Today we are going to do a short study and try to find out when and where the true Church started.

When Peter affirmed that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the Living God, Christ promised to build His church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against IT. Jesus also told Peter that He would give him the keys to the church (kingdom of heaven) And whatsoever be bound on earth would be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he loosed on earth would be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:13-19).

Then the big question -When did Peter use the keys that Jesus gave him?

About fifty days after Jesus arose from the dead and went back to the Father, Peter and the other apostles were tarrying in Jerusalem just as Jesus bad instructed. The Holy Spirit came like a mighty rushing wind and filled the whole house where they were assembled. And they were filled with the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) and taught the first gospel sermon. Three thousand obeyed the gospel and the Lord added them to His church. (Acts 2 chapter).

Here we see the beginning of the Church. The year 33.

Let us look at some history of modern day churches and we will be able to determine when the church we attend bad it's origin and if it was from God or man.

The Church that Jesus built: (Listing are in order of when, where who and what name)

33 AD (Acts Chapter 2)

Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:23)

Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18)

church of Christ (Romans 16:16)

Kingdom (Colossians 1:13)

church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2)

House of God (1 Timothy 3:15)

Other churches (Listings same as, above in that order):

606, Rome, Boniface Ill, Catholic;

1520, Germany, Martin Luther, Lutheran;

1534, England, Henry VIII, Episcopal;

1536. Switzerland. John Calvin, Presbyterian;

1550, England, Robert Browne, Congregational;

1607, Holland, John Smythe, Baptist;

1739, England, John Wesley, Methodist;

1830, America, Joseph Smith, Mormon;

1830, America, William Miller, Adventist;

1866, America, Mary Baker Eddy, Christian Scientist;

1872, America, Charles T. Russell, Jehovah's Witness;

weekly, everywhere, man-made, denominational names.

We see how the Lord's church took off on Pentecost with power and 3,000 souls gladly received the message and the Lord added them to His church. It took just a few minutes for those precious souls to realize they were lost and they obeyed the gospel and became a child of God.

How come it took the Catholic 570 + years to understand God's plan?

And Martin Luther thinks he's got it figured out about 1500 years after Peter used the keys.

So is it with the Baptists, Methodists, Mormons, and all the rest 1600 to 1800 years after Pentecost in Acts 2 they figured them out a church.

What we need to do dearly beloved is give up all man made ideas and return to the bible.

If you are not in the Lord's Church when He comes to judge the World in righteousness you will hear Him say depart from me into everlasting darkness, the place prepared for the devil and his angels.

I could go right on day after day and never speak out against this mess of confusion but what kind of Christian would I be to let my brother stand in judgment unprepared, when I knew the way?

I'm not trying to get you to join my church, I have no church, What my prayer is for men everywhere to give up all these man made churches and return to God. Just be a member of the Lord's church. When the Lord adds you to his church, heaven will surely be yours.

(Thought for today)- Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:13- "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."

Brother, don't be a rooted up church on Judgment Day.

Anchor yourself in Christ Jesus. Become a member of His Church. You'll be happier in this world and reap eternal life in the world to come.

Jimmy Ferguson