Volume 1 Lawrence, Kansas October 1961 Number 10
The word "church" is translated from the Greek word "ekklesia." Literally, the word means "called-out or the "called-out ones." It often referred to an assembly of people, either legal or illegal, peaceful or riotous. In relation to the spiritual body of Christ in the New Testament, it refers to those that by acceptance of Christ as the Messiah and Redeemer were called out of Judaism and out of the Gentile people. They are the called out of sin, to serve the sinless Christ.
In previous articles it has been shown that God planned this and had the prophets to write of it. Unless we are able to prove definitely that these scriptures were fulfilled in the New Testament account of the church, we have a failure of the prophetic word or the New Testament is not true.
The second chapter of Acts is the fertile soil of the fulfillment of prophesies of the church. It is not the only place to read of fulfillment, but has the completion of many prophecies.
Jesus prophesied, Matthew 16:13-19, that the church would be built upon himself as the rock or foundation. Jesus was preached in clear and certain terms to the people as recorded in Acts 2. Paul showed clearly that the church at Ephesus was thus built: "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."—Ephesians 2:20. There are many additional passages in the New Testament that show definitely that the church was established according to prophecy.
Ephesians 1:22-23 informs us that the church is the body of Christ and Ephesians 4:4 states that there is "one body." This being true, we should have only one church today. There should be and are, many congregations of this one church. The apostle Peter, I Peter 1:23, states that the word of God is the seed of the kingdom. Thus any time that people accept this seed into their lives, to bring about compliance to it, and are united together, we have a congregation of the church.
In the world today there are congregations that believe in the one church and are endeavoring to perpetuate, through the preaching of God's word, this oneness and unity. Many of the readers of this paper are receiving copies through the action of an individual or a congregation of the church of Christ in their area. We, of the churches of Christ, believe that we must be united in one body. We are not desirous of forming a new or additional group in religion, but to return again and enlarge the teaching of the New Testament church in this present time.
Daniel 2. This chapter states that the church (kingdom) must be established during the days of the kingdoms seen in the vision of Nebuchadnezzar. The last of these kingdoms was the Roman and the date A. D. 33, the time of the events of Acts 2, is the time of the Roman kingdom.
Isaiah 2:2-3, read these verses and then Acts 2. Note the following:
Isaiah 2:2, "last days," Acts 2:17.
These are four points of ten or eleven that may be found in Isaiah 2:2-3 that are fulfilled in Acts 2.
Isaiah 2:2 "Lord's house," Acts 2:47 (they were added to the church and I Timothy 3:15 uses church as equivalent to the Lord's house).
Isaiah 2:2 "All nations," Acts 2:5 "every nation."
Isaiah 2:3 "Word of the Lord from Jerusalem," Acts 2:14-40, Peter's sermon.