Posted on 01/14/2012 8:23:15 PM PST by bibletruth
In the present dispensation there is only ONE true Church, which is called the Body of Christ separate and distinct from the prophesied, earthly kingdom of Christ vested in redeemed National Israel as a called-out nation or church, assembly or congregation, above all other nations.
In the present dispensation there is only ONE True Church, which is called the Body of Christ which is a separate and distinct one new man from the Old Testament prophesied earthly kingdom of God which Christ Jesus as Messiah was prophesied to vest in the redeemed National Israel as a called-out nation or church, assembly or congregation, above all other nations and to have all Nations come to National Israel for God's blessings upon the Gentiles.
The historical beginning of this One True Church, the Body of Christ, began with the Apostle Paul - which God and Christ Jesus commissioned and appointed as an Ambassador for Christ to all Gentiles today and for all Christian history - of which this appointment was made by a Holy God and Christ Jesus before Paul wrote his first epistles. These facts are all laid out succinctly in Scripture for all who care to read and understand : 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:6; 4:4; Acts 20:24, Romans 12:4-5; Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; 7:3; Galatians 3:27, Galatians 6:15; Colossians 1:18, Colossians 1:24, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, cf. Acts 13:45-46; Philippians 1:5-6, cf. Acts 16; 1 Corinthians 12:13 & 27, cf. Acts 18; 1 Timothy 1:14-16.
The True Church - The Body of Christ
Colossians 1:18 And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:18 CLEARLY TEACHES CORRECTLY that the Church consists of ALL believers in Christ, and that he [Christ] is the head of the body, THE CHURCH. No man-made organization usurps God's appointment of who the True Church is - which is ALL believers IN CHRIST and ALL believers who believe in Christ Jesus no matter what organization they may belong - no man is a judge over God's elect!
In order for something to be the head of the body and the church, it must ORIGINATE FROM THE BEGINNING, and be THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD; in order that in ALL THINGS HE [CHRIST] MIGHT HAVE THE PREEMINENCE. Those are GOD's requirements; not mine; if you disagree, then take it up with God Almighty!
Moreover, these attributes can ONLY be fulfilled IN CHRIST. It is not possible that these qualities [originating from the beginning!] [first born from the dead!!] [preeminence!!!] are able to be fulfilled in an earthly organization or building...
Only CHRIST has PREEMINENCE. Christ is God. No man, woman, or child is equal or higher than Christ! That would be blasphemy... let him be anathema who believes he is equal or higher than Christ.
The Error of the Traditional view of the Church
Two major problems exist for the traditional view. The first is that God explicitly states through the apostle Paul that the Church, the Body of Christ, was a mystery, i.e. a “secret”. This is a serious problem because Paul made this declaration long after Pentecost.
The second problem is that there is no biblical evidence exists to support the view that anyone at Pentecost recognized that the Church, i.e. the Body of Christ, had come into existence. On the contrary, the biblical evidence indicates that at Pentecost the Twelve knew nothing about the Body of Christ. The apostle Paul is the only biblical writer who reveals the Church as the Body of Christ. No other writer mentions it.
The logical argument for rejecting the traditional view that the Church began on Pentecost is the following: Paul stated the Church, the Body of Christ, was a mystery, i.e. a secret. This means that the Church as the Body of Christ was an unknown entity. Paul declared this long after Pentecost. Nothing from the record at Pentecost indicates that the Twelve knew anything about the Body of Christ.
Therefore, it is not possible for the Body of Christ to have begun at Pentecost.
The Mystery, The Body of Christ
The Church, the Body of Christ, was a new creation, a “mystery” that God revealed to Paul. The Body of Christ did not exist before Paul nor inside the Gospels accounts, read and understand Ephesians 3.3-9; Colossians1.26-27; Romans 16.25-27. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the Body of Christ. He declared that it was a mystery God had revealed to him alone. Paul wrote by revelation the book to the Ephesians by the revelation of God and Christ regarding the mystery that was revealed to Paul alone (see verse 3:3; and that this mystery had NOT BEEN MADE KNOWN to any other generations or to the sons of men or to the 12 Jewish apostles in the Gospel accounts.
Ephesians 3:1: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Ephesians 3:2: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Ephesians 3:3: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Ephesians 3:4: Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Ephesians 3:5: Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Ephesians 3:7: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Ephesians 3:8: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Ephesians 3:9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 3:10: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Ephesians 3:11: According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Ephesians 3:12: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Ephesians 3:13: Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Ephesians 3:14: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 3:15: Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Ephesians 3:16: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians 3:18: May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Ephesians 3:19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Ephesians 3:20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us
Romans 3:4: ...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written...
Thank you. Just thank you...May God’s Truth be a beacon of growing in His Word, from milk to meat, from babes to mature believers, firmly rooted in the Scriptures and workmen that needeth not to be ashamed when they stand before Him. God Bless!
Its name is the Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ.
The Church began at Pentecost when God the Holy Spirit indwelt believers through faith in Christ.
Secondly, until His Body is complete, Israel is represented by a remnant, but not to be confused with the present day nation of Israel.
There are many indications that many of Israel are being drawn back into the land, and that this first regathering is being performed in unbelief, whereas at the Second Coming, the regathering will occur in belief in Him.
The Apostles and the Priesthood ~ Part 3 [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Apostles and the Priesthood ~ Part 2 [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Apostles and the Priesthood ~ Part I [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The name is the Body of Christ with Christ as HEAD of the ENTIRE invisible Church of true believers which God the Father and the resurrected Christ Jesus appointed and founded and commissioned the Apostle Paul to preach to the Gentiles. Read all those scripture verses to prove what God and His Christ view point is on this matter.
Wrong - the problem is that there is no biblical evidence exists to support the view that anyone at Pentecost recognized that the Church, i.e. the Body of Christ, had come into existence. On the contrary, the biblical evidence indicates that at Pentecost the Twelve knew nothing about the Body of Christ. The apostle Paul is the only biblical writer who reveals the Church as the Body of Christ. No other Bible writer mentions it.
All believers in Christ at Pentecost were the first priests of the catholic Church.
There are many believers today who do not understand what their spiritual gifts are.
It took some 400 years before the doctrine of the Trinity was well expressed by the Church, nevertheless, the work of God the Holy Spirit is not impotent.
The gift of Apostleship didn’t only occur after Paul, but it was a unique spiritual gift of the Church Age.
The Catholic church gave up the gospel of Christ when it got into banking 500 years ago.
YOU ARE INCORRECT. I can type in caps too!
Christ mentions it prior to His Ascension.
The unique aspect of the Church Age is the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in all believers. They also are indwelt by God the Son and God the Father.
Documentation to support this notion of the secular kind????
Acts 2:14: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts 2:25: For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Gentiles would not care in the least bit about David - Peter is only speaking to Jews.
II Corinthians 5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Blah blah blah, protestants come and go, the Catholic Chruch remains. You can bitch all you want, but that’s the truth.
Sorry, I forgot the citation. That’s Acts 8:3
What is the "gospel" that Paul calls "my gospel"? It is found in 1 Cor. 15:1,3,4.
Did Peter preach the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried and resurrected on the third day on the day of Pentecost? NO. He was NOT preaching the good news of the Cross. He was preaching a message of restoration. For Jew and Gentile? no. For the nation Israel. The Cross is preached by Peter as SHAME for Israel, not good news. If people would just read Acts 2 and 3, they would find no mention of the Gospel of the Grace of God. Because it was not known until revealed to Paul. Paul is not saved until Acts 9, so the Church, the Body of Christ could NOT have begun before then. It's real simple if one would just read what God's Word ACTUALLY says instead of reading things into it that aren't there.
Of the Scriptural Kind.
Have never seen anything in Scripture that would confirm what you say. The only thing Scripture mentions is “the church.” Period. And every believer who has repented for their sins and believes in the finished work of Christ is a member of His Body, the church.
Case closed.
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