The Triumphant Church

By Dr. Johnny Woodard DD

Johnny & Jewel Woodard have been longtime missionaries with The Bread Of Life Baptist Missionary Fellowship since 1995. Dr. Woodard is President of The Bread Of Life International Bible Correspondence Institute, which has thousands of students in over 110 countries, including all 50 states in America.

Dr. Woodard designed all the Bible Study Courses, as well as many different Gospel Tracts that have been distributed around the world. He has pastored 7 churches in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana, including Solid Rock Baptist Church in Kirbyville, Texas, which he founded.

Dr. Woodard has authored several books on various topics, including his first, “Reaching The Perishing” which is his autobiography. He and Sis. Jewel reside in Kirbyville, Texas and stay very active in the ministry, spreading God’s Word around the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Jun 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9783969317136

Book preview

Foreword

Quite a few years back, while speaking at a Gospel Music Concert, I made the statement that many believe that the New Testament Church was started on the Day Of Pentecost. Before the words had barely left my mouth, a lady in the crowd shouted out Praise The Lord, indicating that was her belief. I was once told that no matter what one believes, as long as they are sincere that is what matters the most. I strongly disagree. The truth of the matter is that the New Testament Church was not founded on the Day Of Pentecost, it was empowered on the Day Of Pentecost. There is a big difference, as this book traces the origin of The New Testament Church all the way from it’s beginning to its ultimate triumph over all evil as Jesus stated in Matthew 16:18.

There is a popular saying that has been going around for a long time that goes like this: The Church is not fighting for victory, it is fighting from victory. I wholeheartedly agree, the church has never been a failed institution and never will be. This book is a study on The New Testament Church that Jesus is building and how it will completely defeat Satan and reign triumphant for all eternity.

Chapter I

Church History

The Beginning Of The Church

The word church is the English translation of the Greek word, ecclesia. Ecclesia is made up of two Greek words that mean, called out. When a group of citizens left their homes and business to consider matters of public interest, it was called an ecclesia, or an assembly. We can read in the book of Acts, chapter nineteen, when the Greek people met to consider the teachings of Paul, believing he was a threat to their society.

Acts 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

Acts 19:39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

Acts 19:41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

In the Old Testament, the word ecclesia was used to designate the congregation of Israel called out of bondage in Egypt and meeting before the tabernacle to worship God. We can read in the book of Acts where we see that Stephen, who was stoned, referred to the church in Old Testament times.

Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.

In the second chapter of Hebrews is a quote from Psalms 22:22, in reference to the church in the wilderness.

Psalms 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethern, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

We know that the meaning of the word ecclesia refers to an assembly called together for various reasons. When we think about how God called His people out of bondage from Egypt and met together to worship God first at the tabernacle, we understand that the idea of the church is a called out people meeting together to worship God and carry out His work on this earth.

Jesus Is Building His Church On A Rock

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about what Jesus was referring to when He made the above statement to Peter. Many teach that Peter was the rock that Jesus referred to and the church was built upon him. During this conversation, Jesus had asked His disciples who they thought He, The Son of Man, was. They answered that some thought He was Elijah, some thought He was Jeremiah; others thought He was John the Baptist. Then Jesus asked the same question again, but He asked them who they thought He was. Peter immediately answered, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then said that upon this rock (vs.18), He would build His church. Many make the claim that Jesus was saying that He would build His church upon Peter. Peter never made any claims of being some great moral person that stood out above all the other disciples. In fact he often found himself saying things that he should never be found guilty of.

It is also important to note that during a later conversation that Jesus had with Peter, Jesus told him that He was going to the cross and die. Peter outright denied that such a thing would take place and Jesus rebuked him severely. In fact, Jesus recognized who was influencing Peter to make such a statement and referred to Peter as Satan himself.

Matthew 16:21-23

vs.21 "From that time forth began Jesus to shew his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

vs.22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

vs.23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

For Jesus to build His church on Peter would mean it would be built on a mortal man who was often deceived by Satan. When Jesus said that He would build His church upon this rock, we need to understand the clear meaning of the word rock and the meaning of the name of Peter. The word Peter is the Greek word petros. It means a small stone. When Jesus said, upon this rock, I will build my church, the word used was petra, it referred to a large stone or an immovable mass of rock. The thought here is that Jesus was not going to build His church on Peter, but on the faith that Peter had because he believed Jesus was the Son of God, the Christ. No matter who others thought Jesus was, Peter had immovable faith that Jesus was the Son of God. It is by faith that one comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We know that Jesus is building His New Testament Church on the kind of immovable faith that Peter placed in Him. One of the old popular Gospel hymns is titled: I Shall Not Be Moved. A friend of mine once made the statement: Jesus plus nothing saved me. A true salvation experience results when one puts their faith in what Jesus accomplished when He died on the cross, once for all sin.(Hebrews 10:10)

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Peter later got a better understanding of Jesus’ mission to this earth and how Jesus was building His church. The same kind of immovable faith that Peter had when questioned earlier about who he thought Jesus was, led him to be a great leader of the church that has inspired others as we read of his great love for his Jesus. Bible history teaches that Peter