JC's Word which is mainly, "If you love me, keep my commandments." His commandment is simple, "Love others as you have loved me." You have the MAIN message of Christ which is all about love, and serving, and ministry and helping others.
What is Jesus' "Word" concerning Gentile circumcision? When the issue came up, what did the Early Church do, "search Scripture" or call a Council? We have THE Biblical model for the interpretation of "JC's Word", an Ecumenical Council, in Acts 15. Which Church STILL uses this same model for discerning True Doctrine?
AND then you have all these thousands of doctrines that HAVE NOTHING to do with that message. "Mystery Babylon" and the religious spirit of antichrist are alive and well today.
I didn't think anyone still believed this fantasy, especially since the author has RECANTED his position and noted many "unsubstantiated" claims in Hislop's book, from which the author of "Babylon Mystery Religion" got a lot of his information. Please go to Ralph Woodrow's website and read it for yourself.
Here is an excerpt:
"My original book had some valuable information in it. But it also contained certain teachings that were made popular in a book many years ago, THE TWO BABYLONS, by Alexander Hislop. This book claims that the very religion of ancient Babylon, under the leadership of Nimrod and his wife, was later disguised with Christian-sounding names, becoming the Roman Catholic Church. Thus, two “Babylons"—one ancient and one modern. Proof for this is sought by citing numerous similarities in paganism.
The problem with this method is this: in many cases there is no connection."...
..."By this method, the BIBLE itself would need to be rejected as pagan. All of the following practices or beliefs mentioned in the Bible, were also known among pagans—raising hands in worship, taking off shoes on holy ground, a holy mountain, a holy place in a temple, offering sacrifices without blemish, a sacred ark, city of refuge, bringing forth water from a rock, laws written on stone, fire appearing on a person’s head, horses of fire, the offering of first fruits, tithes, etc."
http://www.ralphwoodrow.org/books/pages/babylon-mystery.html
Many Christians dont fully understand what the church is. It has nothing to do with walls, or denominations, or creeds, or doctrines.
Where is this definition taught in Scripture? It may not have anything to do with "walls" or "denominations" (which were foreign to the Early Church), but it definitely has everything to do with the other two. There was a doctrinal dispute (doctrine), the dispute was taken the THE CHURCH leaders in Jerusalem, it was settled and the decision REACHED AT JERUSALEM was held BINDING on the entire Church (it became a part of their creed). You can "understand" church to be anything you want it to be, but your definition is not Biblical. I'll ask you the same question I asked SpagLard:
"
What do you think would happen if the "Judiazers" had told Paul when he got back to Antioch: "Well, that's merely your opinion and you are just a man, just like those guys in Jerusalem. We have searched the Scriptures and consulted the Holy Spirit, and we disagree with the council, since circumcision is MANDATORY IN SCRIPTURE. Therefore we have come to the conclusion that WE are holding biblical doctrine and YOU are not, so we are going to break off and start our own "biblical" church, who is with us????"
A good case could be made that the Council WENT AGAINST (contradicted) Scripture.
"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:21-22
It has to do with our bodies becoming the temple of the Spirit of the living God and those who have the Spirit of God in them are collectively a 'temple'.
You're right, these verses have nothing to do with "our bodies becoming the temple of the Spirit of the living God", but they have nothing to do with how Paul viewed "Church" (except that both Jews and Gentiles belonged there) or settled doctrinal disputes either.
"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands -- 12
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2)
The "Gentiles in the flesh" were "brought near" to "the covenants of the promise", which were given to the Jews, "in the Blood of Christ". He continues...
"For he is our peace,
who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances,
that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end." (Eph. 2)
The Jew and the Gentile are brought together making "one new man" within the Church of Christ.
"And he came and preached peace to you who were
far off and peace to those who were
near; 18 for through him
we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22
in whom you also are built into itfor a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2)
The Gentiles are "built into" "the household of God", as are the Jews. As you can see from the context, this has nothing to do with doctrinal discernment or how Paul viewed the ecclesiastical acceptance of "creeds or doctrines", only that BOTH Jews and Gentiles belong within the Church.
How do you know if someone has the Spirit of God in them? You will know them by their fruits. Are they constantly working to make the lives of others better? Are they actively putting forth efforts to help and love others? Or do they just go to church every sunday and wednesday, sing in the choir and quote Scripture?
By their fruits you shall know THEM, not their Church or whether or not their doctrines are true. Suppose you had TWO people who had the Spirit of God in them as you describe it above, one Catholic, one Baptist. Which set of doctrines are true?
On one hand you have a true Christian with the Spirit of God in them and on the other hand you have a modern day Scribe and Pharisee.
Wow, a little harsh. Don't you think there can be a middle ground? Like maybe well meaning Christians that interpret Scripture differently than you do?
