Foundational question on the formation of the church

 

Foundational question on the formation of the church

 

Did Jesus Christ, who is the word of God made flesh come to earth to preach the gospel of our Heavenly Father to the Jews or to the Gentiles?

 

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Was his ministry during the three years of his life that are recorded in the bible, ministering to the Jews or the Gentiles?

 

The Jews of course.

 

Peter's ministry was to the Jews; Paul's ministry was to the Gentiles.

 

In fact, Paul was specifically chosen by Jesus, because he was the worst of the worst of the persecutors of God's chosen people.

 

Acts 9: 1-19

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Jesus knew that if he converted the worst of the worst and he was able to share his testimony that others would be converted because of that testimony.

 

So Peter was to preach and minister to the Jews as did Jesus and Paul to the Gentiles (non-Jews).

 

Are we, meaning you and I Jews or Gentiles?

 

Was my lineage or genealogy once a Jewish person who was converted?

 

Are my descendants Jewish?

 

I will never know that. In my patriarchal blessing it says I am from the tribe of Ephraim which is a descendant of Joseph who was of Jacob’s son who was a Jew. So according to my blessing I am of Jewish heritage.

 

The real truth of that will never be known, that is another subject of faith and belief. If the central question of which is the one true church that Jesus Christ founded while on this earth remains?

 

I don't know if there is a specific answer.

 

As I have written before.

 

The church of Christ was preached individually, house by house to those who believed in the name of Jesus.

 

You and I could have been the Church of Christ.

 

If I am from the tribe of Ephraim then I once was a Jew and Jesus came to preach his message to the Jews as was Peter instructed to do likewise, John 21:15-21

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

²⁰ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

What is the one true church of Jesus Christ?

 

Mormons believe they are the one true church of Jesus Christ.

 

The more I study this the more questions I have, also the less I seem to come to a full and complete understanding.

 

As with pretty much everything it comes down to what you believe, which is faith.

 

The other question on what I believe is central is does it matter?

 

If a church is going to claim it is the one true church and that all other churches did not have their beginning with Christ, then I believe it is important for there to be some sort of substantiation to the claim.

 

If the claim is not made then no substantiation is necessary, but since a claim is made, it shouldn’t come down to an issue of belief and faith, nor should it?

 

More questions, less answers.

 

I raise this issue only for a point of clarification.

 

I am solid in my faith of Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, redeemer. If I am going to say I belong to the one true church of Jesus Christ, I desire to have more than just faith if that is possible.

 

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, please bless me this day. Amen.

 

Blind leading the blind, ancients of old, who were the prophets and how were they selected by our Lord and what purpose did they serve future topics for later today.