The Gathering of Ourselves Together

We cannot “go to” what we are. Do you understand that? Ironic that many who say we are to use the Bible for truth reject the Bible‘s meaning of “church” and insert Oxford’s.

Does the practice of dividing the Body into denominations support the Biblical teaching of being placed by the Spirit into “one Body”? How many say “I believe the Bible” yet support divisions in the Body with their actions on Sundays?

Hi why do you play with words? You based on everything here you posted know fully well when some say "Church" they are talking about where believers meet. Now ask them most (I pray) will say "we are the Church". To ignore how they started to met together how it grew and they moved in to bigger places and would have teachers and pastors on and on. Yeah you just can't fit hundreds of people in a small house.

I like this about Heb 10 24/25 Christian s are exhorted by the verb katanoomen to be constantly aware of one another and the need to stimulate another to loving behavior and good works. The word translated "provoke" is parosusmon. It refers to sharp contention and argument, suggesting that believers must sharply confront one another with their responsibility. If such admonition is to take place, Christians must meet together on a regular basis. A Christian can not prophet from the gifts of others unless he fellowships with them. Apparently those receiving this epistle were withdrawing from the fellowship of the whole congregation. in favor of their miniflock. In the light of approaching day (a reference of the return of the lord in judgement with some implications for the nearness of Jerusalem's destruction) the gathering of all as urged.

So some today are doing exactly what the lord through Paul was saying here. Disagree but its not me your disagreeing with. I know for a fact I am only part of His body. I cannot bear fruit of myself. All of this is about others never self. As a wise grandmother who prayed 4h a day once said if you want to know who is being talked about listen for me me me I I I. So much of this chat is about me me me. What I want what I believe. He gave you something to give to others that believe. He gave them something you need. Yet what ever you and I choose He will not say a word.

I know what you mean.

It’s actually “the assembling of ourselves together”. The writer did not use the word for “meeting”. He used a different word, a word only used one more time in scripture when it references our assembling to the Lord.

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…”

I certainly support fellowship among the saints and getting together often. The scriptures are clear about this.

The passage is also set against “a Day”. Capital D. “When you see the Day approaching”. This is not Sunday. This is the return of the Lord. We should be more earnest to walk in the assembling of ourselves together as the Day approaches. The reason is obvious: there are dark day leading up to the Lord’s return. The exhortation and encouragement from the Lord will come to the Body through the body. If we are not fit together and if we cannot discern the Lord in others we will not receive what is given to the Body.

Now, this happens locally, in small groups, and this occurs in cities: e.g. in the city of Corinth the saints would occasionally gather all at once but they would also gather in smaller groups in the households of Chloe or Aristobulus or Narcissus or Stephanas, etc.

Paul admonished the saints in Corinth for sectarianism, preferring to be divided according to men of the Lord who were sent to them…

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

“For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided?”

Do you think the saints today declare, with a clear conscience, “I am Baptist” or “I am Lutheran” or “I am Calvinist” or “I am Evangelist” or “I am of Christ”? I do. I think they think nothing of it. They think it’s normal and even appropriate.

Precious friend, please visit:

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Please be Very Richly Encouraged And Edified In Christ.

Amen.

Thankyou Grace !

That is simply splitting hairs. Whenever Christians assemble together, it becomes a meeting. The problem is that you have a warped view about this matter. All the Christians within the apostolic churches were assembling together at least once a week -- on the Lord's Day (the first day of the week) -- for the Lord's Supper and also to worship. So this is an NT practice.

You have the typical "Sunday School" understanding of this passage. It was taught that way to fill the pews, to fill the coffers, and, most recently, to pay the bills during lock down.

Of course they met together and frequently. Saying I said otherwise is a weak straw-man argument.

I wonder, do you follow up your assertion by claiming that those who do not meet on Sundays are worthy of punishment because they "trampled the Son of God underfoot", "counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing" and "insulted the Spirit of grace"?

These are the immediately following verses:

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Actually verses 26-31 connect directly to verse 23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)

And verses 24 and 25 are parenthetical. Paul is warning the Hebrew Christians not to turn back to Moses in 26-31. But 24 and 25 are not a part of the warning. Rather they are an exhortation to encourage one another: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

There are places in Hebrews where unconnected thoughts are laid out side by side, especially in chapter 13.

"Unconnected thoughts"? That's a first.

The book is actually a well designed legal treatise that appeals to a legally-minded people.

Furthermore, the writer is writing to Jews. Jews needed to no encouragement to meet. The Jews had meetings about meetings.

This is a warning about refusing to be assembled into the Body of Christ that contained Gentiles. This is the same reason Paul opposed Peter to his face: he preferred the company of Jews over the gentiles.

Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. This is reminding them of their historical covenant.

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot... This is the reality of the new covenant that includes Gentiles. The Body of Christ IS the corporate Son of God. This is a warning about forsaking that assembly. If the Jews refused to receive a man in the Lord because he was a gentile then they are rejecting the Son of God.

counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace... This is the linchpin of the new covenant: grace. Grace is juxtaposed against the Law.

The "profession of our faith" in verse 24 is just that: we are one in Christ Jesus with all who are in His grace.