Where two or three are gathered.

[Hammster]

I looked at the context. However computers were not invented in Jesus time on earth. Many of us here say God is with us online, and i agree. I believe that you may feel like the Church gatherings will be threatened in some way if we admit that God is with us online. Church attendance will not be threatened, dont worry about that.

“"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:15-20‬ ‭NASB‬‬
Matthew 18:15-20; "If your brother sins#Late mss add against you, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Nothing about church attendance.

 

[W2L]

“"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:15-20‬ ‭NASB‬‬
Matthew 18:15-20; "If your brother sins#Late mss add against you, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Nothing about church attendance.

Nothing about Church attendance? What about the "gathering" part?

 

[Dave G.]

Aren't we meeting in spirit ? Our bodies don't mean diddly squat. Jesus was in constant fellowship with the father when Jesus was on earth and the Father in heaven ( except for a short time at Calvary, which almost killed Him before he died of His wounds, how much more powerful statement of presence is there than that). Besides, this is a different age now, the bible was written when people had to be present together to hear one another. I love my paper bible, I cherish it, I hold it and feel the Lord. But in this age, with time so short no less, we must reach out in all ways available to us. No ? Jesus is here with us as sure as I am typing this.. Hey, so yesterday I prayed with my pastor on the phone in the name of Jesus. Would someone want to tell me Jesus wasn't there, he never heard those words ? How messed up is that ? It might feel funny to some traditionalists mind set but it sure doesn't to me.

 

[Hammster]

Nothing about Church attendance? What about the "gathering" part?

It's not about church attendance. It's about church discipline.

It's right there in the text. If you want to take a verse out of context and make it a pretext, there's not much I can do about that.

 

[W2L]

Aren't we meeting in spirit ? Our bodies don't mean diddly squat. Jesus was in constant fellowship with the father when Jesus was on earth and the Father in heaven ( except for a short time at Calvary, which almost killed Him before he died of His wounds, how much more powerful statement of presence is there than that). Besides, this is a different age now, the bible was written when people had to be present together to hear one another. I love my paper bible, I cherish it, I hold it and feel the Lord. But in this age, with time so short no less, we must reach out in all ways available to us. No ? Jesus is here with us as sure as I am typing this.. Hey, so yesterday I prayed with my pastor on the phone in the name of Jesus. Would someone want to tell me Jesus wasn't there, he never heard those words ? How messed up is that ? It might feel funny to some traditionalists mind set but it sure doesn't to me.

I agree. We can gather together daily online. I feel empowered by this fellowship.
This guy had the greatest faith in Israel. He didn't need to see Jesus face to face in His home in order to be blessed.


Matthew 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

 

[W2L]

It's not about church attendance. It's about church discipline.

It's right there in the text. If you want to take a verse out of context and make it a pretext, there's not much I can do about that.

You are arguing semantics. How else will the Church discipline someone unless they can talk to them? Doesn't that require a gathering of some kind?

 

[Hammster]

You are arguing semantics. How else will the Church discipline someone unless they can talk to them? Doesn't that require a gathering of some kind?

It does. A church gathers. There are elders and deacons and worship and fellowship. However, the passage is about church discipline, not assembling together for worship and sacraments.

 

[W2L]

It does. A church gathers. There are elders and deacons and worship and fellowship. However, the passage is about church discipline, not assembling together for worship and sacraments.

Ok thanks for your opinion.

 

[Radrook]

Apparently, I cannot. If you think that you can link two verses together with no regard to either context, I doubt I'll be able to tell you anything that you'll agree with.

If you cannot provide specifics then how am I going to learn?
Please note that I am wrong I will admit it.

BTW
Perhaps you are being too restrictive in striving to keep biblical principles restrained to just one situation as described in a context. There are many instances in the Bible where moral principles are justifiably extended to many a diverse situation apart from the original one to which it was originally addressed.
In fact, if you were to apply your restrictive policy to Paul then you would need to accuse him of going far beyond context unjustifiably. Are you willing to remain consistent by doing so?

Even worse, you would need to accuse Jesus himself in his interpretation of many OT verses which he applied beyond what they were originally referring to as well as Christianity itself for going beyond OT context. Ever consider that?

 

[Hammster]

If you cannot provide specifics then how am I going to learn?
Please note that I am wrong I will admit it.

BTW
Perhaps you are being too restrictive in striving to keep biblical principles restrained to just one situation as described in a context. There are many instances in the Bible where moral principles are justifiably extended to many a diverse situation apart from the original one to which it was originally addressed.
In fact, if you were to apply your restrictive policy to Paul then you would need to accuse him of going far beyond context unjustifiably. Are you willing to remain consistent by doing so?

Even worse, you would need to accuse Jesus himself in his interpretation of many OT verses which he applied beyond what they were originally referring to as well as Christianity itself for going beyond OT context. Ever consider that?

I'm not going to equate your use of scripture with that of its Author or His Apostle.

 

[Radrook]

I'm not going to equate your use of scripture with that of its Author or His Apostle.

You are criticizing a method that they used.

 

[dqhall]

I looked at the context. However computers were not invented in Jesus time on earth. Many of us here say God is with us online, and i agree. I believe that you may feel like the Church gatherings will be threatened in some way if we admit that God is with us online. Church attendance will not be threatened, dont worry about that.

If one can not communicate well on the Internet, how can one communicate well in person? Paul was using correspondence to advance Christ's Gospel teachings. Writing letters and sending them over land and sea was slow. Now there is technology for faster communication. There is also a risk of giving useless information, just as there was in Paul's day. For people to be in God's name means they are doing something God wants done, something God commands. The purpose may be more important than the place.

 

[W2L]

If one can not communicate well on the Internet, how can one communicate well in person? Paul was using correspondence to advance Christ's Gospel teachings. Writing letters and sending them over land and sea was slow. Now there is technology for faster communication. There is also a risk of giving useless information, just as there was in Paul's day. For people to be in God's name means they are doing something God wants done, something God commands. The purpose may be more important than the place.

I agree. We are judged by our words. Matthew 12:37 Revelation 12:11

 

[Walter and Deborah]

Is God among us as we gather online?


Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The scripture is wright in Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. But our faith must be applied as well. Faith without works is dead also. James 2:14-26.
James 2:14-26
King James Version (KJV)
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

[W2L]

The scripture is wright in Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. But our faith must be applied as well. Faith without works is dead also. James 2:14-26.
James 2:14-26
King James Version (KJV)
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Amen.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

The context does seem to indicate the passage's primary relevance is in regard to church discipline (cf., vv. 15 ff.), .

Precisely.

Context; context; context.

 

[Dave G.]

We are actually saved by Grace, it's the free gift of God. We can't do anything to save ourselves but open that gift. The works will come from the faith and salvation. But if anyone thinks he can be saved by works, I think Paul has well described how that won't happen in several places but I will use this scripture:
Ephesians 2:8-9New King James Version (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

But I'm not making the connection between that and the gathering together the thread is about ?

 

[W2L]

Precisely.

Context; context; context.

So you're saying that the Lord is not with us here?

 

[Hammster]

You are criticizing a method that they used.

Not at all.

 

[GingerBeer]

Is God among us as we gather online?

We do not gather online. We chat. We send 'letters'. We talk past one another. So no, there is no promise in the holy scriptures that Jesus will be in the midst of us when we text.