Origins are important. They let us know where something comes from and why it exists.

Some people have no respect for the church, believing it is a man-made organization. Denominationalism teaches one church is as good as another. The false doctrine of Premillennialism teaches the church is an afterthought; a makeshift stand-in until the Lord returns to establish His kingdom. Some church members think nothing of changing the church to accommodate their wants and wishes. These misunderstandings can have an impact on us.

Christians have better appreciation for the church when they understand who is behind its existence. The Lord’s church has always been a part of God’s eternal plan to save us. “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:10-11).

The prophets Isaiah and Micah were both given revelations concerning the establishment of the church.

“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Is. 2:2-3; cf. Micah 4:1-2).

Notice some significant details about this prophesied event:

Time: “Latter days” is a phrase used by the prophets to refer to the time of the Messiah. It points to the end of the Jewish/Levitical system and the introduction of a new covenant.

Purpose: “The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains… exalted above the hills.” The word mountain was used by the prophets to represent governments or kingdoms. This is a time when God’s kingdom will be established and exalted above all the kingdoms of man forever.

Location: This will happen in Jerusalem.

Result: the word of the Lord will originate and spread forth from Jerusalem.

This prophecy was fulfilled in Acts 2. Devout Jews from every nation under heaven had come to Jerusalem (Acts 2:5). Peter declared they were witnessing events Joel said would take place in “the last days” (v. 17). He said Jesus had been exalted to the right hand of God and was now both Lord and Christ (vs. 33-36). His kingdom was above all other kingdoms. The gospel was preached first in Jerusalem. It is from this city that “the law” or “the word of the Lord” went forth.

The church was spoken of in prospect prior to Acts 2 (Matt. 16:18; 18:17). It is spoken of as a present reality after this event (Acts 2:47). Peter referred to the events in Acts 2 as “the beginning” (Acts 11:15). It is clear to see that the church was established in Acts 2, and this event fulfilled the prophecy made by Isaiah and Micah.

The churches of men can’t be identified as the Lord’s true church. Their origins are traced to different dates, places, and purposes than those specified by Isaiah and Micah.

Catholic Church – Rome, Italy – 963
Greek Orthodox Church – Greece – 1053
Lutheran Church – Augsburg, Germany – 1530
Presbyterian Church – Switzerland – 1535
Baptist Church – Amsterdam, the Netherlands – 1609
Methodist Church – London, England – 1729
Primitive Baptist – North Carolina – 1765
Mormon Church – Seneca, NY – 1830
Seventh Day Adventist Church – Battle Creek, MI – 1863
Jehovah Witness – Pennsylvania – 1874
Christian Science – Boston, MA – 1879
Nazarene Church – Los Angeles, CA – 1895
Assembly of God – Hot Springs, AR – 1914

All these churches appeared too late to be the church we read of in the New Testament. While churches of Christ in the United States can trace their history through the Restoration Movement that took place in the 1800’s, the appeal of this movement was to reject the churches and creeds of men and return to simple New Testament Christianity. Our desire is to simply be a part of the Lord’s church we can read about in the Bible. Nothing more and nothing less.

A study of church history is interesting and helpful. Some denominational churches came into existence because good people were pursuing noble objectives. However, none of them share an origin story comparable to the Lord’s true church.