed or taught or learn; to cause one to learn 2) to chastise 2a) to chastise or castigate with words, to correct: of those who are moulding the character of others by reproof and admonition 2b) of God, to chasten by the affliction of evils and calamities 2c) to chastise with blows, to scourge: of a father punishing his son; of a judge ordering one to be scourged
gelestes? - evangelize
The word Protestant comes from those protestors.
Sir Isaac Newton quote: 'Baptists are not protestants. They are the only people that never symbolized with Rome.'
Where are you going to get baptism?
From a scriptural Baptist church.
An administrator is the authority.
John baptized EVERY member.
C. When did Jesus build His FIRST church?
The local church - a group of baptized believers.
The Beginning
Scriptural proofs of Jesus building the local Church before Pentecost:
Jesus said He would build it Himself.
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
1. The FIRST Church was already in existence when the Holy Spirit came down during a prayer meeting and filled the local church.
"(1)And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2)And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3)And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4)And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)The Holy Spirit did NOT finish the building of the local Church on Pentecost.
2. The apostles were in the local Church before Pentecost.
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Corinthians 12:28)
"first apostles"
"(33)And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (34)And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (35)Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; (36)And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (37)And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (38)Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (39)He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (40)One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. (41)He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (42)And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (43)The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. (44)Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. (45)Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (46)And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (47)Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (48)Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (49)Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (50)Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. (51)And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1:33-51)3. Jesus taught them and trained them before Pentecost.
"(1)And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: (2)And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, (3)Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:1-3+)The Beattitudes--The Sermon of the Mount given ONLY to the disciples.
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27)
4. Jesus had ordained disciples before Pentecost.
"(13)And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. (14)And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, (15)And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: (16)And Simon he surnamed Peter; (17)And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:" (Mark 3:13-17).5. They had the Great Commission before Pentecost.
"(19)Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20)Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20)6. They had baptism and the authority to baptize before Pentecost.
"(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)" (John 4:2).
"(23)And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? (27)And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." (Matthew 21:23,27)7. They had the Lord's Supper before Pentecost.
Jesus installed Lord's Supper.
"(26)And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (27)And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (29)But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (30)And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." (Matthew 26:26-30)8. They had Church discipline before Pentecost.
"(15)Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16)But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17)And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." (Matthew 18:15-17)If the disciples had a argument then where would they go?
9. They had a Church membership role with 120 members before Pentecost.
"And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, ...." (Acts 1:15-16).Whose membership role was this?
10. They had a Church treasurer before Pentecost.
"For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor." (John 13:29)
Judas Iscariot
11. They held an Church election before Pentecost.
They an election for Church officers.
"(16)Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. (17)For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. (18)Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. (19)And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. (20)For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (21)Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22)Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. (23)And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (24)And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, (25)That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (26)And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." (Acts 1:16-26)The word "lot" in Textus Receptus means 'vote'.
They did NOT roll a dice.
12. They met together MANY times before Pentecost: for prayer, for preaching and for teaching.
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;" (John 14:16).
"(26)But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (27)And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." (John 15:26,27)"Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases." (Luke 9:1)
"(19)Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (20)And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. (21)Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (22)And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (23)Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20:19-23) "(1)The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (2)Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: (3)To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (4)And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me." (Acts 1:1-4)Interesting:
"(1)And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2)And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3)And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4)And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)The local Church was assembled in one place on the day of Pentecost.
13. They were sent forth as missionaries before Pentecost.
"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matthew 10:1)
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities." (Matthew 11:1)
Go forth and preach.
14. They (the local Church) had a teaching ministry before Pentecost.
"(18)And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. (19)And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (20)And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. (21)And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. (22)And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. (23)And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." (Acts 4:18-23)Verse 23
15. They sang in the midst of the local Church before Pentecost.
"And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." (Matthew 26:30)
"Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." (Hebrews 2:12)
16. They had the same Head of the local Church that we have today before Pentecost.
"And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church," (Ephesians 1:22).
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
(70+12 = 82 preachers before Pentecost)
ekklesia <-- ek-kaleo (to call out) - 115 times in New Testament
'Universal church' ('basileia') --> Kingdom (came from Roman Catholics)
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{bas-il-i'-ah}AV - kingdom (of God) (71)? - kingdom (of heaven) (32?) - kingdom (general or evil) (20?) - (Thy or Thine) kingdom (6?) - His kingdom (6?) - the kingdom (5?) - (My) kingdom (4?) - misc (18?) [162?] 1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule; not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom 2) a kingdom or territory 3) used in the N.T. to refer to the rule of the Messiah
'Universal Visible church' Roman Catholic Church
'Universal Invisible church' (Martin Luther) - includes all churchesThe local Church (house) of God (Jesus' Church--an assembly or congregation of baptized believers in some given locality)
The Family of God (ALL children of God of All ages, whether in Heaven or on earth)
The Kingdom of God (ALL the saved on the earth at any given time)
Pentecostals -->
"(19)Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
(20)And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
(21)Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
(22)And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" (John 20:19-22)."(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:39)
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
"(5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
(9)But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:5,9)(Arthur W. Pink [CB], Dr. S.E. Anderson)