Jesus
came into the world to redeem humanity (Phil. 2:5). Jesus emptied (kenosis) and
humbled (nekrosis) himself carrying the cross. Therefore, God also glorified
him and exalted him highly (Theosis).
Jesus
only had a ministry for three and a half years. He took 12 disciples and
trained them. They became the nucleus, the centre of the early Church. Matt. 16:18 said, “I will build my Church and
the gates of hell shall not prevail over it.”
It
was Jesus’ plan to build his Church. It is the ministry of Jesus. But Jesus
never formed any organization, no officials of the Church, no liturgy. But
Jesus gave the Church:
1.
He
gave himself, his very own life. He communicated his life, his purpose.
2.
He
prepared a group of people to carry on the work that he started.
3.
He
left two simple rites/examples: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
4.
He
promised the Holy Spirit to indwell in them, to guide them, to council them, to
empower them.
Jesus
started the Church, but he did not organize the Church.
The beginning of the Apostolic
Church
The
active life of the Church started on the day of the Pentecost (Acts 2). The
Holy Spirit came upon them. 3000 people were baptized on that day.
It
was from this day that the Church started marching forward. Acts 2:41-47
describes the nature of the apostolic church. They met regularly, shared common
life, listened to the apostles and prayed together. There was a sense of awe and fear everywhere:
signs and wonders occurred, they were united and day by day, the Lord added
people to the Church.
The geographical expansion of the
1st century Church
The
geographical expansion was based on Acts 1:8. Within the first century of the
birth of Christianity, almost a good percentage of the Roman Empire expressed
their allegiance TO THIS NEW FAITH. Christianity could be found all over the
empire within the first five centuries. But it all began in Jerusalem. The book
of Acts made it very clear that the spread of Christianity was from Jerusalem.
Up to chapter 9, the main figure is Peter. From Chapter 13, Paul became the
main figure. The first group of apostles (120) were in Jerusalem, waiting.
Then, they grew and multiplied. This continued and in Acts 8, we see the
dispersion because of persecution in Jerusalem. They began to move to Judaea,
Samaria.
Acts
8 – Persecution – All, except the apostles, were scattered to Judaea, Samaria.
Those scattered preached the gospel. First, the Church expanded in the context
of persecution and second, expanded because of miracles.
Church
History is the origin, progress and the impact of Christianity upon Roman
society based on organized data gathered through scientific method from
documentary, archaeological or living sources.
Thou
art Petros (a piece of Rock)
Upon
this Petra (a bed of rock)
The
Church is not built on Peter
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