Page 7 - God's Church through the Ages - Student Textbook

the New Testament. The progress was not from untruth to truth - it was from less information to more full
information.

Modern secular historians believe that history is cyclic. As they look back, they see mankind repeating the same
mistakes over and over again. They see empires rise and empires fall. They even admit that mankind is destined
to ignore lessons from the past and that mankind is incapable of learning from the mistakes of the past.

However, a historian with a Christian perspective sees history as linear. It had a beginning. It will have a
conclusion. While the sins of the past are repeated, history is moving in a line toward the finish line. History is
therefore, HIS STORY. It is the continuing story of God’s plan to solve the problem of sin. And through all the
events and stories, we see God revealing Himself and His character in the way He interacts with mankind.
History reveals to us who God is. And that’s why it is so important to learn and understand.

As we walk through history past, you may observe two great truths: 1) obedience to God results in blessings and
2) disobedience and rebellion against God results in curses. I think the best verse in Scripture that defines this
principle is found in Galatians 6: 7-9

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also
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reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the
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one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow
weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Don’t be fooled by what we see. Sometimes you will see the righteous suffer and the unrighteous prosper. But
remember, a life is but a vapor (James 4:14). It appears for a short time, then vanishes. After that, the
judgment. Hebrews 9:27 says “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…”
The good life of a wicked person is only good for a very short time.

As we observe those who are in rebellion against God, we will see that even they will reap the consequences of
their rebellion one way or another. In Galatian 6, it says “in due season.” That means “when the time is ripe.”
No person can stick his fist up to God in rebellion and not suffer a consequence. So as we journey through
history, observe the Law of Reaping and Sowing in the lives of all we view.

The Early Church – AD. 33 to 100

The church was born at Pentecost, the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot (the day that God gave the Torah to the
entire Israelite nation at Mount Sinai and committed Israel to serving God. It was also Jewish tradition that King
David was born and died on Shavuot). Shavuot is also called the Feast of Weeks, 50 days or seven weeks after
Passover. It is a celebration of the early wheat and barley harvest. Jews offered a “wave offering” of two loaves
of leavened bread to the Lord. Of course, Christ was crucified on Passover and 50 days later Shavuot was also
called Pentecost (“pente” meaning 50). On that day, the Holy Spirit came upon the twelve apostles and other
followers as described in the book of Acts, 2: 1-31. It is the “Birthday of the Church.” Immediately, the
Apostles and early believers began to obey their great commission:

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Matthew 28: 19-20 “ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
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and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely
I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The church grew rapidly. Thousands were responding to the Gospel. The three distinguishing marks of the early
church were: separation from the world, unconditional love, and childlike obedience to the teachings of Christ.

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