Where is the church

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ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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#42
In your view, by what process do people move from "completely disconnected from God" to "babes in Christ"?
Eph 2:5. When we were yet (spiritually) dead in sins, he quickened us together with Christ. Spiritually dead people thinks the things of the Spirit are foolishness (1 Cor 2:14).
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,606
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#43
Eph 2:5. When we were yet (spiritually) dead in sins, he quickened us together with Christ. Spiritually dead people thinks the things of the Spirit are foolishness (1 Cor 2:14).
Thanks, but I'm looking for a whole lot more than a single verse.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
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#45
Thanks, but I'm looking for a whole lot more than a single verse.
That is two scriptures that answer your question. If you don't see it, maybe it is hidden from your understanding of it.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,606
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#47
That is two scriptures that answer your question. If you don't see it, maybe it is hidden from your understanding of it.
Okay, if you want to be a jack-donkey, I'll leave you to it. I don't have time for stupid.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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#48
Sorry FGC, you are way too Calvanistic for me. You are dismissing evangelism due to your presupposition of pre-election. Jesus said to preach to the lost house of Israel because they were the chosen ones of God, and have not yet come to the truth about the Messiah. He was not talking about already saved people. Eternally saved, is eternally saved, no need to preach right or wrong doctrine as, according to you, it's incidental. Sorry FGC, you are speaking very strange things. BTW, Evangel means gospels or good news, even angel is derived from it. That shouldn't deter you from using it.
Sheep are God's born again people even if you avoid including it into Matt 10:6.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
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#49
Ideally this would be the objective. But as you know the visible Church -- Christendom -- is split into numerous divisions, many of them committed irrevocably to their false teachings.
So, you don't believe the scriptures to teach about the invisible church?
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#50
Jesus set up his church when he was on earth. Where is it today? What does it consist of? What is its purpose?
All over the place
Many Churches
Many purposes but the main one seems to be to wake us up and realise that we cant survive without Jesus Christ. Not eternally anyway.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
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#52
Do you think that because the true church of the Lord is not the visible church that we should not do all we can to make the visible church reflect only truth of the Lord?
Both the invisible and the visible church is the true church of Jesus Christ.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#53
So, you don't believe the scriptures to teach about the invisible church?
You have misunderstood my post. The true Church is invisible to man and visible to God only. Only those who are children of God by faith are within the Church, the Body of Christ. Just as Christ is invisible at present, so is the true Church.

At the same time, there are several groups claiming to be the true Church. But their doctrines and practices belie that.
 

Deade

Called of God
Dec 17, 2017
16,724
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Vinita, Oklahoma, USA
yeshuaofisrael.org
#54
Yawn. And the JW's rejoice when doors are slammed in their faces. Shared experience does not validate your position.
I am with you Dino. There are only two groups of people: Believers and unbelievers. No one is saved and ignorant of Christ's atonement. FGC says there are milk fed babes already saved, yet ignorant of Christ's work. I think not. 17no.gif
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#55
Both the invisible and the visible church is the true church of Jesus Christ.
That is impossible. There is no such thing as the visible Church. Within Christendom, there are churches and denominations, and among them there are many who are not children of God through the New Birth. As we know from Scripture, the wheat and the tares will remain together, and outwardly they are hard to distinguish. Only God knows who is within the true Church.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
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#57
You have misunderstood my post. The true Church is invisible to man and visible to God only. Only those who are children of God by faith are within the Church, the Body of Christ. Just as Christ is invisible at present, so is the true Church.

At the same time, there are several groups claiming to be the true Church. But their doctrines and practices belie that.
So. you are claiming that your doctrine and practice is the true church, but you are invisible?
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
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#58
I'm asking YOU for YOUR explanation.
You ask me, how does the man who is dead spiritually, become spiritually alive? Eph 2:5 and 1 Cor 2:14 explains it; Mankind is born naturally into this world spiritually dead, with the exclusion of John the baptist and Jacob. At sometime between their natural birth and their natural death, God regenerates them by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. He does not regenerate all mankind and that is according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1:5. Your terminology in your asking was a little confusing.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
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#59
That is impossible. There is no such thing as the visible Church. Within Christendom, there are churches and denominations, and among them there are many who are not children of God through the New Birth. As we know from Scripture, the wheat and the tares will remain together, and outwardly they are hard to distinguish. Only God knows who is within the true Church.
That is true, I don't know and you don't know, only God knows. But the true church will be preaching the same doctrine that Jesus taught. And that is visible by those who know that doctrine.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,606
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#60
You ask me, how does the man who is dead spiritually, become spiritually alive? Eph 2:5 and 1 Cor 2:14 explains it; Mankind is born naturally into this world spiritually dead, with the exclusion of John the baptist and Jacob. At sometime between their natural birth and their natural death, God regenerates them by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. He does not regenerate all mankind and that is according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1:5. Your terminology in your asking was a little confusing.
Regarding the bolded sentence, what is the context in which this happens? Out of the blue? In isolation from the Church? In the absence of preaching/witnessing/evangelism?

How did the 3000 come to be "regenerated" on the day of Pentecost?

Your position is missing a major piece of the puzzle; that's why I'm questioning it, and that's why your answers so far are completely inadequate.