Question: When did the Church of Christ begin?
Answer: The church of Jesus Christ began on the day of Pentecost, approximately seven weeks
after the crucifixion of Christ, in about A.D. 33.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus often spoke of the coming kingdom, his church. “…upon
this rock I will build my church,” (Mt. 16:18). He promised that some of them who were living at
that time would not die until the kingdom came. “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you,
There are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the
kingdom of God come with power,” (Mark 9:1).
Notice that Jesus spoke of the coming of the church (or kingdom) in the future tense. The
kingdom of heaven was “at hand” or near, but had not yet been established. When Jesus died on
the cross, his work was completed. He cried, “It is finished!” He taught his disciples to pray for
the kingdom (church) to come (Mt. 6:10), because it had not yet come. But it came shortly
thereafter!
The kingdom was to come “with power” but in Acts 1:8 we learn that the “power” would
come when the Holy Spirit came, “But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon
you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.” This promise to the apostles was fulfilled a few days later, on the day
of Pentecost: “And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled
all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like
as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” (Acts 2:1-4).
The kingdom would come with “power.” The “power would come when the Holy Spirit
came. And the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. Therefore, the kingdom came on the day
of Pentecost. For this reason, Christians understand that it would not be proper to keep praying
for the kingdom to “come” since it has already come. It is here. The Lord’s church! Here is the
realm of Christ’s kingdom today. He is ruling and reigning in the hearts and lives of the members
of his church.
The church of Christ began some 2,000 years ago! It was built by Christ himself, and the
gates of Hades can never prevail against it! Its members will continue serving the Lord in the way
He has authorized until He returns and takes them home.
Bible Questions and Answers
