no universal church?
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:02 am
This person I am speaking with keeps telling me that when the 'church' is mentioned in the bible, it is ALWAYS local. He doesn't believe in a Universal church which I believe is all believers. This is what he said:
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Read 1 Corinthians 12 and I mean verse by verse. Give an explanation of how it can apply to a universal church if you believe that chapter is talking about a universal church. Especially these five verses.
1 Corinthians 12:22-26
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Ephesians 5:21 ΒΆ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
The context going into 5:27 does not fit a universal body. I cannot submit to someone in Africa who I will never meet until glory. These verses are for here and now so what is this talking about? The local New Testament church.
Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
How does this work on a universal level? It doesn't. This only can apply to a local church.
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Please help me.
_________________________________________________
Read 1 Corinthians 12 and I mean verse by verse. Give an explanation of how it can apply to a universal church if you believe that chapter is talking about a universal church. Especially these five verses.
1 Corinthians 12:22-26
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Ephesians 5:21 ΒΆ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
The context going into 5:27 does not fit a universal body. I cannot submit to someone in Africa who I will never meet until glory. These verses are for here and now so what is this talking about? The local New Testament church.
Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
How does this work on a universal level? It doesn't. This only can apply to a local church.
______________________________________________________________________________
Please help me.