I think the jury is out. Jesus did ordain a church. He speaks of it several times as his bride. When he changed Simon's name, it was to Peter (Aramaic for 'rock') to be the rock upon which he would build the church.
That being said, even reading the Acts of the Apostles, it's clear that an organized practice, even among the disciples themselves, didn't happen until the Holy Spirit descended upon them when they congregated in the upper room, after Jesus had ascended. So whether "the Church" Jesus spoke of has ever existed upon this earth remains debatable. I would say no, but much as a parabola approaches an asymptote, we can approach the goal.
Now, when you add in the Trinity, that the Holy Spirit doesn't act alone, but is one in nature with Jesus Christ,
The point I was trying to make is that regardless of whether Jesus instituted the Church directly or indirectly, the moment he left it alone, it was corrupt, because it was comprised of men, thoroughly corrupt beings who cannot maintain the perfection Jesus instituted. But that's okay. It's all part of God's plan, and if nothing else, the Bible is meant as an extended volume of anecdotal evidence of how God can and does use man, even in his weakened and imperfect state, to bring about His Will.
Think about it. The most reviled human being who ever lived, the betrayer of the savior, the evil one, Judas Iscariot, did God's will in doing what he did. Almost like God knows a few things we don't.![]()
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