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To: Blogger
[John 14-17)]

I am aware of these, but nowhere does Christ say that the gift of the Holy Ghost will bypass His Church, and when He actually sends Him, the recipients are the apostles (John 20:22) and then, at Pentecost, the disciples in the Upper Room, who comprised the First Church. Acts 2:38 explains that the gift is received by the believer at baptism, that is, again from the Church.

6,253 posted on 01/16/2007 11:21:46 AM PST by annalex
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To: annalex; Blogger; wmfights; Diamond; HarleyD
I am aware of these, but nowhere does Christ say that the gift of the Holy Ghost will bypass His Church

Certainly not. Your confusion comes from the fact you have an incorrect understanding of who makes up the church.

WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH
Chapter XXV - Of the Church

I. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all.

II. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

III. Unto this catholic visible Church Christ has given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and does, by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto.

IV. This catholic Church has been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.

V. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to His will.

VI. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.

Westminster Confession of Faith
with Scripture proofs

6,270 posted on 01/16/2007 11:58:05 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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