What is the true congregation?

[Jeesuspelastaa]

All of us who believe in Jesus are His congregation. Therefore, all of us who live in the same city and believe in Jesus are His congregation in our home city. This applies in every city. It has been so from the very beginning of the congregation.

At the time the Bible was written, there were among others the congregation of such cities as
– Jerusalem (Acts 8:1, 11:22),
– Antioch (Acts 13:1),
– Cenchrea (Romans 16:1),
– Philippi (Philippians 4:15),
– Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2),
– Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1),
– Babylon (1 Peter 5:13),
– Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11).

Jesus Himself established the congregation through His death and resurrection in Jerusalem two thousand years ago. From there it began to spread throughout the whole world (Matthew 28:19). This same congregation has also spread to Finland(where I live).

We do not think that any person who believes in Jesus and has been baptized in His name belongs to a different congregation than we do (Galatians 5:20). The Bible clearly testifies that there cannot be many congregations in one city (1 Corinthians 1:2 & 2 Corinthians 1:1; Revelation 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11). “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” (Titus 1:5, KJV).
We may indeed gather in many different places, but these places are not congregations—the congregation is us (Acts 1:12; 12:12; 19:9; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). God sees in every city only two groups of people: the members of His congregation and the ungodly. Therefore, we do not exclude any person who believes in Jesus from being a member of this congregation.

The congregation to which we belong is God’s. Therefore, it is right to call it the Congregation of God (1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:16; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Timothy 3:15). God has the sole right to the name and the membership record of His congregation (Colossians 3:17; Luke 10:20; 2 Samuel 24:1–10). We do not divide God’s congregation by calling its members into a fellowship under some man-made name or by keeping a separate membership record of its members (1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11).

God Himself adds people to His congregation, as He has done from the beginning:
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[…] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. […] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. […] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:38, 41, 42, 47, KJV).

We have all become Christians and been added by God into the membership of the congregation according to this original Gospel as revealed in the Bible—that is, after having repented AND, having come to faith and having been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2), meaning the people living in the city of Corinth who believed in Jesus and were baptized in His name: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27, KJV). Therefore, it is Biblical to say to those who live in the same city, believe in Jesus, and are baptized in His name that you are the Congregation of God in your home city, the body of Christ, and each of you is one of His members. This is the Biblical form of congregation membership.

Therefore, if you are a Christian in the sense that the Bible gives to that name, then you are already a member of this congregation. We warmly welcome you into the fellowship of this, your own congregation (Hebrews 10:25). Our task is to help others also to become Christians in this Biblical way, and thus to become members of the congregation and be baptized.
Jesus prays for His own congregation “that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:23, KJV). It is God’s will that His congregation be restored in each city according to the original and Biblical order revealed in Scripture.

There is no teaching in the Bible that different denominations and churches should be established. Although there are members of God’s congregation within them, none of them is the Congregation of God. God has not founded any of them. To them applies the teaching of Jesus: “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” (Matthew 15:13, KJV). Yet the perfect unity for which Jesus prayed will not be fulfilled by trying to uproot denominations and churches from the world. They will always exist among us in this world. True unity becomes visible only when we root them out from within ourselves.

Therefore, we do not build fellowship across denominational and church boundaries, but without them. We are not to be Lutherans, Catholics, Orthodox, Adventists, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, or any other kind of “-ist” or “-ian.” None of these existed when the congregation was founded. It is God’s will that we be simply Christians, in the same way as those whom He, from the beginning, had added to His congregation.

We build congregational fellowship in our home city according to this God-given way described above, not according to human ways. Thus the true Biblical order begins to prevail visibly within the congregation (Colossians 2:5). For the building up of congregational fellowship, God sets in our midst ministries (Titus 1:5; Ephesians 4:11–15). God blesses the tasks of Christians, equips them for His work, and grants them spiritual growth through the congregation (Acts 13:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25; 1 Corinthians 3:6–11). Therefore, one must be in congregational fellowship so that all this may happen in God’s way. This congregation remains united, in fellowship, and in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42; Colossians 2:19).

Blessings to you, Christian, who desire to hold fast to this Biblical congregational order and begin to gather accordingly! Jesus will guide you in all things.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9, KJV)

Blessings,
Weijo Lindroos, from the Turku Congregation
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland
Email: weijo.lindroos@pp.inet.fi

 

[Jeesuspelastaa]

The early congregation is our example.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

All of us who believe in Jesus are His congregation. Therefore, all of us who live in the same city and believe in Jesus are His congregation in our home city. This applies in every city. It has been so from the very beginning of the congregation.

At the time the Bible was written, there were among others the congregation of such cities as
– Jerusalem (Acts 8:1, 11:22),
– Antioch (Acts 13:1),
– Cenchrea (Romans 16:1),
– Philippi (Philippians 4:15),
– Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2),
– Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1),
– Babylon (1 Peter 5:13),
– Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11).

Jesus Himself established the congregation through His death and resurrection in Jerusalem two thousand years ago. From there it began to spread throughout the whole world (Matthew 28:19). This same congregation has also spread to Finland(where I live).

We do not think that any person who believes in Jesus and has been baptized in His name belongs to a different congregation than we do (Galatians 5:20). The Bible clearly testifies that there cannot be many congregations in one city (1 Corinthians 1:2 & 2 Corinthians 1:1; Revelation 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11). “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” (Titus 1:5, KJV).
We may indeed gather in many different places, but these places are not congregations—the congregation is us (Acts 1:12; 12:12; 19:9; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). God sees in every city only two groups of people: the members of His congregation and the ungodly. Therefore, we do not exclude any person who believes in Jesus from being a member of this congregation.

The congregation to which we belong is God’s. Therefore, it is right to call it the Congregation of God (1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:16; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Timothy 3:15). God has the sole right to the name and the membership record of His congregation (Colossians 3:17; Luke 10:20; 2 Samuel 24:1–10). We do not divide God’s congregation by calling its members into a fellowship under some man-made name or by keeping a separate membership record of its members (1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11).

God Himself adds people to His congregation, as He has done from the beginning:
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[…] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. […] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. […] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:38, 41, 42, 47, KJV).

We have all become Christians and been added by God into the membership of the congregation according to this original Gospel as revealed in the Bible—that is, after having repented AND, having come to faith and having been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2), meaning the people living in the city of Corinth who believed in Jesus and were baptized in His name: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27, KJV). Therefore, it is Biblical to say to those who live in the same city, believe in Jesus, and are baptized in His name that you are the Congregation of God in your home city, the body of Christ, and each of you is one of His members. This is the Biblical form of congregation membership.

Therefore, if you are a Christian in the sense that the Bible gives to that name, then you are already a member of this congregation. We warmly welcome you into the fellowship of this, your own congregation (Hebrews 10:25). Our task is to help others also to become Christians in this Biblical way, and thus to become members of the congregation and be baptized.
Jesus prays for His own congregation “that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:23, KJV). It is God’s will that His congregation be restored in each city according to the original and Biblical order revealed in Scripture.

There is no teaching in the Bible that different denominations and churches should be established. Although there are members of God’s congregation within them, none of them is the Congregation of God. God has not founded any of them. To them applies the teaching of Jesus: “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” (Matthew 15:13, KJV). Yet the perfect unity for which Jesus prayed will not be fulfilled by trying to uproot denominations and churches from the world. They will always exist among us in this world. True unity becomes visible only when we root them out from within ourselves.

Therefore, we do not build fellowship across denominational and church boundaries, but without them. We are not to be Lutherans, Catholics, Orthodox, Adventists, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, or any other kind of “-ist” or “-ian.” None of these existed when the congregation was founded. It is God’s will that we be simply Christians, in the same way as those whom He, from the beginning, had added to His congregation.

We build congregational fellowship in our home city according to this God-given way described above, not according to human ways. Thus the true Biblical order begins to prevail visibly within the congregation (Colossians 2:5). For the building up of congregational fellowship, God sets in our midst ministries (Titus 1:5; Ephesians 4:11–15). God blesses the tasks of Christians, equips them for His work, and grants them spiritual growth through the congregation (Acts 13:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25; 1 Corinthians 3:6–11). Therefore, one must be in congregational fellowship so that all this may happen in God’s way. This congregation remains united, in fellowship, and in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42; Colossians 2:19).

Blessings to you, Christian, who desire to hold fast to this Biblical congregational order and begin to gather accordingly! Jesus will guide you in all things.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9, KJV)

Blessings,
Weijo Lindroos, from the Turku Congregation
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland
Email: weijo.lindroos@pp.inet.fi

Thanks for sharing. I use congregation and Church differently in order to make a distinction between denominations within a building vs the Universal Church made up of all Holy Spirit filled Christians who have no buildings or borders.
Be blessed.

 

[Delvianna]

While I agree with you that there is 1 body of Christ and all who follow Jesus and his truth are within that, the problem is that there are teachings by other denominations that will not get people saved as they themselves aren't either. Just like Christ accused the Pharisees of leading people to damnation (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15) there are groups of people doing the same. Which is why I don't subscribe to the idea that debating scripture is "dividing the body of Christ" when there are a lot of people who are false brothers based on their doctrine and technically then wouldn't be IN the body of Christ to begin with. So I think it's dangerous to consider every denomination as part of the body when for example, Mormons claim "Christianity" but clearly aren't in the body...

 

[Maria Billingsley]

While I agree with you that there is 1 body of Christ and all who follow Jesus and his truth are within that, the problem is that there are teachings by other denominations that will not get people saved as they themselves aren't either. Just like Christ accused the Pharisees of leading people to damnation (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15) there are groups of people doing the same. Which is why I don't subscribe to the idea that debating scripture is "dividing the body of Christ" when there are a lot of people who are false brothers based on their doctrine and technically then wouldn't be IN the body of Christ to begin with. So I think it's dangerous to consider every denomination as part of the body when for example, Mormons claim "Christianity" but clearly aren't in the body...

Only our Lord knows the heart . Within all these denominations are those who are in His Flock. Jesus Christ of Nazareth made it clear.
" For many are called but few are chosen".

 

[Delvianna]

Only our Lord knows the heart . Within all these denominations are those who are in His Flock. Jesus Christ of Nazareth made it clear.
" For many are called but few are chosen".

If you preach that salvation is works based, both you and everyone else who agrees with that, is not apart of his flock, that is part of knowing their heart. So no, not within "all" denominations are his flock. There are denominations as a whole based on their teaching, that none will be saved due to it contradicting what scripture says about salvation.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

If you preach that salvation is works based, both you and everyone else who agrees with that, is not apart of his flock, that is part of knowing their heart. So no, not within "all" denominations are his flock. There are denominations as a whole based on their teaching, that none will be saved due to it contradicting what scripture says about salvation.

Thank you for sharing. I understand the Calvanist view point however, I do not share it.
Be blessed.

 

[Delvianna]

Thank you for sharing. I understand the Calvanist view point however, I do not share it.
Be blessed.

I'm not calvanist as I believe that our beliefs define where we go and although God knows who is his ahead of time since he knows the future, we still have free will to accept, deny or be influenced wrongly. It's the difference between believing in what Christ said will get you to heaven and altering that truth into something false and accepting that. Jehovah's Witnesses are another example due to the fact they believe Christ was created, is separate from the Father, and is of lower class than the Father and is Michael the Archangel. So I can confidently say, "All JW's aren't saved". That's what I mean.

Edit: If you leave being a JW, and accept God's truth and follow Him, then salvation is at the door. Just like if someone is a Muslim and turned and accepted Jesus, now salvation is open to them too but if you stay in the wrong doctrine that is literally preventing that salvation, then you will be condemned when you die.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I'm not calvanist as I believe that our beliefs define where we go and although God knows who is his ahead of time since he knows the future, we still have free will to accept, deny or be influenced wrongly. It's the difference between believing in what Christ said will get you to heaven and altering that truth into something false and accepting that. Jehovah's Witnesses are another example due to the fact they believe Christ was created, is separate from the Father, and is of lower class than the Father and is Michael the Archangel. So I can confidently say, "All JW's aren't saved". That's what I mean.

Ok. Only God knows the heart.
Thanks for sharing !

 

[Delvianna]

Ok. Only God knows the heart.
Thanks for sharing !

So, do you believe someone can believe Christ was just a prophet, you can sin as much as you want, and Jesus isn't God, and still get to heaven? Because you keep replying with "Only God knows the heart" when scripture has tons of examples of people leading others to hell that is even more nuanced than false doctrine, like the practices the Pharisees were teaching. This is why the road is narrow and few find it because not all beliefs = heaven. Mormons believe you become equal to God, is that not blasphemy? Do people who regularly blaspheme God by that belief go to heaven? I think you need to expand your view point because you're leaving out a lot.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

So, do you believe someone can believe Christ was just a prophet, you can sin as much as you want, and Jesus isn't God, and still get to heaven? Because you keep replying with "Only God knows the heart" when scripture has tons of examples of people leading others to hell that is even more nuanced than false doctrine, like the practices the Pharisees were teaching. This is why the road is narrow and few find it because not all beliefs = heaven. Mormons believe you become equal to God, is that not blasphemy? Do people who regularly blaspheme God by that belief go to heaven? I think you need to expand your view point because you're leaving out a lot.

Thanks for sharing. I have no interest in derailing this thread.

 

[Delvianna]

Thanks for sharing. I have no interest in derailing this thread.

That's not a derail when the topic is literally talking about what is the congregation as a whole which is why I replied what I did and then you replied to me claiming all denominations are apart of his flock. So this is absolutely on topic, but if you don't want to answer, that's fine.