Isaiah and Micah predicted that the law should go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem ( Isaiah 2:1-3 ; Micah 4:1-3 );
Jeremiah predicted that the Lord would establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, that it should not be like unto the covenant that He made with their fathers when he brought them out of Egypt, that He would put His laws in their minds and write them in their hearts, that they would know the Lord and that their sins and iniquities should be remembered against them no more ( Jeremiah 31:31-34 ; Hebrews 8:7-13 );
and Daniel predicted that the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that should never be destroyed and that it should consume and break in pieces all other kingdoms, and stand forever ( Daniel 2:44 ).
The Beginning. In contemplating this subject, we should note the general drift of the Bible teaching prior to the death of Christ:
It was in the future when God made promises to Abraham ( Genesis 12:1-3 ), to Isaac ( Genesis 26:1-5 ; ( Genesis 28:10-14 ); it was in the future when Jacob prophesied of the coming of Shiloh ( Genesis 49:1Genesis 49:8-10 ; Hebrews 2:14 ; Revelation 1:1-5 ); it was in the future when Moses predicted the coming of One whose authority should be supreme ( Deuteronomy 18:15-18 ); it was in the future when Isaiah predicted the bringing in of the Gentiles ( Isaiah 54:1-3 ; Isaiah 62:1-4 ); it was in the future when John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judea ( Matthew 3:1-13 ); it was in the future when Jesus announced to His disciples that some of them would live to see it come with power ( Mark 9:1 ); it was in the future when Jesus visited Caesarea Philippi ( Matthew 16:13-17 ); it was in the future, near the close of the earthly life of Jesus, for the disciples were expecting it to immediately appear ( Luke 19:11-27 ); it was in the future when Jesus was on the cross ( Luke 23:42Luke 23:43 ); it was in the future after the death of Jesus on the cross ( Mark 15:43 ); it was in the future, just preceding the ascension ( Acts 1:6Acts 1:7 ).
Previous to Pentecost the Church or Kingdom is spoken of as in the future, but after that day it is spoken of as having an actual existence ( Acts 2:41 ; Acts 5:11 ; Acts 8:1 ; Hebrews 12:28 ). It was necessary to abolish the first institution in order to establish the second ( Hebrews 10:9 ): but the first was not removed during the life of Jesus, for He commanded His disciples to follow the teaching of the law as expounded by the Scribes and Pharisees ( Matthew 23:1-3 ), and the vail of the temple was not rent in twain until He expired ( Matthew 27:51 ; Ephesians 2:13-16 ).
The Law of Admission. In general terms, the law of admission into the Church is the gospel, but conditions are specifically laid down in it by the Lord and His inspired apostles. The gospel may be divided and studied,
The Life. Every member of the body of Christ is required to live righteously, soberly and godly in the present world ( Titus 2:11-14 ), adding to his faith courage, knowledge, temperance, patient, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity ( 2 Peter 1:5-7 ).
The Assembly. The ancient Christians assembled on the first day of the week to,
Early History. The early history of the Church is the history of triumph. The apostles began their labors in Jerusalem and in a very short time a very great number of people had yielded to the demands of Christ in Jerusalem and the surrounding country ( Acts 2:37-42Acts 4:1-4 ; Acts 5:14 ; Acts 6:7 ). Soon Philip, the evangelist, introduced the gospels in the city of Samaria with great success ( Acts 8:1-25 ), and Peter introduced it among the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius ( Acts 10:1-48 ; Acts 11:1-26 ).