Jesus is the One Foundation and Source of the Church

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead... the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints... Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:18, 26-28).

Acts 2 records the birth of the church at Pentecost. This was indeed a Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16), because a harvest of about 3,000 souls took place on that day when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and disciples (Acts 2:1-41).

Biblically, Christianity is not a building or religion but the church, or household of God. It is embodied in Christ and His people, individually and collectively.

Before time began, the church was conceived in the mind of God. Then, "when the time had fully come" (Galatians 4:4), God sent His only son, "born of a woman, born under law" to be the church's true founder, foundation, and head (1 Corinthians 3:11).

As the first of the chosen ones (1 Peter 2:6), Jesus, the anointed one (that is, the Christ) died as the perfect Passover lamb fifty days before the events of Acts 2.

Before that, He prepared the apostles for three years, giving them the Father's Word and keeping them in His name (John 17:12, 14).

After His resurrection He breathed into the apostles the breath of eternal life in the form of the Holy Spirit, who was to indwell them (John 20:22; cf. John 14:25-26). They became the seeds of the new church, which sprouted into thousands when the Holy Spirit came upon them, empowering them to witness, preach, and carry out the mission Jesus gave them. Rising from the dead, Jesus was the first fruits of God's Kingdom; ''then, when he comes, those who belong to him will also rise, never to die again (John 11:25-26).

Thus, Jesus is the one foundation and source of the church.