You have contradicted yourself. You claim on the one hand that He draws all people to himself --then you withdraw that and say that those who are convicted of their sin are drawn to Him.
Each and every person past, present and future are not drawn to Christ. It means all sorts of people. It's not a mere attraction. Those that are drawn by Him are united with Him. Christ doesn't go half-way.
I am not the one with the contradiction.
This is precisely what Christ said, and not to his disciples only but to all, in public:
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John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.[/FONT]
He continues the same discourse to the end of the chapter:
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John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come
a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge
the world, but to
save the world.[/FONT]
Who was he talking to?
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John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:[/FONT]
--It was a mixed multitude. Some of the chief rulers believed. Obviously there were Pharisee (whom they feared) that were also present. The greater context gives you a better idea.
He is in the Temple at Jerusalem. The Chief Priests along with the Pharisees are there plotting to kill him. Thousands have gathered for the feast.
Jesus has made it plain. He came to all the world. They have only one option. They will either be judged by him or be saved by him. That is still the option that all people have in the world today. There is only one way of salvation; and that is through Christ. If anyone say that there is another they preach a false gospel. This is the message Christ was getting across right here.
I'm not joining your pity party. The local assembly (or assemblies) in Ephesus is being addressed. But obviously it applies to all the elect of God from around the world in all ages. Christ laid down His life for His Bride --the Church Universal. Christ did not die for the believers in Ephesus alone!
His bride, yes; universal church, no! No such animal exists as a universal church. It is a contradiction in terminology. One cannot have an "unassembled assembly." How does that make any sense? It doesn't. This is where OR's and Icon's favorite commentator comes useful. (I have never read his commentary, but from time to time I read his translation). I am speaking of Darby, of course. He faithfully translates ekklesia as assembly every time it appears. If the KJV had done that there would be a lot less confusion in our ecclesiology.
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Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers,
to shepherd the assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own.[/FONT]
--It was their duty to pastor or shepherd the assembly of God which was located in Ephesus. He had gathered together the elders of Ephesus (vs.17) and was addressing them! Context!
As much as it hurts your pride the U-Church is not in this picture.
What do you do with 1 Cor. 12:12-30? Look at verse 27 especially :"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." Was Paul only referencing the believers in Corinth, or is it a truth that applies to all believer everywhere? That latter most certainly. All believers are the Bride of Christ --His cherished possession.
I agree with the statement that all believers are the bride. They are also in the kingdom. They are also in the family of God--we are brothers and sisters in Christ. But they are not in the "Church." There is no such thing. The word means "local church" every time.
1Cor.12:12-30? Are you sure you want to go there?
It is a local church only passage. You have to do some serious eisigesis to make it anything else but!
He is speaking specifically to the church of Corinth and its problem of divisiveness. It has already been addressed before, but here in the context of spiritual gifts given to the local church he addresses the problem once again. Notice:
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1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?[/FONT]
The "body" that is the local church as a whole, has many members. They all need to work together or the church will continue to be divided. This church had ALL the gifts.
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1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:[/FONT]
--They didn't lack in any of them.
Many of the Corinthians being "carnal" wanted more than what God had given them. As in Charismatic circles today, they wanted to look spiritual at any cost; they wanted to be seen by others; they weren't content with some of the "lesser gifts." The fourteenth chapter gives us the clues we need here that many of them were seeking after tongues when the gift really wasn't theirs to seek after.
So Paul tells them that they must use the gifts that God gave them:
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15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?[/FONT]
The foot cannot be the hand. Not everyone can be a hand.
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1 Corinthians 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?[/FONT]
--Not everyone can be an eye.
--We all have to work together in the local church contributing the various talents and gifts that God has given us.
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1 Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.[/FONT]
--This is the central theme. The local church is one body, but it has many members, and we all have to work together as one unified body.
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1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.[/FONT]
--Now were getting down to basics. These verses can never apply to a U-Church. It is impossible. It speaks of caring one for another. Tell me can you physically care for a sick person over in Africa, Asia or South America? If not, then how is this speaking of a U-Church? It isn't. It is local church only.
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1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.[/FONT]
--Applicable to local churches only! How can you suffer with those you have never seen nor heard? Impossible! But we do care for, suffer with, and rejoice with the others in our own local church when they go through trials and/or win victories.
There is no U-church.
And you are off and running on your eschatological jaunt. Matthew 25:31-46 is dealing with all of humanity.
I agree. All of humanity that is left at the end of the Tribulation. :smilewinkgrin:
The Bride will have been raptured seven years previous to that time.
Two distinct groups are featured --the lost and the redeemed --goats and sheep respectively. It's dealing with eternal destinies. Christ does not save or die for those He doesn't know.
He died for Judas Iscariot.
He died for both thieves on the cross. Only one repented. Both equally had the same chance. He paid the penalty for all our sins. His blood is sufficient for all the sins of the world. You seem to think Christ was not as powerful as either He said or could be. Why do you believe in a "weakened" Christ?
He is all-powerful, and died for all the sins of all mankind. Whether or not man appropriates that gift of salvation unto himself is up to him.