Although the prophets of the Old Testament era did not use the term “church”; nevertheless, they foretold of it. Isaiah spoke of the church in this manner: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2-3). In the New Testament, the church is revealed as being the house of the Lord (1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:6). Isaiah foretold, “all nations shall flow unto it.” After the church was established, the Apostle Peter declared: “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35). When the uncircumcised Gentile Cornelius and his household obeyed the gospel, it was necessary for Peter to explain to the Jewish Christians at Jerusalem that it was God’s will that Gentiles (those of other nations) be saved under the same conditions as the Jews (Acts 10:48; Acts 11:1-18).

In the first century A. D. several Gentile congregations and other local churches made-up of both Jews and those of other nations were established and became united in Christ, which is the will of God (Ephesians 2:12-17; Ephesians 3:1-6).

The church of our Lord is responsible in carrying out the Great Commission. The responsibility for doing so has been past down to faithful Christians from the first century to the end of time. His church is to strive to reach every person in the world with the saving gospel of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

--Dub Mowery