What and where is the Christian Church?
Aug 10, 2019 3:03:21 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Aug 10, 2019 3:03:21 GMT -5
What and where is the Christian Church?
Most Christians imagine the Christian church as being some denomination which they consider to be theologically accurate. This concept has cause many to become members a religious organization claiming to be the Church or organization of God on Earth.
Often they become discouraged when the denomination's members behave in unchristian ways. This happens all too often and when it does the person might walk away extremely disappointed and search elsewhere only to go through the same experience all over again. In fact, a whole lifetime might be wasted in seeking out what is God's organization on Earth without ever being convinced that it has been found. The frustrated person might eventually conclude that all denominations calling themselves Christian are false and that no genuine church or organization of God on Earth exists in the way that Israel existed as God's chosen people. Yet, Bible does repeatedly mention a church of God's people on Earth. However, it and describes it as being made of living stones or Christians.
Often they become discouraged when the denomination's members behave in unchristian ways. This happens all too often and when it does the person might walk away extremely disappointed and search elsewhere only to go through the same experience all over again. In fact, a whole lifetime might be wasted in seeking out what is God's organization on Earth without ever being convinced that it has been found. The frustrated person might eventually conclude that all denominations calling themselves Christian are false and that no genuine church or organization of God on Earth exists in the way that Israel existed as God's chosen people. Yet, Bible does repeatedly mention a church of God's people on Earth. However, it and describes it as being made of living stones or Christians.
Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
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"What does it mean that Jesus and believers are living stones in 1 Peter 2:4-5?"
Answer: The term living stones in 1 Peter 2:5 is used as a metaphor to illustrate the secure and intimate relationship believers have with Jesus, who is described in the previous verse as the “living Stone” (1 Peter 2:4). Together, these two verses picture how Christ and His followers are joined by God Himself: “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4–5).
www.gotquestions.org/living-stone.html
Answer: The term living stones in 1 Peter 2:5 is used as a metaphor to illustrate the secure and intimate relationship believers have with Jesus, who is described in the previous verse as the “living Stone” (1 Peter 2:4). Together, these two verses picture how Christ and His followers are joined by God Himself: “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4–5).
www.gotquestions.org/living-stone.html
So the Bible tells us that God himself determines who is and who is not part of that spiritual church and not mere membership in some denomination. Once a person in search of the Christian church on Earth realizes this, denominational membership will become far less crucial and sincerity of devotion will be given far more importance.
He will realize that the Church of Christ is composed of person's whom God himself has examined and made living stones of his spiritual temple. They might all be members of different Christian denominations, but in his eyes this special group of Christians are his church because these individuals sincerely strive to do his will and follow in Jesus's footsteps. Realizing this prevents a person from becoming discouraged whenever he notices the antics of persons who attend church, claim to be followers of Christbut who seem to behave in devilish ways.