If all of the Church is the Bride of Christ who are the guests?

[bbyrd009]

I do look to the Song of Solomon

why don't we ever hear the Song in any sermons, you gotta wonder.
who reads Songs? Nobody. May as well be hidden!

 

[bbyrd009]

The book of Acts uses the word, church, to mean a building with Christians meeting in it.
Acts 15:41

wadr the building has been assumed here, not to detract from your post
Acts 15:41 Lexicon: And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
1 Peter 2:5 Lexicon: you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
ecclesia is not necessarily pneumaticos oikos, iow

 

[bbyrd009]

No man sets out on a journey with no idea where he is ending! ( except then, Abraham will come to mind he did )
Prov 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."

well, at least no one starts building a house unless they first count the cost, ya. But wandering is a kind of...well, i don't want to say "good thing" per se, but a vital period, at least. We do not know yet what we will become, which is somehow distinct from "ppl perish without a vision," in some way that i am not seeing. Something about a counterfeit for every concept or something

 

[Helen]

well, at least no one starts building a house unless they first count the cost, ya. But wandering is a kind of...well, i don't want to say "good thing" per se, but a vital period, at least. We do not know yet what we will become, which is somehow distinct from "ppl perish without a vision," in some way that i am not seeing. Something about a counterfeit for every concept or something

I hear what you are saying. we are not speaking of basic salvation here...but of our high calling...the Phil's thing..."I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." The prize being union of the Bride with the Groom. Not everyone in heaven is the Bride! ( but you'd have to read back through this thread)

I think by what you have written in your posts before, that you believe that you and me have no idea if at the end we will be saved or not. right?
I firmly believe that we are saved soundly, but it is our 'calling and election' which is 'weighed in the balance' and will be tested as by fire.
Paul said RUN...I hear Paul saying run, every day...if Paul needed to press forward for the High Calling, then I need to much more so!!
It costs! ...and I've heard you say..people want Jesus to do all the work and then just free coasting. He did, for our salvation , but He did not for our calling and election. To us Paul says- " Make your calling and election sure.."
He does enable us and strengthen us to do what we 'as ourselves' cannot do.
Our part is to focus, Abide, be established, stand firm, fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold of all He has for us, while keeping the atmosphere of praise and thanksgiving. ( these to me are the works needed which will be tested by fire)

 

[bbyrd009]

Paul said RUN...I hear Paul saying run, every day

ya, i'm gonna shred that one next lol. i hear Paul saying run right now, too, so as to be the winner, right, but i bet we are blowing that one too.

if Paul needed to press forward for the High Calling, then I need to much more so!!
It costs! ...and I've heard you say..people want Jesus to do all the work and then just free coasting. He did, for our salvation , but He did not for our calling and election. To us Paul says- " Make your calling and election sure.."

imo hearing "run as if in a race" is a great way to start perceiving there, and i might even be wrong, but we'll see about that i guess. If the sentence is very clear, then fine, but how many of Paul's sentences are very clear, lol. i bet "run" ends up meaning "rest" some kind of way, not saying "don't run" for now though

 

[Helen]

If the sentence is very clear, then fine, but how many of Paul's sentences are very clear, lol. i bet "run" ends up meaning "rest" some kind of way, not saying "don't run" for now though

Oh I totally agree that...I have no argument... I said myself what I felt "running" was...

Our part is to focus, ( on Him) Abide, be established, stand firm, fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold of all He has for us, while keeping the atmosphere of praise and thanksgiving.

Standing firm, and abiding speak just the opposite of the action of "running"!!...but none the less, it is God's kind of - "moving forward"...toward the goal.

I agree with you about the biblical terminology. That is why I say ..the bible is a spiritual book and therefore understood.. spiritually.

 

[mjrhealth]

The book of Acts uses the word, church, to mean a building with Christians meeting in it.
Acts 15:41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Acts 16:5
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 13:1
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Acts 14:23
So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Ecclesia does never mean a "building" it is a corrupted translation of teh word used to justify mens religions.

Act_17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act_17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

There is but one Head of the church,

Eph_5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Col_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.

Not Peter

But we have a harlot church, dressed to Kill, this one

Rev_18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

For it is written

1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

but for those who are a part of His Ecclesia, called out ones

1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

for again it says

Rev_2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

And those who have joined themselves to that great abomination, mens religions, have chosen for themselves another husband, and he is not Jesus, what has Jesus and God to do with a whore.

As for teh Guests, well Jesus has being calling,

Luk 7:32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

but so many have rejected the call, and so will be left out so He will send His labourers out to invite teh dregs of society, those with no Hope, and they will be dressed by Him and sit with Him and His wedding.

One can only serve one master, whom will it be???

 

[amadeus]

The book of Acts uses the word, church, to mean a building with Christians meeting in it.
Acts 15:41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Of course a person can read it to mean a building, but the apostle Paul did no strengthen buildings. Did he come along and add physical supports [lumber or concrete or other physical materials] to make the building more resistant to bad weather [tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.], or did he strengthen the people?

I don't go much to the source words, but in this case take a look:

ἐκκλησία
ekklēsia
ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

In Syria and Cilicia he visited assemblies of people who needed to be strengthened in their walk with God and that is what he provides to the people.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Acts 16:5
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The groups of people were strengthen in the faith. What kind of faith does a building have that needs to increased? What increased in numbers/ Did they begin with one building and add another one? The number of people coming together increased.

Acts 13:1
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

"Now in the group of believing people at Antioch" is not speaking a believing building. Again what beliefs does a building have?

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Acts 14:23
So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

"So when they had appointed elders in every assemblage of believers...", not every building. What use does a building have for elders? It is people that have the need.

 

[tabletalk]

Of course a person can read it to mean a building, but the apostle Paul did no strengthen buildings. Did he come along and add physical supports [lumber or concrete or other physical materials] to make the building more resistant to bad weather [tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.], or did he strengthen the people?

I don't go much to the source words, but in this case take a look:

ἐκκλησία
ekklēsia
ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

In Syria and Cilicia he visited assemblies of people who needed to be strengthened in their walk with God and that is what he provides to the people.



The groups of people were strengthen in the faith. What kind of faith does a building have that needs to increased? What increased in numbers/ Did they begin with one building and add another one? The number of people coming together increased.



"Now in the group of believing people at Antioch" is not speaking a believing building. Again what beliefs does a building have?



"So when they had appointed elders in every assemblage of believers...", not every building. What use does a building have for elders? It is people that have the need.

The building has no use for Elders. The Elders (and the people) have use for the building. They meet in a building (sometimes in the Jungle or in a field). Is the brick and mortar evil or something? Several people on this forum simply hate the physical church building that the Church of God meets in. Why?

 

[amadeus]

nice, imo

amen to that. Volunteer to clean the toilets, for free, and you will have the keys to the place in a month or so, anywhere you go, regardless of whether there are any believers there or not lol

I am remembering my father. I lived with him only as a babe in arms. My mother divorced him primarily, I believe, because he loved God and she loved the world. [Don't get me wrong. I loved my mother and I believe she turned around before her death, but that is another story.]

My father attended an old time church without fail. He was always there when there was a meeting of what to him were God's people. He had attended at the same building all of his life. Everyone knew him and he knew everyone. When he retired from his secular job he became the full-time toilet cleaner and mowers of lawn and trimmer of bushes, etc. He never expected or received a penny for any of his work. He did not tell me that. His wife [my step-mother] told me that after he died. When he got so sick that he could not leave home any more even to attend church meetings, no one from his "church" ever came to visit him. Not even the pastor. Most of the older folks who would have come were either dead already or in too poor health themselves to visit. There were lots of young folks, including the pastor, but where were they and where was God in their hearts?

 

[amadeus]

why don't we ever hear the Song in any sermons, you gotta wonder.
who reads Songs? Nobody. May as well be hidden!

You are of course too right. There are exceptions, but that is the problem, isn't it? I don't look at the Bible as the Living Word, but I do see it as the dead flesh of Jesus which the Spirit in us should be bringing to Life. If we never eat, what can be quickened? How many believers purposely miss out on the meat and potatos and banana cream pie when they are available?

 

[amadeus]

The building has no use for Elders. The Elders (and the people) have use for the building. They meet in a building (sometimes in the Jungle or in a field). Is the brick and mortar evil or something? Several people on this forum simply hate the physical church building that the Church of God meets in. Why?

Not me! It is a tool like a hammer is a tool for a carpenter. When the physical weather outside is miserable, it is good to have a place of comfort in which to meet. God certainly would not frown on it, unless it became more important to us than Him.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33
Among the things added, may well be a nice comfortable building with pews. First things first is what needs to be remembered.

 

[bbyrd009]

I said myself what I felt "running" was...

sure, and i can't dispute the pov; Paul even seems to be encouraging it, i would say. But i suspect now that just like at many other concepts, "Judge righteous judgement," (who told you that you were naked?) "Absent from the body," (seek to please God wherever, whenever), the...syntax will be constructed so as to allow ppl to interpret for themselves, to reflect where they are. So i don't mean to make that interp into an evil thing; i currently don't have a better one, myself, lol

1 Corinthians 9:24 Lexicon: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

run in such a way that you may win? why not just say "Be sure you run the swiftest," or something similar? Imo more clues might be got in the two vv that bracket that one,

23Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.
24Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.
25Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away.

so, we got partners pre, and self-control post--v 25 doesn't even hardly flow with v24 at all, see; Paul does that a lot, i notice--along with a little...i dunno, DQ is what i am reading, of those who run races for "first place," see.

 

[bbyrd009]

Standing firm, and abiding speak just the opposite of the action of "running"!!...but none the less, it is God's kind of - "moving forward"...toward the goal.

I agree with you about the biblical terminology. That is why I say ..the bible is a spiritual book and therefore understood.. spiritually.

nice, ya-

-ah, so you are doing the same thing down there lol, meaning basically "the Bible is not understood!" lol
but of course churches exist to teach Law, an essential concept that one must get first, before grace

 

[bbyrd009]

Ecclesia does never mean a "building" it is a corrupted translation of teh word used to justify mens religions.

well to be fair none of the translations even mention a building, right, they mention a "church," and we supply the building from our assumptions, when Paul surely meant the ppl

 

[bbyrd009]

so He will send His labourers out to invite teh dregs of society, those with no Hope, and they will be dressed by Him and sit with Him and His wedding.

Word. Just look around for the most oppressed ppl, and those will be them. Of course, the determination of who is the most oppressed can be manipulated, like in the country Israel right now, etc

 

[bbyrd009]

Is the brick and mortar evil or something?

yes, actually. I could quote passages to support this, "since you're going to build houses anyway," etc, the reflections on "no place to lay His head," "here we have no permanent place," on and on.
Bible Search: tent tents
Bible Search: nest nests

 

[bbyrd009]

Several people on this forum simply hate the physical church building that the Church of God meets in. Why?

bc buildings require maintenance, and imply taxes, and anchor one to a place, and provide a permanent place, that one will inevitably identify with and seek to protect, enhance, show off, use for ego maneuvers, ...

 

[bbyrd009]

When he got so sick that he could not leave home any more even to attend church meetings, no one from his "church" ever came to visit him. Not even the pastor.

ouch.

 

[bbyrd009]

You are of course too right. There are exceptions, but that is the problem, isn't it? I don't look at the Bible as the Living Word, but I do see it as the dead flesh of Jesus which the Spirit in us should be bringing to Life.

ya, It is alive to me so i have...well really a similar pov, just expressed differently, but i like that one too