THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH
                             Luke 24:46-49; Acts 11:15

           1. RELIGIOUS WORLD GENERALLY AGREED ON
                FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF CHRIS-
                TIANITY:
                A. That Christ died for our sins.
                B.  That Christ was buried and rose again from the dead.
                C.  That Christ ascended to heaven and has been crowned both
                    King and Lord.
                D.  That after His coronation, Christ sent the Holy Spirit as
                    His advocate, to consummate the work of redemption.
                E.  That baptism is by the authority of Jesus Christ.
                F.  That baptism is in (into) the name of the Father, and Son,
                    and the Holy Spirit.
                G.  That salvation is in the name of Jesus Christ.

           11. THAT WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CHURCH'S
                EXISTENCE NOW HAS EVER BEEN ESSENTIAL.

                A. Cannot go beyond these essentials to find the church.  Can-
                    not go back to day of Abraham, Moses, etc.  If it existed, it
                    bad preachers, and they never mentioned it.
                B. Word "church" doesn't appear in Jewish scriptures.
                C.  Not in day of John the Baptist-he didn't preach these es-
                    sentials.  He taught remission of sins, but not in name of
                    Christ.
                    1. John said, in speaking of the bridegroom, "He must in-
                        crease, but I must decrease."

          111.  THESE ITEMS ESSENTIAL TO THE EXISTENCE
              OF THE CHURCH ARE ALL ON THIS SIDE OF
              CHRIST'S DEATH: THEREFORE, WE MUST
              LOOK ON THIS SIDE OF HIS DEATH.
            
             A. On the first Pentecost after the resurrection, it was an-
                    nounced that Christ died for our sins, rose from the dead,
                    was crowned Lord and Christ, and the Holy Spirit was
                    sent.  "Repentance and remission of sins" proclaimed in
                    the name of Christ, as given in Great Commission.
             B. After conversion of Cornelius' household, Peter's state-
                      ment to Jews.  Acts 11:15, 16; 1:4, 5. Here directed to be at
                      the time and place designated the beginning of their in-
                      spired work under the Great Commission.
                   C. Acts 2-Constitution of the dispensation of Christ as Ex-
                      odus 12 is for dispensation of Moses.
                   D. Define "Pentecost." Greek word "Pentecoste," meaning
                      fiftieth.  See Lev. 23:15, 16.

            IV.    ON PENTECOST THERE BEGAN A NUMBER
                   OF DISTINCTIVE FEATURES THAT CULMIN-
                   ATED IN THE COMPLETION OF THE REMEDIAL
                   SYSTEM.
                   A. Beginning of the church of God, or kingdom.
                   B. Beginning of the Will of God. Heb. 9:15-19.
                   C. Beginning of the mission of the Holy Spirit as the Advo-
                      cate of Christ. jno. 14:16; 16:7-13.
                   D. Beginning of the Priesthood of Christ. Heb. 4:14, 15.
                   E. Beginning of the mediatorship of Christ. Heb. 9:15.
                   F. Beginning of the New Covenant. Heb. 9:16, 17.
                   G. Beginning of the Christian dispensation. Acts 11:15, 16.
                   H. Beginning of the Lordship of Jesus. Acts 2:34-36.
                   1. Beginning of the administration of Jesus. Heb. 9:15, 16.
                   J. Beginning of the Great Salvation. Heb. 2:1-4.