In a way... but no. The Body of Christ is all of us joined in Holy Matrimony through His Bride, the Church. However, you have a fundamental error in your understanding of the Church. It is more than a gaggle of believers... it is believers adhering to common doctrines with the authority to protect these. This is where the Protestant churches have shown the folly of schism. Here are some elements of the Church of Scripture...
1. The Church must have its historical origins in Christ.
2. The Church must have authority.
3. The Church must have autonomy from temporal powers.
4. The Church must have a sacrifice to offer.
5. The Church must have an altar on which to offer the sacrifice.
6. The Church must have a priesthood to offer the sacrifice.
Can you think of any modern institutions which qualify?
I wouldn't look down your nose at those trusting in Christ's righteousness for salvation as a "gaggle". These saints are much more precious, obviously, to God than to you.
Can you think of any modern institutions which qualify?
Why would I care to spend time thinking about what meet your qualifications when you are a person who defines believers as a "gaggle"?
In a way... but no. The Body of Christ is all of us joined in Holy Matrimony through His Bride, the Church. However, you have a fundamental error in your understanding of the Church. It is more than a gaggle of believers... it is believers adhering to common doctrines with the authority to protect these. This is where the Protestant churches have shown the folly of schism. Here are some elements of the Church of Scripture...
1. The Church must have its historical origins in Christ.
2. The Church must have authority.
3. The Church must have autonomy from temporal powers.
4. The Church must have a sacrifice to offer.
5. The Church must have an altar on which to offer the sacrifice.
6. The Church must have a priesthood to offer the sacrifice.
Can you think of any modern institutions which qualify?
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On what basis do you insist that a church must have those qualities to be the *true* church?
Do you have Scriptural support for that?
Or is this simply ANOTHER case of the Catholic church deciding what defines a church and then says, *Oh look! Guess who’s the only one to qualify for our definition of church?*
how convenience......
You posted:
1. The Church must have its historical origins in Christ.
2. The Church must have authority.
3. The Church must have autonomy from temporal powers.
4. The Church must have a sacrifice to offer.
5. The Church must have an altar on which to offer the sacrifice.
6. The Church must have a priesthood to offer the sacrifice.
I can see where you are going with statements 1-3.
Statements 3-6 seem to contradict New Testament teaching.
Read Hebrews.
The sacrifice of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world has been completed. God has accepted the offering for the sins of His flock.
There is no further sacrifice.
Rome somehow does not believe the first time was good enough. Apparently the sacrifice didn't stick. It must be repeated ad nauseum in contradiction to God's word.
And there are no priests in the New Testament. There is the priesthood of all believers and the one "high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec," Jesus Christ.
There are teaching elders and pastors to preach the Gospel of Christ.
But there is no re-sacrifice. There are no "alter Christus."
Read your Bible and learn the truth. It will set you free, God willing.