Posted on 04/09/2008 12:36:13 PM PDT by annalex
The Church is also typified as Bride of Christ, true, but neither in the very precise definition of the Church as the body of Christ, or in the bride typology will you find support for the Protestant doctrine of amorphous un-hierarchical “invisible church”. I can find plenty od scriptural support for the Church being visible, defined by baptism, hierarchical and sacramental structure.
No...no I looked in the mirror this morning and I'm not “invisible”. I've been sealed with the Holy Spirit as belonging to God.
Eph. 1:13,14, In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
One enters the Church visibly through baptism, and keeps membership visibly by taking the Holy Communion during Mass.
annalex can I ask you this question please:
Have you just on a one on one bases asked Jesus to come into your heart?
Salvation Is for Everyone
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.
6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven’ (to bring Christ down to earth).
7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead’ (to bring Christ back to life again).”
8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Yes, of course.
What makes you think I haven’t?
Thank you :)
I just needed to know for my own peace of mind.
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