Matthew 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.”
Acts 7:38 (KJV): “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:”
Romans 16:27 “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.”
Colossians 1:18 “And he 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.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Definition of “church” (secular)
church (chûrch)
n.
1. A building for public, especially Christian worship.
2. often Church
a. The company of all Christians regarded as a spiritual body. (not very exacting in nature)
b. A specified Christian denomination: thePresbyterian Church.
c. A congregation.
3. Public divine worship in a church; a religious service: goes to church at Christmas and Easter.
4. The clerical profession; clergy.
5. Ecclesiastical power as distinguished from thesecular: the separation of church and state.
tr.v. churched, church·ing, church·es
To conduct a church service for, especially to performa religious service for (a woman after childbirth).
adj.
Of or relating to the church; ecclesiastical.
To me that’s quite a miss-mash of options to choose from.
Definition of “church” (theologically)
A group of Christians; church is a biblical word for “assembly.” ... (3) One of the large divisions or denominations of Christianity, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, Methodist Church, or Roman Catholic Church. (4) An individual congregation of Christians meeting in one building; also the building itself.
Strong’s definition of “church” Strong’s # 1577.
“ekklesai, a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or a Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):—- assembly, church.”
Paul’s definition of “church”:
“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ” Colossians 1:21-27.
Five scripture verses, four different definitions, three different authors, two different versions; but “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6. Adding, one gospel, one church, one way: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.
Sidebar: Where ever has any prophet, apostle or disciple made such statements; wrote such words, made such a declaration of faith as that? Only Paul and those under Paul’s apostleship as we are to be. “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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 3:1-5. But we do, by making Paul a lesser sort, rejecting Gods dispensations and calling Paul’s gospel the same as the twelve disciples. What did Peter say of Paul’s ministry? “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things
before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:15-18; the last written words of Peter that are recorded in our scriptures.
Path of salvation:
Believe that God is! “But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Agree with God that you have sinned! “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
Why the payment due is perfect, sinless blood! “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11.
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22
The price is paid by God in Christ! “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,(that isn’t John 3:16) not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
Believe God! “And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me (Jesus, who He was, is and ever will be and what He, God, has done for us in Him, Christ); of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” John 16:8-11. By believing the gospel thats saves: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Upon Believing; immediately what happens?
God’s Spirit: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized (not water) into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink (not a liquid) into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. Also knowing, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14.
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
By His grace, I am the body of Christ, the “church, ” that attends a fellowship!!! and you also if in the LORD Jesus Christ, Amen . . . . . . .
Thank You LORD Jesus for loving me and giving me Your life. You are my needs, You are my wants, You are all in all to me, nothing lacking. Ever waiting for that day when my Great God and Saviour, You, will appear and I will be caught up and forever be with You in Your glory. In Jesus’s name Amen . . . . . . .
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