A Scripture for Today, September 27th, 2021

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42

Salvation Before Water Baptism by D.N. Jackson

Hello everyone. Today I would like to share with you something by D.N. Jackson. D.N. Jackson was an old Baptist pastor born in the 1800’s and living up to 1968. Even though living so far apart in time, I really enjoy his plain teachings from the Bible and find them easy to understand. I also find them very helpful. A few years ago my Dad digitized many of Bro. Jackson’s radio shows from the Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Texas’ library archive.

This transcript is part one of a series D.N. Jackson did on Baptism.

Salvation Before Water Baptism Pt 1. Transcript.

You are tuned again to the Baptist Broadcast. Tonight we begin with a brief series of messages on Acts 2:38, or “salvation before water baptism”.

We ask you to follow us with an open Bible and an open mind.

Spoken by the Apostle Peter on the first day of Pentecost after the resurrection of our Lord, Acts 2:38 says, “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.” This verse lifted out of its proper setting, especially by controversialists, have been twisted and tortured to keep that water baptism is essential to the penitent believer’s salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth as we shall show as we present this message.

In the first place our conclusion is based upon some general facts with regard to the theory of baptismal regeneration. Before analyzing the verse in light of the scriptures themselves, let us consider it from the standpoint of historical and logical facts. Then we will follow this with an explanation of passages of the scripture that may have to do with the statement of salvation and baptism. And we will show you by the Scriptures that baptism is not a condition of salvation, that we’re saved by grace through faith and that is before water baptism.

But there are some historical facts that we want to consider. First of all we have the testimony of Josephus. And here is a quotation from Josephus : “Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s Army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called a Baptist; for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteous towards one another, and piety towards God, and so come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away of [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness.” This quotation is taken from the Antiquities of the Jews, book 18, chapter 5, section 2, of the works of Josephus.

Josephus, born AD 37, only four years after the crucifixion of Christ, and died near the close of the first century was a Jewish historian of note. Living in the days of the Apostles, being a contemporary of the Apostle Peter, who preached at Pentecost, Josephus’ testimony should be respected!

Now what did Josephus say with regard to the plan of salvation as preached by John the Baptist whose ministry gave way to that of Christ Himself? He says plainly that water baptism as administered by John was not for the purpose of obtaining the remission of sins, supposing and I quote: “that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness”. This is the Scriptural way: Remission of sins and purification of the soul before water baptism! A testimony of Josephus who lived during the days of Peter and other Apostles.

In the second place we have the testimony of Tertullian, born about AD 160. And I quote, “We are not washed that we may cease to sin, but because we have ceased since we have already been bathed in heart.” Tertullian who had been converted from Paganism to the Christian faith, spoke out against the encroaching doctrinal corruptions of his day living as he did within some sixty years after the death of John the last Apostle of our Lord. The death of Tertullian came about 250 which was only a few years after the heresy of baptismal regeneration had become prevalent. But by the middle of the end of that century, the third, this heresy had become quite generally accepted and taught so it was embraced by some of the writers of this period. But note that Tertullian who lived before the theory of baptismal regeneration had become quite prevalent, testified that men were not washed or baptized that they might cease from sin, but because they had already ceased.

Third, Waddington, well known Episcopal historian, whose testimony shows that about the commencement of the third century baptismal regeneration began to be generally taught. And I quote him now, “The original simplicity of the office of baptism had already undergone some corruption. The symbol had been gradually exalted at the expense of the thing signified, and the spirit of the ceremony was beginning to be lost in its form. Hence a belief was gaining ground among the converts and was inculcated among the heathen, that the act of baptism gave remission of all sins committed previously to it. It was not fit then that so important a rite should be hastily preformed or inconsiderately received.“ From his church history page 53.

According to Waddington the office of baptism had undergone corruption, the symbol of baptism had become emphasized above the spirit of the thing symbolized by it. This is exactly what happens when one preaches that baptism is in order to obtain salvation which is a corruption of the design of baptism as instituted by divine authority. Therefore we learn from authentic history that the theory of baptismal regeneration, that is a person is regenerated or saved in the act of water baptism, was not preached in apostolic days, but it arose about a hundred years after the death of the last apostle. For this reason we know that it is a doctrine of man, and certainly not of God.

In the fourth place we have a quotation from Mr. Alexander Campbell, who had connection with the origin of the disciples’ church. And Mr. Campbell said in his debate with Mr. Rice in 1843, “Some twenty years ago when preparing for a debate with Mr. McCullough, I put myself under the special instruction of four evangelists and one pull of distinguished apostolic rank and dignity. I had for some time before that discussion been often impressed with such passages as Acts 2 and 38. And that providential call to discuss the subject with Mr. McCullough, compelled me to decide the matter to my entire satisfaction. Believe me sir, then I’d forgotten my earlier readings upon the subject and upon the simple testimony of the book itself. I came to the conclusion alleged in that debate, and proved only by the Bible which now appears from a thousand sources to outbend the Catholic and truly ancient in primitive faith of the whole Church. It was in this common wealth that this doctrine was first promulled in modern times, and sir, it is now spread over this continent, and with singular success it is now returning to Europe, and the land of our fathers.” Quoted from Campbell-Rice Debate page 472.

Mr. Campbell boldly affirms that it was in the state of Kentucky in the year of 1828 that the plan of salvation requiring baptism in order to be saved was first preached in modern times. It was preached by Mr. Campbell, not the Lord or His apostles. It was preached in Kentucky, in the United States of America, not in Palestine. This theory originating in course about the beginning of third century was adopted by the Roman’s Church which put millions of people to death for not believing it during the Dark Ages. And in 1823 it was picked up by Mr. Campbell in America who made a strenuous effort to inject it into the Baptist Churches of his day, and for which untruth, for which heresy, he was expelled from the Baptist fold. 931

So we are pointing out to you the historical background. Not with rancor of course, but with respect to everybody. And the historical background shows us when this theory began. It was began by man after the apostolic days had closed. And in modern times it was picked up by others. And it has been preached the world over. What has been preached: that you must be baptized in order to be saved. But that’s not in the word of God. People who are saved should be baptized. Not in order to save their soul let me emphasize, but because your soul has been saved. Then symbolize your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by going down into the water as we read in Romans six and four, “[W]e 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.” We are buried with him.

Having shown conclusively that baptismal regeneration originated by human authority this side of apostolic days, we now give due consideration to an analysis of Acts 2:38. The passage in the Scriptures perhaps more frequently quoted to prove the theory of baptismal regeneration than any other verse. But logically speaking it does not prove this doctrine, for the reason that this theory was not believed much less preached in Peter’s day as we have shown by historical testimony. Let us now read Acts 2:38: “ 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.”

I wish that you would take your Bibles and turn to this passage in Acts 2:38, and then study it, and remember, as our time has come to a close tonight. We will pick up this passage in later messages, and we shall analyze it. But I want you to remember this: That the grace of God saves the man. In Ephesians two eight and ten “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works . . .” Notice the statement “unto good works”. It doesn’t say “by good works”, but “unto good works”. We are saved because we have trusted the Lord, and it is based upon the worthiness of Christ, and not upon the basis of the worthiness of any man that may feel that he has done certain works and therefore he deserves to be saved. Nobody deserves to be saved, but in the tender mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ, He looks down upon us and begs us to come to Him that we might be saved.

So then tune in again and we’ll take up Acts 2:38 and analyze and explain it. Not in the light of opinions of men, but in the light of the Scriptures themselves. Goodnight.

Using the Material: The Church Established and Preserved Pt. III

Hello Everyone! Here is the third part and conclusion of “The Church Established and Preserved” by Lifeword. God bless!

III. USING THE MATERIAL, Matthew 16:15-18.

1. Foundation. The church is founded upon one blessed truth concerning one divine person: the Christ, the Son of the living God! This is what Jesus taught in Matthew 16:15-18. Asking the disciples,“Whom say ye that I am?” He received the answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” His response was, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Not everyone agrees with this interpretation. Since the name “Peter” means “a little stone” some interpret the word “rock” to refer to Simon Peter. Doubtlessly Jesus is using a play on words. Peter is petros and rock is petra. But there is a great difference between the two.

Petros refers to “a little stone.” Petra refers to a huge layer of rock. It is something like the distinction between a gravel and a mountain of rock.

Again, observe the difference in spelling of these two words. The different endings indicate they are of different gender. According to the rules of Greek grammar, if “Peter” and “rock” were the same, they should have the same gender and so be spelled the same. The fact that this is not so indicates that they do not relate.

This is an important fact. It means the church does not depend upon any man, nor a priesthood, nor a professional clergy, but upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone as her foundation. And to this many other passages of Scripture give witness.

He is “the stone which was set at nought of your builders, which is become the head of the corner,” Acts 4:11. He is “the chief corner stone”of the church, Ephesians 2:20. As the chief corner stone which God has laid in Zion, He is elect and precious, I Peter 2:6. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” I Corinthians 3:11.

Jesus, alone, is the foundation of the church. And He, alone, is enough.

2. Building. Upon the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the church is built. It is made up of believers who are “living stones” built upon “the chief corner stone,” I Peter 2:5-6. All the churches are built upon the same foundation if they are true New Testament churches. And each church is “an holy temple in the Lord” for therein is the “habitation of God through the Spirit,” Ephesians 2:19-22. Therefore, since God dwells within the church (that is, the people who make up each church) it becomes a holy institution. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are,” I Corinthians 3:16-17.

This does not mean your church building is a shrine. It is a building like any other building in your community. It means each believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit. When believers are joined together to form a local congregation in the Lord their assembly, in a very special way, is the dwelling place of God. And it is the assembled congregation which is “an holy temple in the Lord” and must not be defiled. Yes, the church is holy. And you are the church!

3. Perpetuity. Concerning the church which Jesus instituted, He promised, “. . . the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” Matthew 16:18. By this He has guaranteed the perpetuity (continued existence) of the church.

The term “hades” refers to the unseen world, the abode of the dead. In this context it refers to the spiritual forces which oppose the way of righteousness. These are called “principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places,” Ephesians 6:12.

There is here acknowledge that the church will face severe testings by a fierce opponent. There may even be some suggestion that people may question whether the church will be able to endure. But Jesus settles all doubts. The church will last. She will not be overcome by her satanic opposition. The doors of obligation shall not close over her.

There are two ways of looking at this text. Some see it as the church in a defensive posture. Gathered up in her fortress with her battlements well defended, the church will not permit the forces of hades to overcome her.

But this is not the picture of the church which the Lord Jesus draws.

She is never to close her doors, draw in her defenses and hide herself behind walls. She is to go out to a hostile world. She is to expose herself in the proclamation of the gospel and the call of men to faith in Christ. So Jesus’ promise is that when the church goes out in her duty she will overcome and never be swallowed up in death. She has his promise that when she goes forth His presence is with her: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen,” Matthew 28:20.

Let any church refuse to obey the command of the Lord to go forth with His gospel, and she cannot claim His promise of perpetuity. Indeed, she has no reason for existence if she is not missionary and evangelistic. But the church which fulfills her missionary mission in the world can expect the special watchcare of the Lord over her. How is it with your church!

CONCLUSION—There is in the world an institution which we call the church. It came into being during the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. He took as His disciples a number of people who had been converted by the ministry of John the Baptist. These men were taught, trained, and made pillars upon whom the early Christian witness depended.

Jesus promised that the institution called the church would not pass away when He left and went back to heaven. Since the members were gathered around Him and their allegiance was to Him alone, one would have expected the church to be temporary. But not so. Jesus said that the “gates of hades” (the doors of death) would never close on the church He instituted.

Gathering the Material: The Church Established and Preserved Pt. 2

Hello everyone. Today I am sharing part two of three of the article published by Lifeword. God bless.

II. GATHERING THE MATERIAL, John 1:35-42.

1. Who? Jesus personally gathered those who formed His band of disciples. He invited two disciples of John to spend the day with Him and from henceforth they became His disciples, John 1:37-39. Through them He began gathering others, John 1:40-42. Peter was enlisted by Andrew who had been personally called by Jesus. Philip responded to Jesus’ call and brought his brother Nathanael with him. And so the movement grew.

These who formed the first church were gathered around the person of Jesus. John was commissioned to prepare a people for the Lord, but it was Jesus who brought the first church into existence. This is as we would expect.

Jesus is the Head of the church and is to have preeminence in her, Colossians 1:18. The church is His body and His fulness fills her, Ephesians 1:22-23. In her God is to be gloried through the Lord Jesus, Ephesians 3:21. The gathering of men to form such a holy institution would be left to none other but the Lord Himself.

2. When? It is evident that these disciples were gathered around Jesus near the beginning of His ministry. This means they were gathered at least three years before His death and resurrection. Hence, the church was instituted well before Pentecost. The church was instituted during the personal ministry of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and has been exercising her world-wide commission of missionary evangelism since then.

It is difficult to pin-point the exact spot when the church could be considered to have been instituted. Since the word “church” in the Greek language means “a gathered assembly,” and since the disciples were gathered over a period of time and space, it is almost impossible to say when the “gathered assembly” is considered to have been realized. Some feels it was when Jesus called the first disciples, John 1:35-51. Others feel it was not until all the disciples were called to one place and the office of apostle was set in the church, Mark 3:13-19. The exact spot is not of great importance. If it were, the Bible would have expressed it more positively. It is enough to know the church is the product of our Lord’s own hands.

3. How? The disciples were brought into the early church through a two-fold method. Some were gathered by a divine call. The Lord Jesus personally said to Philip, “Follow me,” John 1:43. To Peter and Andrew, James and John, He addressed a like call, “. . . Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” Matthew 4:18-22.

But other disciples were enlisted through the personal evangelistic efforts of those disciples whom Jesus called. They wanted their friends to know Jesus, too. So they went out and spoke to others about Him. They brought them, one by one, to Jesus and He did not reject a single one that His disciples brought.

This is the way the Lord intended the church to grow in our generation. We are under His command to “make disciples” wherever we go in the world. Personal testimony is one of the most effective means of winning men to Jesus. Our generation desperately needs a revival of personal evangelism.

It is not enough to build houses for worship and conduct services at stated times. Men are dead in sin; blind to spiritual things; enemies of God. Why should we expect them to seek out the church? Let the church go to them with the message of salvation and the Lord will bless the witness with converts. Try it and see. This is the way the early churches grew!

Preparing the Material: The Church Established and Preserved Pt. 1

The following is part of an article published by Lifeword. It is on the topic of the Church, and I wanted to share it with you today. God bless!

“And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” Matthew 16:18

The Church Established and Preserved

Lesson Aim: To study Articles 15 and 17 of our Doctrinal Statement.

L319. Date: November 1969. Text: Matthew 3:1-3; John 1:35, 42; Matthew16:15,18. Topic: Church: Beginning of; Perpetuity of; Doctrine: Studies In.

INTRODUCTION—We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ took material prepared by John the Baptist and established a visible, local church during His personal ministry upon the earth and that there is and will be a perpetuity of true churches from His days on earth until His second coming.

The discussion of this proposition concerns us in today’s lesson. It deals with two great themes. (1) Jesus set up the church as an institution during His personal ministry, before His death and resurrection, and hence before Pentecost. (2) There has been, is now, and will always be true churches in the world until He comes again. The former deals with the establishment of the church; the latter deals with the perpetuity (continuing without interruption) of the church.

Perpetuity of the church does not mean we can trace through history an unbroken chain of ordained pastors, nor an unbroken chain of baptisms, nor an unbroken chain of churches, nor an unbroken chain of congregations calling themselves “Baptists.”

Perpetuity means there has never been a time in history since the Lord Jesus instituted the church when there was no genuine church of the New Testament order in the earth. We trace the identity of the true churches through doctrine. Those major doctrines which identify them are: regenerated church membership, believer’s baptism, salvation by grace through faith, two church ordinances, democratic government, priesthood of believers, and a separated life.

We do not insist that any one congregation will last forever to prove our doctrine of perpetuity. We believe individual congregations may come and go, but there always has been, and always will be true churches in the world until Jesus comes.

The church is important. It was built by the Lord Jesus, Matthew 16:18.It was added to of the Lord God, Acts 2:47. In it God is to be glorified through the Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 3:21. It is engaged to Christ, II Corinthians 11:2. One day it will be presented to Him, Ephesians 5:25-27.

Today’s study should increase your esteem for your own church.

EXPOSITION

I. PREPARING THE MATERIAL, Matthew 3:1-3.

There is a long process between the resolve to build a house and occupying it as a finished edifice. Plans are drawn, materials are ordered, lumber is sawed, bricks are placed, wiring is laid, paint is applied, and so the building arises.

Just so, there was a process which transpired between God’s plan to build a church and the realization of it among men. A key man used of God in preparing the material is called John the Baptist.

1. Who? John was born to aged parents named Zecharias and Elizabeth. He was their only child. His birth was almost miraculous (though his conception was natural) because it came so late in life for them.

Luke 1 records the account. An angel appeared to Zecharias, a priest, as he ministered in the temple in Jerusalem. He announced the birth of the child, said it would be a boy, and commanded that he be named John. As a sign that it was so, Zecharias was struck mute until the birth of the child.

The baby, John, was to be “filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb,” Luke 1:15. (This statement is made of none other in the Bible.) He was to be “great in the sight of the Lord . . . and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God . . . and he shall go . . . in the spirit and power of Elijah . . . to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” Luke1:15-17.

And so it was that about A.D. 29 there appeared a strange preacher in Judaea. This was John the Baptist beginning the ministry which had been spoken of him before his birth. He was, in truth, “a man sent from God,” John 1:6. What happened to him between infancy and manhood is unknown. His parents doubtlessly died while he was still young. The Bible simply states, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel,” Luke 1:80.

It is very likely that John lived in some Essene community during those silent years. This is indicated by (1) simplicity of dress, (2) severe message against sin, (3) call to repentance, (4) refusal to enter the cities, (5) knowledge of the Scripture. The Essenes were the most conservative and purest of the sects in Judaism. John would have been in good company among them.

2. How? John prepared material for the Lord to use by preaching a message of repentance. His ministry excited great interest among the people. Not only common folk, but even the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem took an interest in him and came to check up on him, John 1:19-28.

He was an unusual preacher. He was unusual in his dress (camel’s hair and a leather girdle). He was unusual in his place of preaching (in the wilderness of Judaea). He was unusual in his message (“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”). He was unusual in his claim to authority (“I am he of whom Isaiah spoke”).

From all over Palestine people came to hear his message of repentance and the soon coming of the Messiah. Scores of them truly repented of their sins, and were baptized of John in the Jordan River.

When Jesus began His ministry there was a group of people who were expecting the Messiah soon to appear and who had already sincerely repented of their sins in preparation of His coming. And thus did John “make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” Luke 1:17.

John preached and baptized. Whence came his authority to do so? From God! That’s all the authority he needed: he was “a man sent from God,” John1:6. But though John had authority to baptize, he did not pass this authority on to following generations after his death. Some who tried to continue it perverted it so that it was no longer Christian baptism, Acts 19: 1-7. Jesus authorized the continuance of baptism but John did not. See Matthew 28:19-20.

3. Why? The ministry of John the Baptist was needed. Men were then, as they have always been, sinful. For Jesus to begin His ministry in a proper way, some must be ready to receive him. John was sent to call men to repentance. Taking the little band of disciples from the converts John made, Jesus began His ministry.

John preached repentance. He demanded it of all. Even the religious leaders were called upon to repent the same as the public sinners. He would baptize no man without evidence of repentance, Matthew 3:2, 8, 11. Repentance means to change one’s attitude so that love for sin dies in the heart and by an act of the will one repudiates sin that he may know the Saviour. Such a change was necessary before sinners were ready for the Messiah to come.

Those who repented were baptized—immersed—in the Jordan River. This testified to the washing from sin which they had experienced inwardly (the baptism of repentance) and expressed their commitment to live like men raised up from death that they might welcome the Messiah.

When Jesus came on the scene, He received baptism at the hands of John. By this act He identified Himself with the sinners He came to save and testified (through burial and resurrection in water) by what manner atonement would be made. After His temptation, He began to gather His own disciples from the disciples of John. John identified Him to the crowd, “. . . Behold the Lamb of God,” John 1:36. Each of the original twelve disciples who became Apostles were converts of John the Baptist according to Acts 1:22. John did a good job preparing the material.

When was the Church started?

Why is it important to know when the Church was started? For one it helps us to see clearly who is the head and founder of the Church, and that is Christ Himself. It also helps us to understand other Bible doctrines.

This is a continuation of the previous articles on Baptism and the Church.

On Baptism I: Does Baptism save? (No!)

On Baptism II The Importance of Baptism

Who did Jesus build His Church on?

To Bear Witness of the Light: What is the Church?

Related: What are Sins of Omission?

Why is it important to know when the Church was started? For one it helps us to see clearly who is the head and founder of the Church, and that is Christ Himself as stated before. The Church was not started on Pentecost as is commonly reported. It was started by Christ its head while He was on this earth.

How do we know this?

Jesus said while on this earth, “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 18:17

I Corinthians 12:28 also tells us, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles . . .”

When did God set the Apostles in the Church? Jesus set them in the Church before Pentecost, and empowered them.

“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. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;” Matthew 10:1-2

“And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;” Luke 6:13 (See also Mk 3:13-19).

Hebrews 2:12 tells us that Jesus sang in the midst of the Church among his brethren.

“ Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”

When did He do this?

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” Matthew 26:30

The Church also was not started before Jesus was on this earth.

“[U]pon this rock I will build my church . . .” Matthew 16:18

Jesus said “I will build”. This meant it could not have existed before He came to this earth. If it did it wouldn’t be His Church! The word Church (both in English and in Greek) means an assembly or gathering. The Bible does use the word elsewhere for other assemblies. But there is only one Church the Lord Jesus started.

The Law and the Prophets ended with John the Baptist.

“ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” Mark 1:1-2

“The law and the prophets were until John . . .” Luke 16:16

Remember how in previous weeks we have read that God sent John to bear witness of that light.

The Gospels also tell us that John came “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Lk. 1.17). John was preparing people for the Lord Jesus, not for Pentecost!

John was preparing people for the Church Jesus would build.

The Church had a business meeting to replace Judas. We read when the 12^th apostle was chosen,

“Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 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

The man who would be the twelfth apostle must have been baptized by John. He must have also continued with the other apostles following Jesus. This was before Pentecost. This shows when the Church was started. It also shows that to be a Church member a person must be baptized. And they must continue following Jesus and the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42).

So we see that Jesus talked about His Church while on this earth. And His apostle’s also believed that He started His Church while he was on this earth.

“[U]pon this rock I will build my church . . .” Matthew 16:18

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:21