What do we mean by 'the church'
- Thread starter wattie
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Still a local congregation. That group could meet anywhere tho.
The calling out.. doesn't HAVE to be from their own home, but that is the general rule of thumb. Its more of being separated out by God as a local church to be light to their community.
A church tho is no building.. it's the saved, baptized group that may or may not have a building.
So even someone having church in their own home... they are still called out gathered together from everyday life to worship.
The calling out.. doesn't HAVE to be from their own home, but that is the general rule of thumb. Its more of being separated out by God as a local church to be light to their community.
A church tho is no building.. it's the saved, baptized group that may or may not have a building.
So even someone having church in their own home... they are still called out gathered together from everyday life to worship.
Just because "church" applies to local congregations does not mean that it does not apply to the entire Body of Christ. Scripture uses the term in both ways, so let me show you where it applies to all the children of God in all ages: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is his Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. (Eph 1:22,23)
Note: I have purposely capitalized all the words that should have been capitalized but were not.
Now do you see that this could not possibly be limited to the church at Ephesus. Neither could it be limited to just the churches in the first century. His Body includes ALL who belong to Christ through all ages until the Rapture.
In view of this you should give up your false teaching regarding the Church. There are more than enough false teachings being promoted today. There is only ONE Body, and there is only ONE Head. And you are trying to pervert this truth.
Note: I have purposely capitalized all the words that should have been capitalized but were not.
Now do you see that this could not possibly be limited to the church at Ephesus. Neither could it be limited to just the churches in the first century. His Body includes ALL who belong to Christ through all ages until the Rapture.
In view of this you should give up your false teaching regarding the Church. There are more than enough false teachings being promoted today. There is only ONE Body, and there is only ONE Head. And you are trying to pervert this truth.
Concerning one body and that I am talking of multiple bodies.
Consider that the Holy Spirit indwells the soul of a believer. Is that multiple Holy Spirits?
The Holy Spirit is also 'in the midst' of church.. see Matthew 18.
Many many churches.. is that many Holy Spirits?
Now I am speaking of a body of Christ being a local church. If the body is simply as a gathering, assembly, group.. then there can be many.
One Head.. Christ, over a body of saved baptized believers.
Jesus singular.. many bodies as in assembly, group, congregation.
Matthew 16:18.. Jesus refers to building His church.
21 times later it is local...
That is 21 to 1 times that the first case of referring to it is also local.
Why would He start with a universal, invisible entity and then not refer to it again?
Consider that the Holy Spirit indwells the soul of a believer. Is that multiple Holy Spirits?
The Holy Spirit is also 'in the midst' of church.. see Matthew 18.
Many many churches.. is that many Holy Spirits?
Now I am speaking of a body of Christ being a local church. If the body is simply as a gathering, assembly, group.. then there can be many.
One Head.. Christ, over a body of saved baptized believers.
Jesus singular.. many bodies as in assembly, group, congregation.
Matthew 16:18.. Jesus refers to building His church.
21 times later it is local...
That is 21 to 1 times that the first case of referring to it is also local.
Why would He start with a universal, invisible entity and then not refer to it again?