An online article posted by Ligonier Ministries called The Origin of the Church begins with the following:

“When did the church begin? Many Christians locate the birthday of the church at the miracle of Pentecost that is recorded in Acts, Chapter 2. Others rightly insist that the origin of the church lies deeper in the Old Testament. In Christ, the church is the “offspring of the woman” described in Gen 3:15, and it develops organically throughout the Old Testament in the unfolding of God’s covenants with His people as Abraham is called out of Ur and the nation of Israel is established at Sinai. As R.B. Kuiper described it, old covenant saints were saved by the Christ of prophecy and new covenant saints by the Christ of history. Just as Christ is the one mediator between God and humanity, so there is one covenant of grace, one plan of salvation, and thus one people of God.

Yet to locate the historical origin of the church either at Eden or at Pentecost may obscure the deeper truth that the church’s origin lies in God’s eternal counsel.”

Usually, when Christians today think about the birth of the church, we refer to the New Testament church and its birth on Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, first on the disciples in the upper room, followed soon thereafter on the crowd listening to Peter preach what might have been the first ever evangelistic sermon.

At the same time, there is a small segment of professing Christians who will tell you that the church was born at some point in Acts, either in the middle of Acts or closer to the end of Paul’s imprisonment and death. There is much more to be said about this particular group of professing Christians, sometimes referred to as Mid-Acts Dispensationalists, but we will focus on a particular ‘almost’ conversation with one of its members. Suffice it to say that they will go to great lengths to ‘prove’ their point concerning the birth of the church, even to the point of incredulity. I recently came across a Facebook comment refuting the church’s birth being in Acts, Chapter 2 that merely asked some specific questions. They are listed below, along with my brief replies (italicized). I would have liked to comment in FB, but since I seem to be banned from commenting, sent my comments using FB Messenger directly to the comment author. I do not expect a reply.

“If Pentecost was the birth of the Church, why did Peter not include Gentiles in his message?”

Peter’s audience was composed of Jews from inside and outside of Jerusalem assembled for the feast of Pentecost, including followers of Jesus.

“Why did Peter not mention the cross, salvation through the blood of Christ, or forgiveness of sins based upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?”

That is a spurious question based on a false premise. Peter’s primary message was that Jesus, whose blood was, in part, at the hands of Jews. Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah prophesied as early as Gen 3:15. Peter also spoke of the cross and the resurrection (Acts 2:22-33), as well salvation through Christ (Acts 2:38-41). Peter didn’t use the same words as Paul did to the church at Corinth (1 Cor 15:1-4)

“Why did he not offer salvation by faith alone, apart from works?”

Salvation had already been proclaimed as being by faith (Gen 15:6, repeated in Paul’s letter to the Romans in Chapter 4:3-12). In Abraham’s case, it was belief in the promise of a Messiah. And again, the point of Peter’s sermon was the promised Messiah being Jesus. See also Hab 2:4.

“Why did he not say a word about the body of Christ? To press further, why did Peter or any of the Twelve or James never mention the body of Christ?”

While it’s true that neither Peter or the other Apostles used the specific term “the body of Christ”, you cannot use that to state that the birth of the church did not occur at Pentecost. The birth of the church is marked by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who believed in Christ as Messiah and repented of their sins (Acts 2:38-39). The Apostle Paul merely provided a very specific clarification and definition of the gospel to the church in Corinth, which was plagued with divisions and problems.

The fellowship (‘dispensation’ based on manuscript evidence) of the mystery refers more properly to the order which God Himself has ordained for the manifestation of the truth Ephesians 1:10, and not to the commission of the mystery to the Apostle (as in Ephesians 3:2). The great truth is that both Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ.

Sir, it would appear that you are reading ‘Mid-Acts Dispensationalism’ (MAD) back into the text of scripture and hoping your readers and MAD adherents aren’t Bereans. I gently remind you that MAD is not only contrary to over 2,000 years of orthodox Christianity, it’s an excuse to label most Christians and Protestant churches as heretics, which seems to be common practice among MAD leadership and its adherents.

If you are reading this, do you think my responses were accurate and understandable? Don’t hold back. I kept then relatively brief, although my MAD library has become quite extensive and I am often tempted to go beyond  the specific issues at hand.

BE BLESSED!