Church distinctions

[Yeshua1]

Yes, he hit the bulls eye and now the bull has a black eye. What on earth does the percentage of saved within an assembly of people have to do with carrying out the work of the Lord? It is a given definition that the universal church has 100% true believer rate. It varies in the local church, depending on the local church. That fact has nothing to do with the fact that the Lord uses the local church to carry out His work. Using an obvious fact that the universal church is 100% saved to give credence to the myth that the universal church as some kind of function here on earth is about as lame as it gets.

the Universal church is NOT demoninations, not kust a local church gathering etc

it IS the total number of the saved of God, all who have been redeemed by the Cross, and they also here on earth meet and assemble in local churches..

This easter Sunday, those who belong to that Church of christ, His own, will be gathered in churches labeled baptist, methodist, Nazerene, etc...

 

[Alive in Christ]

Saturn neptune, you posted....


The universal church on this earth is nothing but an excuse for laziness, and to waste time during Sunday morning service saying creeds and chants.


Me...

What on earth are you talkin about? The universal church is nothing more than ALL of the christians here on earth, or in heaven. And why are you bringing up "laziness, creeds and chants???

You...


To even imply that the Lord accomplishes His work outside the structure of the local church is about the most illogiical thing that has been posted.

Me...Im sorry, but that is just pure sillness.



You...

So how does a person who is a Catholic who is really saved working in harmony with a Methodist who is truly saved to add a third element of a Baptist who is truly saved, in three churches, maybe at great distances, accomplish the work of the Lord, when the local church is right there?

Me

Because one..single..local...church can not possibly minister the to the entire earth

You...

If you are so stuck by the importance of a universal church here on earth, then why on earth would you be a Baptist, when the Catholic church and mainline Protestant churches want to cram the universal church down your throat, both visible and invisible, take your choice.


Me..

I attend a Baptist church because I agree more with thier distinctives than others.

And some of the others you listed i would not attend because they are filed with heresy and cultism

 

[Thomas Helwys]

What has been amusung to me is the concept that a person could be part of the Universal church, be saved and part of the body of christ and be heaven bound, yet because they do not meet all qualifications to be a member, might not be a member of a local church!

That's not amusing to me, but instead sad.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Its both amusing and sad

 

[Herald]

I never cease to be amazed at how a thread can devolve so quickly.

The invisible church (really the universal or catholic church) is an essential recognition that there is one body of Christ. Those that are pompously thumping their chests and bellowing, "Show me where that is in the bible!" need to understand that theological terms often describe what the Bible teaches in a manner in which all can understand. Words like transcendent, ineffable, and immanence each describe some aspect of God's being. The hypostatic union describes God taking on flesh. Perichoresis describes the intimate relationship, and corresponding roles; of Father, Son, and Spirit. All of these words and terms reflect biblical truth.

There are references to the universal (or catholic) nature of the Church in Acts 2:39; Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22-23; 5:23, 27, 32. Because people hardly ever take the time to look up references for themselves (instead they ignore them and make believe the poster never provided biblical support for their argument), I will provide the full scripture references below:

Acts 2:39 "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Hebrews 12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Ephesians 1:10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

Ephesians 5:27-32 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

There is a difference between substance and administration. The Church is the body of Christ. That is the substance of the Church. The Church is universal in nature because it includes all believers through out all time. The administration of the Church is through local assemblies, with Christ still as the head.