[CynicalBear]

>>Perhaps you might explain why Jesus referred to "building His Church" in the *singular* (ekklesia), not in the plural (ekklesiai)?<<

I will repeat it here.

Only those called by God, born from above, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit are part of the ekklesia of Christ. It includes all of those "called out" throughout history. That is the invisible ekklesia as only God knows who they all are. The local "assemblies" are members of the universal ekklesia and are the visible part of that ekklesia. Christ is the head of that ekklesia and present with them when meeting with as few as two or three. There is no single earthly organized hierarchical structure such as the Catholic Church would have you believe.

[paladinan]

Only those called by God, born from above, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit are part of the ekklesia of Christ.

...and you have a Scripture verse or verses which says that very thing, explicitly (so as to avoid "interpreting" anything)? Chapter and verse, please.

It includes all of those "called out" throughout history. That is the invisible ekklesia as only God knows who they all are.

Ah. So, when Jesus tells us to take unrepentant sinners "to the Church", He's saying to take them to an undetectable, invisible "collective" which can't possibly arbitrate anything, or be of any help at all in the situation? After all: if only God knows who the "Church members" are, then it'd be impossible for anyone but God to bring unrepentant sinners "to the Church"... right? FRiend, you're giving what's obviously your own opinion, here... and you're welcome to it, but it's not right to portray it as being in any way "objectively true, in general" (or anything other than your personal opinion).

The local "assemblies" are members of the universal ekklesia and are the visible part of that ekklesia.

From what I've gathered, you were originally replying to FatherofFive, when he wrote comment #186... and he wrote:

[CynicalBear]
How many "churches" did Jesus have John write to in Revelation?

[FatherofFive]
Great question. There is a Catholic Church in New York. There is a Catholic Church in Boston. There is a Catholic Church in San Diego. And on and on. Many Churches. One Church. All these Churches are one. One Body. One spirit. There is no question on what the meaning of what the meaning of the word 'is' is.

So... FatherofFive said that the seven Churches of Revelation are seven local Churches, united in One Church. You reply that FatherofFive is "wrong"... and the basis for that is, apparently, the fact that The local "assemblies" are members of the universal ekklesia and are the visible part of that ekklesia.

Explain to me, in small words, how this is saying something different than FatherofFive was saying? Because at present, it reads very much like someone hearing the statement "2 + 2 = 4", and replying, "No, no, you're wrong... it's equal to four, and it's when you add a two with another two!" I... don't follow.

Christ is the head of that ekklesia and present with them when meeting with as few as two or three.

Of course. That's Catholic teaching.

There is no single earthly organized hierarchical structure such as the Catholic Church would have you believe.

All right: you've just stated your raw, personal opinion. Now, in order to have anyone take it as anything other than your private fancy, you'll need to prove it. That's how logic works.