Back to the Unified Church

[AnnaDeborah]

There's no indication in Scripture that the 'Church' will be in the life after this life.
Quite the opposite, thankfully - no 'Church' after this life.

Who is Christ returning for, if not His church? Church buildings will not exist in the life to come, but the church will be more alive than it has ever been!

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Who is Christ returning for, if not His church? Church buildings will not exist in the life to come, but the church will be more alive than it has ever been!

Not according to Scripture, no.
This is partly semantics ..... but sadly not only semantics.....

 

[AnnaDeborah]

Not according to Scripture, no.
This is partly semantics ..... but sadly not only semantics.....

So what happens to those of us who are trusting in Christ for our salvation if we are not going to be in the life to come?!!!!

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Whoever trusts the Son, has (eternal) life;
whoever trusts not the Son, has not (eternal) life.

This is written in Scripture. Believe in Him.

So what happens to those of us who are trusting in Christ for our salvation if we are not going to be in the life to come?!!!!

 

[AnnaDeborah]

Whoever trusts the Son, has (eternal) life;
whoever trusts not the Son, has not (eternal) life.

This is written in Scripture. Believe in Him.

I do. This is why I believe that I, along with all others who trust Him, will have eternal life. I am just wondering why you think we won't?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I do. This is why I believe that I, along with all others who trust Him, will have eternal life. I am just wondering why you think we won't?

quote me.
as I just posted, as Yahweh says in His Word, everyone who trusts the Son has (eternal) Life,

 

[Sanoy]

I have deep eschatological concerns about a reunification of the church. I also feel that this cannot happen without sinning. Each denomination is different because of their convictions. If they unite in office, then they most compromise on their convictions, which would be sinful. I think we should be unified in the spiritual body, and recognize the sheep in each fold, but I don't think there is any good pathway toward becoming one church office.

 

[Small Fish]

I recently started a thread about the pros and cons of having a single, unified, worldwide church, as opposed to the many denominations we currently have. Certainly, when we pass onto the resurrection, we will have a single, unified, worldwide church.

But for the time being, I would suggest that, people being the way they are, a single, unified, worldwide church's objectives would not fully align with the Lord's objectives, and for that reason, the Lord would rather there be denominations. I think the Tower of Babel is suggestive of this.

There will be a True Church. Also known as the Bride or Body of Christ but this Church will be Christ's doing and not be a denomination (man's doing). She will be without spot or wrinkle.

Ephesians 5:26-27
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

She would be the Voice of God at the culmination of time. She would be as when God said, "this is My beloved Son, hear ye Him!" for She would be the Body that Christ indwells at His Coming just before His corporal Body sets foot on earth.

John 14:20
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

And that day is this day. She will be so much like Him that She would be in His very Image.

And she is on earth right now. She would be the final Voice of Mercy to this God forsaken planet.

When She goes, Judgment strikes.

Luke 17:29-30

 

[Dave-W]

So what happens to those of us who are trusting in Christ for our salvation if we are not going to be in the life to come?!!!!

Most groups think if you are not in their fold, you are doomed to hell.

Some even think most of their own fold is doomed to hell.

 

[TuxAme]

God doesn't desire us to be in anything but perfect union with Him, regardless of "how we are". Denominations aren't good for anything. Remaining separated from each other is something that God will work around, but it doesn't align with His active will. Don't we think that it grieves Him to see people teaching the opposite of what He did? Either we are saved by faith alone or we're not. Jesus is either present in the Eucharist or He is not. One opinion on these issues is right, and the other is wrong. Do we think that He is just as happy seeing error being taught as He is to hear the Truth being preached? Of course not- how can He be happy seeing the divisions we've created and the false doctrines we've allowed to fester?

 

[PaulCyp1]

The purpose of a church is to provide God's truth to its members. Truth cannot conflict with truth, which is why Jesus Christ founded only ONE Church, and said it was to remain ONE. As soon as you have two churches with conflicting teaching, at least one of them must be teaching untruth. When you have thousands of conflicting denominations teaching thousands of conflicting beliefs, untruth is rampant. Which is why God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, founded ONE Church and stated His intention "That they all may be ONE, even as I and My heavenly Father are ONE". This is why He promised that ONE Church, and no other, "The Holy Spirit will guide you into ALL truth", and "Whatsoever you bind upon Earth is bound in Heaven", and "He who hears you hears Me". Which is why that ONE Church remains ONE in belief, ONE in teaching, ONE in worship, ONE in biblical understanding after 2,000 years, while those who have defected from that ONE Church have fragmented into thousands of unauthorized conflicting manmade denominations, teaching thousands of conflicting and therefore untrue beliefs, in just a few hundred years. You just can't beat God's plan.

 

[Stone-n-Steel]

But for the time being, I would suggest that, people being the way they are, a single, unified, worldwide church's objectives would not fully align with the Lord's objectives, and for that reason, the Lord would rather there be denominations. I think the Tower of Babel is suggestive of this.

I don't think the Lord would be happy with denominations if He returned to take the church away today. Babel like the Law I think was part of our development.

 

[dreadnought]

Who uses commercial sauce ? Make your own healthy .

I don't know how to cook.

 

[dreadnought]

A single, world wide church which is institutionally unified in this current sinful age would certainly be frightening.

What makes people think that the church is not unified?

Amen and amen.

 

[dreadnought]

No.

Yes.

 

[dreadnought]

I don't think the Lord would be happy with denominations if He returned to take the church away today. Babel like the Law I think was part of our development.

The Lord watches over us all the time.

 

[Stone-n-Steel]

The Lord watches over us all the time.

This is very true. He loves the saint but not the sin that is done. I'm not saying that being in a denomination is a sin but large organizations have a way of leading people in ungodly directions.

 

[dreadnought]

This is very true. He loves the saint but not the sin that is done. I'm not saying that being in a denomination is a sin but large organizations have a way of leading people in ungodly directions.

Yes, I don't know what I'd do without my church, but the church can be painful.

 

[Stone-n-Steel]

Yes, I don't know what I'd do without my church, but the church can be painful.

I actually enjoy the small study group I go to more than the church. We meet in one of the members houses, and it feels as if I am in Philippi going to Lydia's house.

 

[rockytopva]

Wesley's thoughts on unification, which are also my own....

LONDON
September 20, 1788


My Dear Brother:

There is, indeed, a wide difference between the relation wherein you stand to the Americans and the relation wherein I stand to all the Methodists. You are the elder brother of the American Methodists: I am under God the father of the whole family. Therefore I naturally care for you all in a manner no other persons can do. Therefore I in a measure provide for you all; for the supplies which Dr. Coke provides for you, he could not provide were it not for me, were it not that I not only permit him to collect but also support him in so doing.

But in one point, my dear brother, I am a little afraid both the Doctor and you differ from me. I study to be little: you study to be great. I creep; you strut along. I found a school: you a college! [Cokesbury College] nay, and call it after your own names! Oh beware, do not seek to be something! Let me be nothing, and "Christ be all in all!"

One instance of this, of your greatness, has given me great concern. How can you, how dare you suffer yourself to be called Bishop? I shudder, I start at the very thought! Men may call me a knave or a fool, a rascal, a scoundrel, and I am content; but they shall never by my consent call me Bishop! For my sake, for God's sake, for Christ's sake put a full end to this! Let the Presbyterians do what they please, but let the Methodists know their calling better.

Thus, my dear Franky, I have told you all that is in my heart. And let this, when I am no more seen, bear witness how sincerely I am Your affectionate friend and brother,

John Wesley