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questions about the church

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by bigczardaddy, Oct 13, 2005.

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  1. bigczardaddy

    bigczardaddy New Member

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    1. Is the church universal or local?
     
    #1 bigczardaddy, Oct 13, 2005
  2. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    The church Christ is building is made up of all believers from all time everywhere.

    The church I worship in with other believers of my time and place is local. A very small sub-division, if you like!
     
    #2 Helen, Oct 13, 2005
  3. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    both
     
    #3 StefanM, Oct 13, 2005
  4. APuritanMindset

    APuritanMindset New Member

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    The church (small "c") is local. The Church (capitol "C") is universal.
     
    #4 APuritanMindset, Oct 14, 2005
  5. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

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    Universal, when you are talking about all Christians unless Jesus only has one local church and the rest are just fake copies.

    Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

    Local, when you are talking about groups of Christians in various communities.

    Act 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

    My family is composed of everyone that is kin to me but my family in my hometown is considerably smaller but they are my family nonetheless. I have a hard time even conceiving of this as a difficulty for someone to understand.
     
    #5 Artimaeus, Oct 14, 2005
  6. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Yes, it is! [​IMG]
     
    #6 John of Japan, Oct 14, 2005
  7. Plain Old Bill

    Plain Old Bill New Member

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    There are LNTC's that teach that there is no universal church(as in all true believers).This is mostly found in hyper-fundamentalist type groups.This of course causes some to become confused.The Universal church somehow gets equated with ecumentalism which is not what the Bible is talking about.
    There is the local New Testament Church which is a body of saved,Baptized,voted in church members and there is the Universal Church which consists of all who are saved and are the Bride of Christ at the Marriage Supper of The Lamb in heaven.The universal church is not identifiable down here where we are on earth and only God(in Holy Trinity form)knows who is a part of it.
     
    #7 Plain Old Bill, Oct 14, 2005
  8. Brother Ian

    Brother Ian Active Member

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    Yes on both counts.
     
    #8 Brother Ian, Oct 14, 2005
  9. bigczardaddy

    bigczardaddy New Member

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    2.Is the universal church visible or invisible?
     
    #9 bigczardaddy, Oct 15, 2005
  10. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    We can see some of the people in it, but most are with the Lord now.
     
    #10 Helen, Oct 15, 2005
  11. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    The church is local. It is an assembly (ekklasia). The idea of an assembly that doesn't assemble but is scattered all over the world is ridiculous.

    In the bible all the saved are called "the family of God" or "the Kingdom of God" but never are all the saved called "the church of God."
     
    #11 TCassidy, Oct 15, 2005
  12. natters

    natters New Member

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    Acts 20:28, 1 Cor 10:32, 1 Cor 11:22, 1 Cor 15:9, Gal 1:13, 1 Tim 3:15
     
    #12 natters, Oct 15, 2005
  13. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

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    Just curious. Where is this quote from?
     
    #13 Artimaeus, Oct 15, 2005
  14. Plain Old Bill

    Plain Old Bill New Member

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    I think that's a Bill Gaither song.
     
    #14 Plain Old Bill, Oct 15, 2005
  15. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    Yes, exactly. Thank you for proving my point.
     
    #15 TCassidy, Oct 15, 2005
  16. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
     
    #16 TCassidy, Oct 15, 2005
  17. APuritanMindset

    APuritanMindset New Member

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    I would say both. It is visible in the sense that we can know a Christian by their fruits, but invisible in that we really don't know who is genuine and who isn't and we have to take people at their word that they are or aren't.
     
    #17 APuritanMindset, Oct 15, 2005
  18. bigczardaddy

    bigczardaddy New Member

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    2---If it is invisible, how may we know it exists?
    2---If visible, what are its distinguishing characteristics that we may recognize it?
     
    #18 bigczardaddy, Oct 18, 2005
  19. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church (eκκλησία)
    and gave Himself up for her,"     Eph 5:25.

    Which local assembly did Christ love?

    Rob
     
    #19 Deacon, Oct 18, 2005
  20. kubel

    kubel New Member

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    Local assembly.
     
    #20 kubel, Oct 18, 2005
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