Basic HTML Version
Verses 13-15: "For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into [claiming to be] the
apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers [Satan's ministers posing as Christ's] also
be
transformed as [pretending to be] the ministers of righteousness."
WHY The First-Century Church
Now notice carefully!
Jesus taught His disciples the message (Gospel) of the
Kingdom of God. They were with Him three-and-a-half years. After
His resurrection they were with Him forty days (Acts 1:3) to
become EYEWITNESSES of the fact of His RESURRECTION. As they
announced the Kingdom of God, they also put great emphasis on
being EYEWITNESSES that Christ ROSE from the dead.
In order for them -- TWELVE men -- a complete JURY to
unanimously CONFIRM the resurrection -- to perform this mission,
God specially called and raised up His CHURCH of that period of
time to BACK THEM -- support them financially -- support them by
fervent PRAYERS. But they were an infinitesimal tiny fraction of
all humanity! At first the Church mushroomed in growth (Acts 5:14;
6:1, etc.). But in Acts 7 we find the persecution starting.
In Acts 8 it is recorded that the persecution intensified,
scattered the members of the Church, and records the facts
about Simon the sorcerer.
Before the end of the first century, the persecution had
reduced the true Church. Many members had gone out of the true
Church by the nineties A.D. (I John 2:19). John was warning
the brethren against the false ministers (I John 2:4; II John
7,10, etc.). Soon the false counterfeit church greatly
out-numbered them.
Then came the "Lost Century" in Church history. The first-
century commission had been carried out. The great false
"Christianity" grew great and strong physically and politically --
but not spiritually -- until it became the largest religion, in
number of adherents, in the world.
Through this 18 1/2 centuries, God's true Church existed,
much of the time very SMALL, impotent, teaching and even meeting
secretly, and unable to proclaim the GOSPEL of the Kingdom of God
to the world.
One purpose for the Church -- one reason God did draw some
to Christ -- was to beget a certain number by the Holy Spirit that
they might GROW spiritually in grace and the KNOWLEDGE of Christ;
that they may be resurrected into God's KINGDOM at the coming of
Christ -- trained spiritually and developed in spiritual character
and knowledge to RULE THE WORLD under Christ when He comes.