I'm not a KJV-only guy, I just use that version more often than all the others.
I think Luke 13:24-30 is a great statement and follow-up parable illustrating what "the church" in the world today is, of which my own local assembly is a microcosm: a Biblically-organized gathering of people who are saved, being saved, and trying to become saved, or (sadly) only think that they are saved.
But as Christ rose in his person, so he will roll away all stones and rise again in his church. How little support has the church and cause of Christ at this day! How strong a conspiracy is against it. The spirit of antichrist is now lifted up and marches furiously.
Things seem to hang on a small and invisible thread. But our comfort is that Christ lives and reigns, and stands on Mount Zion in defense of those who stand for him (Rev. 14:1); and when states and kingdoms shall dash one against another Christ will have care of his own children and cause, seeing there is nothing else in the world that he much esteems.
At this very time the delivery of his church and the ruin of his enemies are in progress. We see nothing in motion till Christ has done his work, and then we shall see that the Lord reigns." (Richard Sibbes 1577-1635)
The 7 churches John wrote about (and to) in The Revelation were actual, literal churches of John's day each with particular problems.
Throughout Church history, the church has experienced, to a greater or lesser extent, ALL the problems associated with the 7 Churches. Namely, taking their focus away from Christ (Ephesus);antinomianism and forms of idolatry (Pergamos); sexual immorality and enduring false prophets (Thyatira); nominalism without works (Sardis); lukewarmness (Laodicea).These, and many other failings can plague a church during ANY time in history.
The notion that the 7 Churches represent 7 AGES of the Church thru history is a contrivance of C.I. Scofield, and, of course, he puts his Dispensationalism within the "Philadelphia" Age giving it the best possible light. What a suprise!
The whole scheme is laughable.
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BTW, the Nicolaitans probably had nothing to do with ruling class/laity. The little we know of them comes from an early church father (Irenaeus) who wrote: "they lead lives of unrestrained indulgence." So it was probably a form of libertinism.
That is why we have aposltes showing up in Ephesus, which represents the apostolic age. It is sure that the main enemy of Paul is the false Jewish apostles. Read 2 Cor!
Later, you have the Nicolaitins showing up who begin to astablish a ruling class and a laity. You have a synogogue of Satan, Jewish rejection and opposition, and later, Jezebel, the woman teacher and the beginning of the church we now know as the Roman church.
The reformation came later and God says this about this period:
Re 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.Re 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
I wish I could develop this some but I do not have ability in 1300 characters but one should read about Sardis because it is the reformation period in church history.
Philadelphia represents the great awakening under men like Moody, It was short lived but God's word was believed and taught and who could wonder that dispensational truths were taught in this period.
It's not a building and a thirty million ($30,000,000.00) dollar construction project
The True Church is men and women who have experienced God's divine influence upon their hearts, and its reflection in their lives.- It is men and women united in the pursuit of RIGHTEOUSNESS in their own lives toward the implementation thereof as influences and forces for MORAL UPRIGHTNESS in the fabric of their culture !!!
It's not the deadhead compartmentalized ReLiGiOn that we see so much of today ... ReLiGiOn that cowers behind their "501c3" status gathering teachers to themselves that teach only the light and aromatic fluff that tickles their itching ears
The church today is a denominational quagmire of perilous theological discourse that promotes disloyalty rather than FIDELITY.- The perverseness of mens hearts are such that they have reduced THE WHOLE COUNCEL OF SOUND DOCTRINAL TRUTH to a psycotic pandering that focuses many hearts on "their" muddled give to get theology
If you want to know why America has left Her FIRST LOVE just take a good long look at what is being espoused today... i.e. - TBN and many of those who frequent that programming as broadcasters, and some on DayStar, and let us not forget Rev. Jeremiah Wright, etc...
KK
Icon O'Clast wrote:The Lord's Church is that body of believers, elect from all eternity, bought and paid for by the work of the Lamb of God, out of every nation, tribe and tongue and out of the whole dimension of time - including all OT as well as NT saints, including all redeemed Jews as well as redeemed non-Jews, including all who died in infancy but were in the covenant of grace, and all who remained in "infancy" throughout their life because of biological or accidental damage to their intellectual faculties.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day (The day of the Lord) should overtake you as a thief.5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
The subject is in verse 22 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
The Day of the Lord is a day of Darkness:
Am 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end [is] it for you? the day of the LORD [is] darkness, and not light.
It is an appointed day of wrath of God!
Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
The church shall be delivered from the wrath of God!
1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Anyway, this topic is better discussed here.
[URL=http://www.sermonaudio.com/survey_details.asp?voteid=pr121406143142]]]Which of these statements best expresses your view of how we should worship?[/URL]
rather than What is the Lord's Church.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
This is the baptism that counts:
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The church, with the indwelling Spirit, Son and Father according to Eh 4;6 are born again and has a heavenly inheritance that we will receive at the rapture when this body is complete and the church is given the new body and is translated in and by the Spirit to our heavenly reward leaving the earth in darkness because God is not here.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of
Discerning Believer wrote:Bernard, can you provide a scriptural basis for making the sign of the cross when praying.
Of all the non-scriptural rituals, traditions, objects, etc in the Roman church, I think that making the sign of the cross is really quite low on the list of protestant concerns. This is supported by Luther, if he indeed didn't protest against it.
Also remember the offerings Cain and Abel made before the Lord. One was acceptable and the other was not. Why is that. Why did God destroy Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire before the Lord. Were they not worshipping God sincerely? But that was not what God commanded them to do and as a result of their doing it their way, God killed them. God is sovereign and He is Lord. Does He not have a right to command how He is to be worshipped?
Discerned Believer wrote:If it is not commanded in scripture, it is forbidden, it is unscriptural.
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:2)
Your : quote, "The whole mass is not unscriptural..." u/q.
Of the Pharisees, whom Christ dismissed because of their doctrines, Christ teaches, "But in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt.15:9.
Yet the Pharisees were zealously orthodox!!
Thus if it is "mans doctrines" today also that is added - whether in mass or any other RCC event - THEN IT IS UNSCRIPTURAL!!!
Thus does Christ dismiss this blasphemous heresy of Rome, and all who would advocate it or support it with their presence - including YOU!!
What scripture references doe Luther provide in his catechism as his justification for making the sign of the cross?
THATS WHY"YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN"
Why did Luther retain the practice of making the Sign of the Holy Cross in the Lutheran Church if it is unscriptural to make the Sign of the Cross? Remember that Luther had received Christ as his Savior and Luther still retained the practice of making the Sign of the Holy Cross. Luther stated in his Small and Large Catechisms before praying to make a blessing by making the Sign of the Holy Cross.
