As Jesus stood with His disciples at the base of Mount Hermon, near the source of the Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi, He stated He would build His church on the truth stated by Peter in his confession of Jesus. Jesus said, "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). In Matthew 18 He spoke of the future church’s role in discipling unrepentant disciples when He stated, "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican" (Matthew 18:17). What is this church Jesus spoke about? When did it begin? Where did it begin? How long will it last? How can it be identified? What is its purpose? When did God come up with then idea for the church?
The church had its beginnings on the first Pentecost following the crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem. Prior to that day it was spoken of in the future tense. Acts 2:47 speaks of it as existing: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Passages such as Isaiah 2:1-4 and Micah 4:1-3 prophesied of this day.
The idea of the church was developed before the world was created. Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:4 that God’s plan to redeem mankind, which includes the church, was made "before the foundation of the world." The plan was "a mystery," something hidden, "mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9). God worked throughout the history of the world from Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden until that Pentecost day to establish the church. Numerous prophesies in the Old Testament pointed to the day when God would place His people in the church and call them by a new name.
The purpose of the church is also found in Ephesians. Paul states the purpose of the church as "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:10). The church stands as a demonstration of God’s manifold wisdom. It also serves as the place of salvation. The Lord adds people to it, Acts 2:47. Jesus serves as Savior of it, as Paul wrote, " Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Ephesians 5:23). It is important to note Jesus promised to build one church, Paul wrote there is only one church (Ephesians 1:26,27; 4:4). Therefore Jesus will only save one church.
An additional purpose for the church is to serve as the body of Jesus on earth, Ephesians 1:26,27. As His body, the church has the responsibility of serving as His hands and feet. He commissioned the church through the apostles to carry on the work He began (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; Luke 24:47ff; Acts 1:1,2. The church also, as His body, serves as ministers of mercy to the world. James wrote how that: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). James went on to write in 2:15-17 "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
—Denny