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.
I would not believe in holy scripture if not the directed so by the Catholic Church.
| Mark 9:1 | "the kingdom of God" | "with power" | ||
| Luke 24:46-49 | "with power" | "beginning from Jerusalem" | ||
| Acts 1:6-8 | "power" | "Jerusalem" | "Holy Spirit" | |
| Acts 2:1-5 | "Jerusalem" | "Holy Spirit" |
Finally, a thread on this subject that I can get behind! The true church is NOT the Catholics, the Amish, the Baptists, the Shakers or the Methodists. It’s those who believe on the shed blood of Jesus Christ for their salvation and redemption. Period.
All of you people believe that anyone who doesn’t agree with you and go to your church/chapel is an apostate from Christianity.
As a result, “Everyone but me and thee is, well, an atheist, and I wonder about thee ... “. We won’t even get into Mormonism, Judaism, Islam and the Asian/African heathens.
“‘We are the best selected few / And all the rest are damned; /
There’s room in heaven for me and you / But we can’t have heaven crammed’”
I have read all comments. None addressed this particular declaration. NOT even the Scriptures quoted.
I cannot help but wonder what exactly is the object of worship on these threads. Actually, in Revelation, John taken in Spirit to the Lord's DAY describes 7 different churches in existence and their 'spiritual' condition.
Christ said in Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Imagine that, before one jot or tittle of the NEW Testament ever got put on animal skins, or plant fibers, all things had already been foretold. Sadly the majority of 'modern' Christians ignore what Paul had to say about what had already happened and written. ICorinthians 10:11 Now *all* these things happened unto them for ensamples: (examples) and they are written for our admonition, (warning) upon whom the ends of the world (age) are come.
Paul's writings were to the 'elect', the House of Israel, House of Judah, and the Gentiles. Some of what Paul wrote goes right over so many heads. One specific example would be Ephesians 1:4---
The comity here among the "true Christians" is very instructive to an atheist like myself.
The Church...
In the present dispensation there is only one true Church, which is called the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22,23; 3:1-6) separate and distinct from the prophesied, earthly kingdom of Christ. The historicalmanifestation of the Body of Christ began with the Apostle Paul before he wrote his first epistle (I Thes. 2:14-16; cf. Acts 13:45-46; Phil. 1:5,6 cf. Acts 16; I Cor. 12:13, 27 cf. Acts 18)
That the early church was a continuation of Judaic worship is the Biblical secret that almost the entire nominally Christian community today exists to deny.
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God said (scriptures): Build a Church, singular, one church.
Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
Confirmation (scriptures) there will only be one church, and no matter what, It will stand against all hell. Sorry I can only see this as being the Catholic Church, For what other church has the succession of Authority? Only one church can have Authority, The rest can and I know do serve in other ways. Anyone can disagree all they want, but I will take the Word of God over the interpretations of Men.
EPH 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
Col 1:18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.
Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
Mat 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump. I ran over and said: "Stop. Don't do it."
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked.
"Well, there's so much to live for!"
"Like what?"
"Are you religious?"
He said, "Yes."
I said, "Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?"
"Christian."
"Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?"
"Protestant."
"Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"
"Baptist."
"Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"
"Baptist Church of God."
"Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"
"Reformed Baptist Church of God."
"Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?"
He said: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915."
I said: "Die, heretic scum," and pushed him off.