“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up to heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out preaching (the Gospel) everywhere.” (Mark 16:19-20)

In my previous copy of ‘The Link’ I asked a question: ‘what and who is a Christian’? I constantly ask questions of the Bible, and the Lord always answers them, well, most of them, a lot of them! Now, how to answer this awfully important question? The label, ‘Christian’ given to Christ’s disciples, still sticks on them everywhere, was first given in Antioch in Phoenicia. When, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, a severe persecution of the disciples started in Jerusalem, most of them were scattered right up to what is today south-western Turkey, many of those scattered from Jerusalem were Hellenists Jews, meaning ‘Jews’, whose language in the main, was, Greek, people who settled in Galilee during the days of Alexandre the Great; and remained there after the fall of the Grecian Empire. As I have mentioned: “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26)

In today’s world the ‘Church’ befits all the people that supposedly believe in Jesus Christ. But on the whole, this supposed ‘Church’ sadly gives a confused picture, for in the eyes of most people, Christians, are people that believe in different things, and most of them hardly refer to Christ’s teachings, a phenomenon not known in Antioch, where Christians were people committed to Jesus Christ, which is not the case at present. Through the Apostles of the Lord, all Christians were brought to believe in Jesus Christ. Paul the apostle, worked in Antioch with Barnabas for a whole year, He knew Greek fluently and was an asset to Him in a Hellenist city, and it is from there that He was sent out to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. It is said that when Jesus was taken away from them into heaven: “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up to heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out preaching (the Gospel) everywhere.” (Mark 16:19-20) The Church was united and the same doctrine concerning Jesus Christ was preached everywhere, it sprang miraculously for Jesus was with them, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit made of them powerful preachers!

So, in the world today, one finds multiples confessions in, ‘Christianity’, its doctrine is confused, and through the Roman Church, it even encourages idol worship. The true Church is precious to Jesus: It is written: “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her with water through the WORD, and present HER to Himself as a radiant Church, without stains and wrinkles.” His Church is what is called the ‘invisible Church’, which no one knows but Christ her Lord. He is personally attached to every true disciple, whom He has called and concerning her he says: “I will build my Church, and the gates of hades will not overcome her.”(Matthew 16:18) The powers of darkness have overcome the Church as it is known today, for it has lost contact with Christ its head. His name ‘Jesus Christ’ is hardly mentioned in most pulpits and yet he remains what He said “The way, the truth and the LIFE”. (John 14) There are many gods in the world but only one Jesus Christ, and He is the Saviour of those that believe in His Lordship.

So, finally, if the picture is gloomy, the true Church is still in motion, Jesus said: “All that the father gave me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”(John 6:37), So the reality is not gloomy for Jesus Christ is alive, and so is His Church, all that have heard His call share with Him His risen life.