by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
The church existed as a PLAN in the mind of God before the Earth was created. “Even as
he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish
before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1:4-5). These words were written
by the inspired apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus. Notice Paul says God chose “us” [the church]
in Christ “before the foundation of the world.” That is, before the world was built or created, before
its foundations were laid, God had already planned for the church to be ultimately saved in Jesus
Christ. Further, oh, Christ describes his church, or kingdom, as having been prepared before the
world began: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” (Matthew 25:34).
The church existed in PROMISE once there was a need for man to know of God’s plan for
redemption. When Adam and Eve sinned by partaking of that fruit which was forbidden to them
by God, (Genesis 2:16-17), there was a need for forgiveness. It was not long before Adam and Eve
knew they had need of forgiveness, and God accordingly made a reassuring promise to them. To
Satan He said, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her
seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel,” (Genesis 3:15). This promise
envisioned a time in which Jesus Christ (the seed of the woman) would deliver a fatal, crushing
blow to the head of Satan. This was accomplished in the Lord’s establishment of the church.
The Lord’s church existed in PROPHECY as His inspired prophets revealed numerous
profound details about the coming of the kingdom during the days of the Old Testament. Among
these is Joel’s prophecy, quoted at length by the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost, as being
fulfilled before them: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your
young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will
I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and
pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great
and terrible day of Jehovah cometh. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the
name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that
escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call,” (Joel 2:28-
32). There are also many other Old Testament prophecies which foretold the coming of God’s
kingdom, the church, (e.g. Isaiah 2).
The church came with POWER on the day of Pentecost 50 days after the resurrection of
Jesus Christ. Jesus himself had predicted that there would be some present at the transfiguration,
who would not die until they saw the kingdom come “with power,” (Mark 9:1), and that such
power would come when the Holy Spirit came upon them, (Acts 1:8). The fulfillment of those
predictions is clearly described by Luke in Acts 2:1-4, which depicts the scenes on Pentecost.
As the New Testament books were written down by the inspired writers (1 Corinthians 2:6-
16), the gospel as God’s power to save was being fully revealed, (Romans 1:16). The gospel was
preached throughout the world, (Matthew 24:14; Colossians 1:23), and thus the church came in
PERFECTION or completeness. Every essential aspect of the church was made known by God,
including its work and worship, and its final destiny. “Seeing that his divine power hath granted
unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us
by his own glory and virtue,” (2 Peter 1:3).
There is no greater endeavor in life than to be absolutely certain we are active and dedicated
members of the kingdom of God, the church. It has come in God’s planning, promise, prophecy,
power, and perfection. The question is, are we faithful members thereof?
