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Introduction

Nineteen centuries ago John the Baptist called upon the Jews who had gathered about him on the banks of the Jordan River in Palestine to "repent," for the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Kingdom was indeed at their very doors, for the Son of God was coming with authority to accept into His Kingdom all who would prepare their hearts for that entrance. To those who had faith in God, and sought to enter into the Kingdom, John announced:

"I, indeed, baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, ***; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."

So Jesus when He came established the Kingdom of God upon the earth, that all who would, might enter and partake of the Spirit of God with Him. To officiate in the Kingdom upon the earth Jesus ordained twelve men as Apostles and gave them power and authority to preach the gospel and administer in all of its ordinances. They were instructed to carry the Gospel first of all to the children of Israel. Later Christ chose Seventy and commissioned them likewise to preach the Gospel unto the people.

After the death and resurrection of the Savior this nucleus of Church officers, acting according to the Authority which they possessed, perfected the organization. The vacancy in the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, caused by the death of Judas Iscariot, was filled by the ordination of one Matthias to that calling. The offices of priest, teacher, deacon, evangelist, and bishop were added.

Of the people living in western Asia and in Europe at that day the Israelites alone were prepared by training and tradition for the high standard of religion set forth by Christ. The moral laws of the Hebrews and the teachings of their Prophets should have prepared that people for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So it was that the Savior commanded His disciples to carry the Gospel first to the House of Israel, and then to the Gentiles. By the Gentiles here we refer to those "heathens" or "pagans" who had never accepted, or perhaps heard of, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but were believers in gods of nature to whom they built graven images and offered sacrifices.

A church can, after all, be no better than its people, and the immorality and licentiousness of the heathen peoples of that day were notorious. Those Jews who, with their background of Hebrew training and history, accepted the teachings of the Master, became genuine followers of Him and were indeed worthy of membership in His kingdom. But because the Jews as a nation had also drifted into immoral practices and had become subjected to a rigid priestly interpretation of their religious laws, the nation as a whole rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was with great disappointment that Jesus perceived the hardheartedness of His own people. One gets a glimpse into His great soul as, pausing with His disciples on the brow of the Mount of Olives on one occasion, and gazing upon His beloved City of Jerusalem below them, He burst into tears, exclaiming,