The True Church

The NT describes 'church' as an ecclessia.. which means congregation or assembly.

Every believer at this time.. does not assemble. Not as one body.

The body is described in 1 Corinthians 12 and Paul calls the local body at Corinth.. the Body of Christ.

It's defined by assembly and locality, togetherness, fellowship, interconnectedness.

That's describing a local church.. not every believer.

As to there being one body... yes.. there is one body in each area in the NT. A local church IS a body.

It's not speaking of Christ's literal body.. but many assemblies He owns.

The body of Christ is the church. The church in almost every reference in the NT is local and visible.

I am a member of the Family of God. I'm also a member of a local body of believers. They aren't the same thing. I could be saved and not in a body of believers. Not in a body of Christ.

Whether you disapprove of your brother or sister, forgive seventy and seven times, or a million times, but we are still one member in the body of Christ.
Maybe what I said was inappropriate, but please forgive me, or I misunderstood what you said.

We mostly agree. ‘Cept “ekklesia“ literally means “the called out”. Certainly, because the ekklesia is one body we are called to function as one body wherever and whenever we, the members, gather.

As far as “visible” is concerned: that’s a Western ideal. If the church in Tehran were visible it would be destroyed, as it would in many muslim countries or China. In my own experience in the US, not attending a Sunday box meeting and instead pastoring the flock in my everyday life, like a father to children, has come with a considerable cost and persecution. And this is in the rural, conservative Midwest. I have nothing against all gathering together in one location, mind you.

And consider that apostles are mobile. They may be an elder in their town but carry a different grace when they travel.

Things are coming around just the way the prophets prophesied they would. No worries brother. God is still on the throne.

My take on this is the true church are those who think and act like Jesus. Those who accept His sacrifice for their sins and repent, believe and follow Him. There are true believers in every denomination and I don't think we will know the True Church until there are only two groups of people.

Those who will follow Jesus unto death if necessary and those who do not believe or follow Jesus.

Every single thing He taught according to whom?

You reject His scriptural truth and then wonder why you flounder?

His teachings are the same in every translation. Few know what he teaches. the false religions claiming to be his teach little of what he taught.

So what are the false religions and what are the true? I hope you don't say "those who teach exactly what Jesus taught" again. I'm looking for specific groups. If you don't know that's cool.

In my experience it's best to understand the form and function of the church, how it's portrayed in the Biblical record and the examples we see, therein, of its leaders. From that we can discern a standard. I

But I'm careful not to label anyone a "true church member" or a "false church member" for several Biblical reasons. As Jesus was, my judgement is more narrow for those who proclaim to be church leaders but I have met many true believers who love the Lord who attend various denominational church boxes on Sundays; either out of family tradition or for other reasons. If they will allow it, the light that is in me from the Lord would affect their perception of Christ and the church. Some allow the light in, some are content with continuing on in their traditions. For those who continue on I pray, believing, that the Lord will deal with their hearts and minds. Just as I pray for several on this message board.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The body of Christ ( the church )

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ( spirit of Christ )

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39, 41-47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:27-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the body of Christ is why we are baptized in his name , it’s why we take communion remembering his body and blood , it’s why we pray in his name , it’s why we receive his spirit , why we spread his word ect

anyone who hears and believes the true gospel that he sent into the world for salvation and acts upon that faith is a member of the body of Christ.

“the body of Christ” is another way to say the church.

His flesh and blood , his spirit , his word , his name

They will become more obvious as the end nears.

I suppose that is you?

Often it is ‘triumph through persecution and death’, perhaps that’s what is needed to shake up the Western Churches?

The one that is hated. Jesus taught--they will hate you because they hated me first.

There is ONLY one True Church or Assembly. The "Universal Assembly" which Christ is building. Only this aspect is composed of true believers, saved by God's mercy and compassion, through Grace.

All other aspects of the church or filled with both believers and unbelievers. The Universal Assembly is in full view as the Bride of the Lamb. No unbelievers exist within the completed Bride.

The church is when ever and where ever a body of believers gather, to preach the gospel, make disciples, baptise, and break bread as in the Lord's Supper.

I enjoyed reading your post but it does raise a question?

Do you not believe in the Universal Assembly, which is invisible and heavenly? If not, where do the believers that have gone on to be with the Lord assemble? How can local assemblies make-up the body of Christ - His body is one and the assembly is one. Would not local assemblies have the body of Christ spread all over and how could they be considered unified with each other on all aspects?

The seven assemblies in Asia, (Revelation 1-3), were very different from each other. Some received commendation from Christ, while others received condemnation.

The local assemblies on earth are the visible manifestation of the coming Kingdom.

Why do so many believe that the true assembly or church began at Pentecost?

At Pentecost, we have the empowering of the fledgling assembly. The promise fulfilled of the coming of the "Comforter" - the Holy Spirit. However, this was not the beginning of the assembly which Christ said He is building. After all, how many believers were assembled on the day of Pentecost? Were they not a true assembly?

Additionally, when Jesus revealed the assembly which He is building, was there not already a local assembly of both believers and unbelievers, (Judas). Did not the disciples of Christ constitute the modern definition of a local, visible assembly? Were they not in the body of Christ? The Holy Spirit was not yet indwelling the believers as He would because it was not yet necessary. They were in the sphere of the Lord Himself. Believers, today, on earth, have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit because we are absent from the Lord and the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. When the Lord was ministering on earth, the disciples did not need both the 2nd. Person of the Godhead and the 3rd.

Think it through, the first local assembly had started way before Pentecost.