WHICH CAME FIRST: THE CHURCH OR THE GOSPEL?

THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH!

The Greek word translated "church" in the New Testament is ekklesia, which means "a called out assembly."  It is translated "church" 115 times and "assembly" 3 times in the King James Version.  Those using ekklesia in their contribution to God's Word were:  Matthew (2x); Luke (24x in Acts); Paul (67x); the writer of Hebrews (2x); James (1x); and John (22x in 3 John and Revelation).

Ten days after the Lord's Ascension, which occurred forty days after His Resurrection (Acts 1:3), His followers were assembled together on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1).  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).  Peter preached the Gospel (Acts 2:14-40) and we are told that 3000 souls believed, were baptized, and were added to their number (Acts 1:41).  They continued to meet daily in the Temple, and to fellowship from house to house.  Luke then tells us that "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).  

Obviously, the Lord cannot add numbers to a group that does not already exist.  I say this because there are many false teachers today, who say the church was not created until the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul, who was chosen by God to be the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Romans 11:13; Galatians 2:7).  That is strange because Jesus Himself said that Peter would be the one to determine who would be considered acceptable to belong to His church.  

Matthew 16:18-19 - And I say also unto you, that you are Peter [Greek masculine proper noun Petros - meaning a small piece of rock], and upon this rock [Greek feminine noun petra - meaning a large stone, a boulder] I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven:  and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:  and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The fulfillment of Christ's prophecy can be found in the acceptance of Jews (Acts 2:14), Samaritans (Acts 8:14-25), and Gentile (Acts 10:9-47) believers, all of which were recognized by Peter as being part of the Lord's church.  Jesus, just before His Ascension, told the disciples they would be witnesses to those dwelling in Jerusalem and Judaea, in Samaria, and in the rest of the world (Acts 1:8).  In each case, the Gospel, the rock upon which Christ is building His church, was preached and the Holy Spirit filled the new believers (Acts 2:4; 8:17; 10:47)!

THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL!

Recently, one young "Bible teacher" said that without Paul's writings, there would be no mention of the Rapture of the church, and that the means of salvation was not revealed until Paul presented the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.  Clearly the Rapture is revealed in:

John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled:  you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

And, the Gospel is mentioned in Matthew (4x); Mark (8x), and Acts (2x).  Because the word "kingdom" is connected with the word "Gospel," he and others suggest that there is more than one Gospel.  The Apostle Paul states that there is only one:

Galatians 1:6-9 - I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel:  which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Romans 1:16 - (The Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (non-Jew).

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved . . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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.

Ironically, Mark's Gospel begins with these words:  The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God....  The Gospel of the Kingdom, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the same Gospel; He is both KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)!

Paul himself wrote:

2 Timothy 3:16 - ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness....

And Luke wrote:

Acts 17:10-11 - And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

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