The INVISIBLE CHURCH of all believers who believe Jesus The Christ came in the flesh; was born of a virgin; died for our sins; rose again; is coming again . . . the basicsI'm interested in exploring the concept of this "invisible church" more, if you two (or anyone) is so inclined.
Is the statement above an acceptable definition for it? I ask because I wish to know how it's defined, and also, since, for JW's, that statement would fit their beliefs as well. But JW's don't believe Jesus is God.
So what I'm really asking is, what is the statement of faith that everyone who is a member of the "invisible church" must believe? What doctrines are non-negotiable?
Thanks.
Not sure my convictions or opinions should carry so much weight on that score . . .
But the creeds work for me. I realize some have quibbled over this or that part of one or the other of them.
Certainly Christ came in the flesh; born of a Virgin; crucified for our sins; rose again; Intercedes at the right hand of The Father; Is coming again to take us to rule and reign with Him.
would do it for me. But I suspect any number of basic foundational summaries would do for me.
Certainly I would affirm the 'Ordinances, Sacraments' of baptism and The Lord's Supper as well as I Cor 12-14 in terms of gifts of Holy Spirit and basic operation of such in basic church life. I wouldn't see it essential as quibbling over what each meant.
So what I'm really asking is, what is the statement of faith that everyone who is a member of the "invisible church" must believe? What doctrines are non-negotiable?
That is why you must search the Scriptures.
I don't set up any "statements of faith" or say what doctrines are non-negotiable. God does through the Scriptures. The Scripture has some doctrines pretty clearly laid out, and often repeated.
John 3:15-16
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 16:30-31
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Rom. 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The other doctrines are (I believe) meant to be harder to understand so that you seek God more and study the Bible more.
2Tim. 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The Holy Spirit is your guide to understanding.
Acts 2:38
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.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Rom. 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
I see in one of your responses that you believe the RC and OC over Protestant because they have hashed out these doctrines for you. Maybe, that's where you need to be right now. However, to just accept these traditions/doctrines without comparing them to Scripture/Word/Gospel is placing your faith into what others think, over the guidance of the Holy Spirit (which all believers have) and the Word.
2Tim. 4:2-4
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Notice where doctrine for the earliest Christians came from...the word, not tradition.
3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
How do you receive oral traditions? With itching ears. That's why the Apostles wrote the word down. (
Acts 13:48-49)
4
And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Where is the truth found? In the word.
John 1:1,10-14
¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
¶ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Sincerely,
Scubie