THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
PART 1: THE CHURCH WHICH CHRIST ORGANIZED
Jesus established a Church in Palestine 2000 years ago. He said it was His Church. (Matt. 16:18).* He was the chief cornerstone of the Church (Eph. 2:20). It was called by His name (Rom. 16:16).
There were to be no divisions of the Church under any other name (1 Cor. 1:12-13).
Believers were baptized into the Church at a rapid rate. “And the Lord added daily to the Church . . .” (Acts 2:47).
After the Savior’s death and resurrection, the gospel spread throughout the land in accordance with His commandment to the apostles: “Go yea into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)." Branches of the Church were established in many distant places.
The writer of the Book of Acts, referring to Barnabus and Paul who were preaching in Antioch, says: “A whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people” (Acts 11:26). They were adding to and strengthening the branch in Antioch. They and the other apostles did the same in the other branches at Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Alexandria, Rome, and many other cities during the several decades after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ was to provide the direction and means by which the saints could work out their individual salvation (Philip. 2:12).
The Church was necessary to help those seeking to find and follow the path to eternal life. Paul explained that this earthly institution was necessary until, “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4; 11–14).
The divine principles and characteristics of The Church of Jesus Christ made it much different than the other religious forms of the day, including Hellenistic, Gnostic, Pagan, and Jewish. These important features are well documented in the scriptures. Let’s look at them:
There were to be no divisions of the Church under any other name (1 Cor. 1:12-13).
Believers were baptized into the Church at a rapid rate. “And the Lord added daily to the Church . . .” (Acts 2:47).
After the Savior’s death and resurrection, the gospel spread throughout the land in accordance with His commandment to the apostles: “Go yea into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)." Branches of the Church were established in many distant places.
The writer of the Book of Acts, referring to Barnabus and Paul who were preaching in Antioch, says: “A whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people” (Acts 11:26). They were adding to and strengthening the branch in Antioch. They and the other apostles did the same in the other branches at Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Alexandria, Rome, and many other cities during the several decades after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ was to provide the direction and means by which the saints could work out their individual salvation (Philip. 2:12).
The Church was necessary to help those seeking to find and follow the path to eternal life. Paul explained that this earthly institution was necessary until, “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4; 11–14).
The divine principles and characteristics of The Church of Jesus Christ made it much different than the other religious forms of the day, including Hellenistic, Gnostic, Pagan, and Jewish. These important features are well documented in the scriptures. Let’s look at them:
Apostles—Twelve ordinary men, whom Jesus had selected and ordained to carry on the work of the Church after his death, were designated as his apostles with the authority to act in His name (Luke 6:12–16, John 15:16). They were the very foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:19–20).
Prophets—The apostles were also prophets of God in the same way that the ancient prophets of the Old Testament were God’s chosen servants, receiving instructions from him through continuous revelation (Amos 3:7).
Other Priesthood Offices—Jesus called other men to assist himself and the apostles in the work of the Church, including seventies, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, deacons, evangelists and pastors, (Luke 10:1, Eph. 4:11, Philip. 1:1, I Peter 5:1).
A Lay Clergy—All officers were lay ministers and received no payment or gratuity from any man (Luke 20:21, I Cor 9:17–18).
Keys of Authority—The officers were called for specific purposes (Eph. 4:11–14) and Jesus gave each the holy priesthood—that is, the authority to act in His name. But only the twelve apostles were given the “keys” of priesthood authority—that is, the right to call, ordain, and direct other priesthood officers. Jesus said to Peter, “ And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19).
A Priesthood Called of God "as was Aaron"—The apostle Paul described the manner in which men were to be called to positions in the priesthood. He said: “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Heb. 5:4). You will remember from your Sunday School lessons that Aaron, Moses’ brother, was called to the priesthood by direct revelation from God to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 28:1). The Lord God Jehovah, the Great I AM, who spoke to Moses on the mount was none other than Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 43:3, John 1:1–3, 14). So what Paul was saying about Aaron and the priesthood was this: In order for a man to receive God’s priesthood authority, it cannot be done, except he be chosen by Jesus Christ through a living prophet (like Moses) “as was Aaron.”
Continuous Revelation—After Christ ascended to heaven, the apostles and their associates were not left on their own to conduct the affairs of the Church. They received direct and continuous revelation from Christ to guide them (I Cor. 14:26). Without regular revelation from heaven, the fledgling apostles would have been out of their depth, and the Church would have been a church of men only and not the Church of Jesus Christ. In Old Testament times, the Lord God Jehovah governed his affairs on earth by direct revelation to his chosen servants. To the prophet Amos he said, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing except He revealeth his secret unto His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). There are many examples of revelation found in the book of Acts involving Matthias, Paul, Barnabus, John and others.
Prophets—The apostles were also prophets of God in the same way that the ancient prophets of the Old Testament were God’s chosen servants, receiving instructions from him through continuous revelation (Amos 3:7).
Other Priesthood Offices—Jesus called other men to assist himself and the apostles in the work of the Church, including seventies, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, deacons, evangelists and pastors, (Luke 10:1, Eph. 4:11, Philip. 1:1, I Peter 5:1).
A Lay Clergy—All officers were lay ministers and received no payment or gratuity from any man (Luke 20:21, I Cor 9:17–18).
Keys of Authority—The officers were called for specific purposes (Eph. 4:11–14) and Jesus gave each the holy priesthood—that is, the authority to act in His name. But only the twelve apostles were given the “keys” of priesthood authority—that is, the right to call, ordain, and direct other priesthood officers. Jesus said to Peter, “ And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19).
A Priesthood Called of God "as was Aaron"—The apostle Paul described the manner in which men were to be called to positions in the priesthood. He said: “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Heb. 5:4). You will remember from your Sunday School lessons that Aaron, Moses’ brother, was called to the priesthood by direct revelation from God to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 28:1). The Lord God Jehovah, the Great I AM, who spoke to Moses on the mount was none other than Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 43:3, John 1:1–3, 14). So what Paul was saying about Aaron and the priesthood was this: In order for a man to receive God’s priesthood authority, it cannot be done, except he be chosen by Jesus Christ through a living prophet (like Moses) “as was Aaron.”
Continuous Revelation—After Christ ascended to heaven, the apostles and their associates were not left on their own to conduct the affairs of the Church. They received direct and continuous revelation from Christ to guide them (I Cor. 14:26). Without regular revelation from heaven, the fledgling apostles would have been out of their depth, and the Church would have been a church of men only and not the Church of Jesus Christ. In Old Testament times, the Lord God Jehovah governed his affairs on earth by direct revelation to his chosen servants. To the prophet Amos he said, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing except He revealeth his secret unto His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). There are many examples of revelation found in the book of Acts involving Matthias, Paul, Barnabus, John and others.
Baptism by Immersion for the Remission of Sin—Admission to Christ’s Church was through baptism by immersion and Jesus himself set the example by being baptized in the River Jordan at the hands of John the Baptist, a priest who had the proper authority to baptize. (Matt. 3: 13–17).
The Gift of the Holy Ghost—Baptized members received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by those having proper authority (Acts 2:37–38, 8:15–17, 19:5–6).
The Lord’s Supper—The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus so that the members of the Church would always remember his atoning sacrifice in their behalf (Matt. 26:26–29, Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:19–20). The account of this event was later given to Paul by revelation as recorded in I Corinthians 11:23-26.
Gifts of the Spirit—Christ endowed his apostles with spiritual gifts that sometimes appeared to be miraculous or supernatural. These included the gifts of healing, prophecy, revelation, and visions, among others. (I Cor. 10:12, James 5:14–15)
Baptism for the Dead—The apostle Paul, in explaining the reality of the resurrection of all mankind, said ”Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:29)
The ancient Church of Jesus Christ, with all of its officers, ordinances and doctrine was intended to continue unchanged until all the saints reached perfection in Christ. (Eph. 4:14). This principle is exemplified by the choosing of a successor to the betrayer Judas by the eleven remaining apostles. Two of their most faithful associates were mentioned to fill the vacancy. The eleven prayed for guidance, then cast their lots. Matthias was selected and there were twelve apostles once again (Acts 1:23–26). The Church was to go forward without modification or division. “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal. 3:6).
* Most sources are referenced. Any that are not will be supplied upon request. The information on this website is historically and scripturally accurate so far as the writer is aware. It has been compiled from many sources both ancient and modern. This website is not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nor is it endorsed by the Church. If there are any errors, they are the sole responsibility of the writer. —TDL
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The Gift of the Holy Ghost—Baptized members received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by those having proper authority (Acts 2:37–38, 8:15–17, 19:5–6).
The Lord’s Supper—The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus so that the members of the Church would always remember his atoning sacrifice in their behalf (Matt. 26:26–29, Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:19–20). The account of this event was later given to Paul by revelation as recorded in I Corinthians 11:23-26.
Gifts of the Spirit—Christ endowed his apostles with spiritual gifts that sometimes appeared to be miraculous or supernatural. These included the gifts of healing, prophecy, revelation, and visions, among others. (I Cor. 10:12, James 5:14–15)
Baptism for the Dead—The apostle Paul, in explaining the reality of the resurrection of all mankind, said ”Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:29)
The ancient Church of Jesus Christ, with all of its officers, ordinances and doctrine was intended to continue unchanged until all the saints reached perfection in Christ. (Eph. 4:14). This principle is exemplified by the choosing of a successor to the betrayer Judas by the eleven remaining apostles. Two of their most faithful associates were mentioned to fill the vacancy. The eleven prayed for guidance, then cast their lots. Matthias was selected and there were twelve apostles once again (Acts 1:23–26). The Church was to go forward without modification or division. “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal. 3:6).
* Most sources are referenced. Any that are not will be supplied upon request. The information on this website is historically and scripturally accurate so far as the writer is aware. It has been compiled from many sources both ancient and modern. This website is not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nor is it endorsed by the Church. If there are any errors, they are the sole responsibility of the writer. —TDL
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