The Church
The Church of the Bible began in Jerusalem on the day of the Pentacost (A.D. 30). With the coming of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the gospel of salvation for the first time, many accepted the message, believed in Jesus, and were baptized for the remission of their sins. The church began with about three thousand members(Acts 2:37-41). The church is a fellowship of believers, and it was established by Jesus so that His ministry would continue on earth after His ascension into Heaven(Acts 1:8).
There are many pictures used in the New Testament to descibe the relationship of the church to Jesus. The church is the bride of Jesus(Ephesians 5:22-32; Revelation 21:2) with Jesus the bridegroom (John 3:29). It is a building (1 Corinthians 3:9) with Christ being the builder (Mattew 16:18) and the chief cornerstone (Ephisians 2:19,20). It is a living body (1 Corintians 12:18-27; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23) with Christ as the head of the body (Colossians 2:19). It is a temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21) in which God dwells (Ephesians 2:22).
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Lower Level 
