BORN IN A SHOUT!
The church was born with a shout. Men looked on with amazement as they beheld the 120 who were the first to be filled with the Holy Ghost and added to the church, acting as though they had been made drunk on wine. The power of this great transformation which had changed the lives of the 120, soon affected others until before the day of Pentecost was over 3,000 were also filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Those who had received it while visiting Jerusalem during this feast time carried the message back home. The church at Jerusalem soon began to branch out, thus fulfilling the command of the Lord to be witnesses “in Jerusalem and Judea, and Samaria, and to the utmost part of the world.” Soon the country around Jerusalem was feeling the effect of this message of Jesus Christ. Samaria heard it at the mouth of Philip. The Gentiles soon heard it at the mouth of the man whom the Lord had given the keys to — Peter. Saul the persecutor became Paul the Missionary as he carried this great truth throughout many countries converting and establishing churches wherever he went. This man suffered much for the message that he once hated and fought. But in all his sufferings he became the greatest converter of souls and established more churches and wrote more epistles than any other first century minister.
The aged apostle John while banned to the Isle of Patmos saw by vision the ages through which the church would pass before it would finish its course and be called home (Revelation 2 and 3). The Church thus born at the Jewish feast called Pentecost was destined to go through many trying times before coming out victorious. The beloved apostle Paul wrote “we must through much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22).
As the Church grew older there were those who came — as the apostles warned — in sheep’s clothing who sought to lead the saints astray. Paul wrote, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.” John wrote, “even now are there many antichrists.” Jude writing his short epistle takes time to warn, “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Then after the death of the apostles and those who were personally taught and influenced by these great men little by little false doctrines began to creep in.
Sometime during the second century men began to forsake the teachings of the apostles and present their own theories and opinions on spiritual matters.
It has been said someone presented the idea around the middle of the century that the Spirit was separate from the Father. Tertulian has been reported to mention a trinity around the latter part.
The questions of the Godhead and the role that Jesus played in it became such an argument among the religious world that Constantine called a special assembly to settle the issue. The conference, which convened at Nicaea, concluded by forming the Nicene Creed, which would later accept the idea of a trinity — something, that no New Testament writer or minister ever advocated nor even spoke of!
Constantine and the Church of Rome began to gain full control of the religious world. Constantine wedded church and state with himself at the head. The adoption of the trinity could influence the thousands of pagans who had worshipped a three headed trinity since the days of Nimrod into joining this religion, and this they did. But the trinity was not all they brought into the religious circle with them; they also brought many other pagan customs that were accepted by Rome.
The dark days for the true Church set in with the church of Rome persecuting and killing all who would not accept her doctrine of the trinity. Many who were not converted to Rome were (if found) killed. This drove many of the saints in those days into the caves and forests for refuge and a place to worship God in truth.
The year 1517 presented a change in the religious world as Martin Luther nailed his thesis against Rome and her message to the church door in Germany. Thus, began the reformation. But Luther — like many of those who were to follow in leaving the Church of Rome in later years — was so indoctrinated by her spirit and message he failed to study seriously Rome’s doctrine of the trinity. Thus, he formed his church on the same foundation. His followers based their religion upon three creeds: The Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed and The Athanasian Creed.
Around 1609 John Smythe formed a religious system based on the idea that once one has joined the church, he can never be lost regardless of how he lives afterwards.
Around 1809 Alexander Campbell founded a religious system upon the doctrine that the gifts and manifestations of the spirit as revealed in the first century were no longer given. No one could receive the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues as the evidence. No one could be healed.
Many others, which are too numerous to mention here, broke off because of some difference of opinion and formed their own religious system. Until today there are hundreds of various religious systems in the world each teaching a different doctrine and claiming to be the church.
The true Church though has come through the many conflicts that have been hurled at it through the years with victory. The true Church can still be found in the land today proclaiming the same message that was proclaimed by the apostles and early first century ministers. Scattered throughout the world you can find them gathered singing the songs about the blood of the Lamb, testifying to healing of sickness and disease, rejoicing over being filled with the Holy Ghost. Their ministers still preaching that one must repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues. And hundreds and thousands receive this same glorious experience every year.
Soon the Trump of God shall sound, and the Church shall be welcomed home to be with Her Lord.
