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To: XeniaSt
Wrong, I am a member of a local church. Religion has nothing to do with that.

What is a church? It's a Greek word (ecclesia)meaning simply an assembly of believers.

1. It is translated "assembly" in the ordinary classical sense #Ac 19:32,39,41
2. It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church #Eph 5:23,25,27,29 Heb 12:23
3. A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia #Ro 16:5 Col 4:15
4. All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church #Ac 13:1 so also we read of the "church of God at Corinth" #1Co 1:2 "the church at Jerusalem" #Ac 8:1 "the church of Ephesus" #Re 2:1 etc.
5. The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world #1Co 15:9 Ga 1:13 Mt 16:18 are the church of Christ. The church visible "consists of all those throughout the world that profess Christ" is called "visible" because its members are known and its assemblies are public. Here there is a mixture of "wheat and chaff, " of saints and sinners. "God has commanded his people to organize themselves into distinct visible ecclesiastical communities, with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges, ordinances, and discipline, for the great purpose of giving visibility to his kingdom, of making known the gospel of that kingdom, and of gathering in all its elect subjects. Each one of these distinct organized communities which is faithful to the great King is an integral part of the visible church, and all together constitute the catholic or universal visible church." A credible profession of the true religion constitutes a person a member of this church. This is "the kingdom of heaven, " whose character and progress are set forth in the parables recorded in #Mt 13:1ff.

The church invisible "consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the head thereof." This is a pure society, the church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ. it is called "invisible" because the greater part of those who constitute it are already in heaven or are yet unborn, and also because its members still on earth cannot certainly be distinguished. The qualifications of membership in it are internal and are hidden. It is unseen except by him who "searches the heart." "The Lord knoweth them that are his" #2Ti 2:19 The church to which the attributes, prerogatives, and promises appertaining to Christ's kingdom belong, is a spiritual body consisting of all true believers, i.e., the church invisible.

1. Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged #Isa 49:13-23 60:1-14 When the Jews are at length restored, they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again into "their own olive tree" #Ro 11:18-24 comp. #Eph 2:11-22 The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their ministry disciples were "added" to the "church" already existing #Ac 2:47
2. Its universality. It is the "catholic" church; not confined to any particular country or outward organization, but comprehending all believers throughout the whole world.
3. Its perpetuity. It will continue through all ages to the end of the world. It can never be destroyed. It is an "everlasting kindgdom."

Will there be Catholics and non Catholics in heaven? Yes, If they are in the body of Christ. Membership of a local church doesn't guarantee anything.
1,429 posted on 02/23/2006 8:15:29 AM PST by Dewy (1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;)
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To: Dewy
I agree with you; that is my position.

CtId confuses church with His roman Church.

He thinks of Church as a man-made corporation headquartered in Rome.

b'shem Y'shua

1,434 posted on 02/23/2006 8:28:54 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Trust in YHvH forever, for the LORD, YHvH is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:4))
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