Quote (Kisssofdeath @ Mar 9 2011 11:41pm)
What is the name of your non-denominational church? Why do you insist on calling the church of Christ a denomination? It is not the International Church of Christ. Also, who give you authority over what anyone says in this forum? NO ONE! Your heart is hardened, best thing you can do is to discontinue reading my post or replies.
In the denominational world one would get all kinds of different dates as to when "their" church was established, "when was yours established bryce"?. But we need only to be concerned with one church - the church that Jesus built! Therefore, let us take a look at when the church of Christwas established. To find out everything we need to know about Christ's church we can go straight to the inspired Bible as our only source.
Jesus Stated that His Church Would Be Built
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus clearly stated to Peter: "upon this rock I will build my church..." When Jesus stated this, His church had not yet been built because He said "I will build" not "I have built". So we know that it was His church that was to be built at some future time as stated by Jesus Himself.
It was something like eighteen months after Jesus ordained the twelve apostles (Matt 10), and sent them forth to preach that the Lord said: "I will build my church." These two facts are very clear:
1. The church was not built at the time he made the statement, and
2. He promised to build the church.
In A.D. 32 is when Jesus said "I will build my church" and His church was realized in A.D. 33 on the day of Pentecost when people were "added to the church." It was then that Jesus' church had been built and the "Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47).
Paul References that the Church Is Built
In the writings of the apostle Paul we can see clearly that the church of Christ had been built. In Ephesians 2:20 he says: "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Paul's reference to "are built" occurred after Pentecost when the Lord's church was established.
For one to be in the church that Jesus built it has to rest on His foundation - not man's! Paul stated: "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 3:11). To lay a foundation is the first work in the erection of a building. What did Paul do first when he went to Corinth? He laid down the foundation of Jesus. He told them: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:3-4). Before one can build upon the word of God the foundation must first be laid. This basic foundation was also laid down at Pentecost when the Lord's church was established (Acts 2).
The church of Christ was built after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This church of Christ does exist today. I used the words "modern day" to to represent this time period. The church of Christ I am a member of "in this modern day" is the same as the one established on the day of Pentecost. At this point I could really care less bryce, what you believe or think!
amen