DNK, those early churches that you mentioned ,all participated in the same Doctrine/ teaching and not one of them were Baptist. I believe that Jesus knew a heck more about His Church than you do. Jesus said His Church would be "the light of the world". He then noted that "a city set on a hill cannot be hid ' Matt.5:14, This only means that His Church is a visable organization.
Ye are the salt of the earth; Ye are the light of the world.
That is what the passage says. It is not speaking of any kind of church. It is speaking of a person's testimony. How do you get church out of those metaphors?
The Church is One Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13.
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:5)
--"We" (the believers at Rome) are one body in Christ, (the body of Christ being the local assembly in Rome), and every one members one of another (members of the local assembly in Rome). Hence no universal Church.
Did you ever consider the context of 1Cor.10:17??
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? (1 Corinthians 10:16-19)
--The one body was the local church at Corinth. You better look at the sin they were committing before you jump to conclusions.
Jesus established only "one" Church, not an assembly of different "assemblies' as your mere man opinion reveals, He did not form a collection os different "assemblies " as you find today [ Baptists, Luterans, Mormons , Jehovah Witnesses ]
The assemblies he established are Biblical; hence that excludes the RCC, Mormons, J.W.'s, etc.
The word translated "church" is ekklesia. It cannot be used in a universal sense. It means assembly. It is impossible to have a universal assembly. Try and understand that! Where would a universal assembly meet? How would it function? Who would conduct the service? Who hold the Lord's Table and how would it be carried out in a universal assembly? You haven't even thought this through have you? Assembly cannot be used in a universal sense.
Jesus can have but "one' spouse, and His spouse is the Catholic Church. Which is WorldWide [ universal, as Jesus commanded ]
The RCC did not come into existence until the 4th century. So that is ruled out right away. It isn't worldwide. There are nations that are close to 100% Islamic, and the few that are there that are not Islamic are not Catholics. The RCC was never around when Jesus was or even when the apostles were.
The bride of Christ is composed of all true believers. But you cannot be a true believer and sincerely believe RC doctrine of salvation at the same time. A doctrine of works salvation only points one to hell! Hence it is not Christ's church no matter what way you look at it. It does not have the doctrine of Christ, the authority of Christ, the history back to Christ, etc. It, for all intents and purposes, is a pagan church outside the realm of Christianity.
His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines , which must be the same as the apostles [ Jude 3 ] along with Luke 10 :16
The RCC teaches heresy that comes nowhere near what the Apostles taught, nor what is taught in any other part of the Bible.
The Church is Holy Eph. 5:25-27, Rev. 19:7-8 By His grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as He is Holy.
You are taking Scripture out of context.
Eph.5:25-27 is speaking of marriage first. Second the church is the Ephesian church. Third he is using the Ephesian church in a generic way as representative of all other churches just like it: local, Biblical assemblies.
Rev.19 speaks of the coming of Christ. It has nothing to do with the church.
Here is a passage that has to do with the RCC:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw
the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:5-6)
--There have been more "saints" (believers in Christ) martyred by the RCC then by any other organization on earth throughout the annals of history.
The Church that Jesus formed is Catholic.
The Bible doesn't say that--anywhere--not even once.
Jesus' Church is called catholic [" universal"in Greek] because it is His gift to all people.
Don't tell lies. Catholic propaganda is not permitted here. Make your case from the Bible or don't make it all.
He told His Apostles to go throughout the world and make deciples of " all nations" [ Matt 28: 19-20 }
The apostles are not the RCC.
The Church is apostolic -Eph. 2:19-20. The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because He appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders/ teachers.
Every biblical local church has Christ as the chief cornerstone, then the prophets and apostles that make up the rest of the foundation. So every church is "apostolic" in its makeup.
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)
--Written to the local church at Ephesus, which is an example for every local church.
Why is it DHK that you never support your answers with biblical verses/ passages??
I do. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
