I believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the only perfect man who lived on the earth and that he organized a church when he dwelled here 2,000 years ago. Although the people in his church were not perfect, the organization and doctrines were perfect and provide me an outline of what his church should look like today.

I know both organizations and doctrines can evolve given the specific needs of the people at the time (Old Testament Law of Moses became the New Testament Law of Christ) but the core organization and doctrines will be the same from Father Adam, through Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Christ and his Apostles … down to today.

The Church of Jesus Christ ancient organization

Members called Saints. (Ephesians 2:19-20)

Christ received instructions from God. (Heb 1:1-2)

Christ’s church built on the rock of revelation. (Matt 16:16-18)

Christ continued to direct His church after death (appeared to Saul, Peter). (Acts 18:9, Acts 10:9-16)

Christ ordained apostles. (John 15:16, Mark 13:34)

New Apostles such as Mathias, Paul, Barnabas & James, the Lord’s brother. (Acts 1:18-26, I Cor 1:1, Acts 14:14, Gal 1:19)

Church compared to a building, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. (Eph 2:20)

Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church and the “rock” of the Church. (Eph 2:20; I Cor 10:1-4)

Christ sent Seventies to assist the apostles. (Luke 10:1)

Church Officers –Evangelists (patriarchs). (2 Tim 4:5, Eph 4:11)

Church Officer — Pastors (presiding leaders). (I Tim 4:14))

Church Officers — High Priests (only Christ, 10 times in NT). (Heb 3:1)

Church Officer — Elders. (1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9)

Church Officer — Bishops. (Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1)

Church Officer — Priests. (Acts 20:17-38)

Church Officer — Teachers. (I Cor 12:28)

Church Officer — Deacons. (1 Tim 3:8-13)

All church officers were to assist the members to come to “a unity of the faith.” (Eph 4:13)

Teachings of the ancient church that should be found in the modern church

Apostacy foretold (Acts 3:20-21; 2 Thess. 2:3)

Apostolic keys not on the earth

          John Lathrop, 1623; See Mark E. Petersen, The Great Prologue (1975), 34–35

          Roger Williams, seventeenth-century pastor, See William Cullen Bryant, ed., Picturesque America; or, the Land We Live In, 2 vols. (1872–74), 1:502; see also LeGrand Richards, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, rev. ed. (1966), 29.

(Doctrines, principles, practices – alpha)

• Apostles and Prophets (Eph. 2:20)
• Authority by ordaining (Mark 3:14)
• Baptism by immersion (Mark 1:9-10)
• Baptism of infants (not a single instance of infant baptism)
• Baptism for the dead (1 Cor. 15:29, 1 Peter 4:6)
• Church organization (Eph. 4:11)
• Condemnation of false teachings (Matt. 23:4, 23:23, 25:15; Titus 1:11
• Godhead – three separate persons (Matt 3:17; Luke 22:34, Acts 7:55-6)
• Health restrictions like drinking wine (Ephesians 5 & 1 Timothy 3)
• Holy Ghost received by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17, 19:5-6)
• Family-centered (Eph 5:23-25, 6:1; 1 Tim. 3:4-5)
• Man and woman together in the Lord (1 Cor 11:11, 1 Peter 3:7)
• Miracles – Jesus (numerous references), the apostles (Mark 16:17-18)
• Priesthood (Eph. 4:11)
• Repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38); Christ baptized (Matt 3.16)
• Resurrection of Christ (Luke 24:39-43)
• Resurrection – universal to all mankind (Acts 24:15, 1 Cor 15:41)
• Revelation continuous (Daniel 2:28; Amos 3:7; 2 Cor 12:1, Acts 1:2)
• Savior is the only basis for worship (John 6:67-8)
• Temple work for living and dead (Obadiah 1:21; Malachi 4:6; 1 Cor 15:29; Rev 7:13, 15)
• Works necessary for salvation (Deut. 11:26-28; 1 John 2:3-4)
•           (But works by themselves are insufficient – Eph. 2:8-9)