Hello VCO,
Setting aside the word church, the Ekklesia is a specific assembly i.e. "out-called ones" said assembly originating from Christ's establishment of the church at his coming until this present day. When the Ekklesia is completed the Lord will descend and will gather them, which will bring an end to the Ekklesia/church period.
Consequently, that assembly of the Ekklesia did not exist prior to Christ's appearing in the flesh. For the Lord said, "I will build my church and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it."
As I have pointed out before and you yourself can check, the words "I will build" are in the future tense, which infers something that is yet to be built, from the time that the Lord said it. Therefore, that assembly called the church did not previously exist prior to the Lord's appearing.
There are groups that are in the Christ, but are not apart of the church, such as the OT saints, the great tribulation saints and the nation Israel during the time of the great tribulation. For if any of these did belong to the Ekklesia/church, then at the time of the resurrection they would also be resurrected and caught up with the rest of the Ekklesia/church.
Eplain to me how O.T. Saints are NOT CO-EQUALLY called out for the LORD'S Purposes?
Malachi 3:6 (NASB)
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6 [/SUP]
"For I, the LORD, do not change;
therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Exodus 19:3-6 (HCSB)
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3 [/SUP] Moses went up ⌊the mountain⌋ to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites:
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4 [/SUP] ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.
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5 [/SUP] Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine,
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6 [/SUP] and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM:
1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)
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13 [/SUP] Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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14 [/SUP] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
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15 [/SUP] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
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16 [/SUP] since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
NEW Testament teaches only a FEW find the Narrow Gate and are SAVED
OLD Testament teaches only a remnant of Israel will be SAVED,
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT?
Leviticus 11:45 (CSBBible)
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45 [/SUP] For I am the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so
you must be holy because I am holy.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (CSBBible)
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15 [/SUP] But as the one who called you is holy,
you also are to be holy in all your conduct;
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16 [/SUP] for it is written,
Be holy, because I am holy.
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT?
Psalm 14:3 (CSBBible)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.
Romans 3:12 (HCSB)
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12 [/SUP] All have turned away;
all alike have become useless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT?
Galatians 2:6 (HCSB)
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6 [/SUP] Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me;
God does not show favoritism)—they added nothing to me.
Acts 10:34 (HCSB)
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34 [/SUP] Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that
God doesn’t show favoritism,
Romans 2:11 (HCSB)
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11 [/SUP]
There is no favoritism with God.
Ephesians 6:9 (HCSB)
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9 [/SUP] And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and
there is no favoritism with Him.
Favoritism is SIN, and NOW you seem to be asking me to BELIEVE THAT GOD SHOWS FAVORITISM TO CHRISTIANS over the JEWS of the O.T. who BELIEVED GOD WOULD SEND A MESSIAH?