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This class is currently being taught as Calvary Chapel Bible College Course H310 for the Spring semester of 2004. The story of Christianity of course goes al the way back to Man's first need for a Savior - which was the original "Fall" back in the Garden of Eden. But the "Church" which is also called the "Body of Christ" and the "Bride of Christ" (for "The two shall become one flesh"! is a unique group of people in all of human history. Commonly regarded as having its official "birthday" at Pentecost 50 days after Jesus Resurrection, the "Church Age" is a period of human history governed by a new covenant between God and Man - one that includes the Indwelling Holy Spirit (where WE have become "the temple of God", the security of salvation (this is unique to the Church), the promise of His Second Coming, the Great Commission, and the promise of a very special and everlasting union with our Lord Jesus Christ as His Bride. For no one except those saved during the Church Age will are called "the Bride of Christ". But having been given so many incredible gifts, privileges, and promises, a look back at the last 2000 years of history to see what we have done with those gifts is sometimes a very disturbing and dismal picture of human failure - even among those who call themselves Christians. For some of the greatest atrocities ever committed on the Earth have been wrought in the name of Christ. Yet there have also been a plethora of truly great men and women down through the ages who have demonstrated great faith, great wisdom, great intellect, and great courage in fighting, often suffering, and sometimes dying for what they knew to be true. We have a great deal to learn from these men, women, and events for two primary reasons: First - so that we can learn the great truths that they discovered about God. Though we are always responsible to verify the truth of what others would teach us, we would be foolish to ignore the immense body of knowledge that Godly scholars have accumulated over 2000 years of Church history. Second - so that we can avoid making the same grave mistakes, and be on guard for the same heresies that continue to plague the church time and time again. In studying all that has been learned and done before us - both good and bad - we seek avoid making those same mistakes, for the warning rings true: “Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana
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