I don’t think one way or another about you. I do not know you, have only seldom communicated with you (in truth, most of the time I am not cognizant of responding to this one or that one—I just post and move on. If I have come across in an offensive way, I apologize. That was not my intention and is the reason I refrain more and more from engaging in these “discussions”—too easy to read emotions into them, where none is intended.
The point I was trying to unearth from scripture was that God’s desire is to communicate directly with His people (by His Spirit). John records the Lord’s promise of His Spirit that will guide His disciples into all truth. This was not intended only for those in His current hearing but all who receive His Spirit. You are correct about the OT verses I cited describing a future day when Israel would be brought back to the Lord, but the NT writer of the Hebrews cites the verse for the benefit of NT Hebrew believers who were in need of understanding the New Covenant they had been brought into.
In the meeting of believers I attend, we use the scriptures for all issues pertaining to life and godliness. Is the “church” important to us? Of course it is, it is where we meet, fellowship with/worship with like-minded believers. It is what the believer in Christ has been called unto. Does it play a role in our salvation? No. Salvation is all of the Lord. Does it play a role in our justification? No. Justification is by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Does it play a role in our sanctification? No. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God sanctifies. One’s presence in His church gives testimony to the works of God being done in the life a believer.
So the verse do not prove Sola Scriptura.
So if we've left behind the notion that those verse proved Sola Scriptura, let's look at other stuff together.John records the Lord’s promise of His Spirit that will guide His disciples into all truth. This was not intended only for those in His current hearing but all who receive His Spirit.
How do we know this?
Of course it is [important to us], it {church] is where we meet, fellowship with/worship with like-minded believers. It is what the believer in Christ has been called unto.
I certainly think this aspect of going to church should not be minimized. But I would say that all this is a vehicle for the "Word and Holy Spirit" to do their sanctifying.
You say:,br>One’s presence in His church gives testimony to the works of God being done in the life a believer.
Seriously, what is the good or purpose or point or benefit of giving such testimony?
My fave, now dead, prof and I agreed that since we are justified by Grace, we do good works because they are fun, especially when compared to bad works.All these things are gifts from God. The difference, I think, in our thinking is that I think they are sanctifying gifts.
I am one of those Cahtolics that goes to mass nearly every day of the week and nearly six days a week, I also pray the rosary with others. (And on the 7th day, usually, I pray it at home with my wife, or by myself.)
I don't do these things thinking that I am wracking up credit in the celestial accounting book or that there is some kind of sanctification vending machine.
But still I think some good is given to me, some lingering good which has to do in a vague way with increasing closeness to God and an increasing desire that my will be conformed to His, that he accept and use me as His servant.
(And as I always say, if the "me" we have to deal with no is more sanctified than t he previous me, that previous me was REALLY a mess!)
Oh well, I'm too tired to make sense. Have a blessed night.