Quote:
Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa
Maybe this will help you understand where I was heading. There is only and I do mean only one Church. Protestants, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox are nothing to God. The are on the same level as Buddhists and Hindus. Therefore they could not be in covenant relationship with. Annias and Sapphira again would be a frequent thing due to the flock (true church) being small number which finds the small gate.
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I cannot say either way of how God views all the denominations in Christianity. I am merely bringing up the similarites in orthoddox judiaism and Christianity. From the begining, Abraham heard God and believed. Abraham's children and grandchildren were also familiar to the voice of God. Generations passed and they went from knowing God to just knowing the commandments of God and they begin to fall away into idolatry (The light in their temple went out). In the midst of all this, God preserved a remnant that still held true. The remnant where those who held on to their faith in God.
The Church began in an upper room and had explosive growth. People were filled with the Holy Ghost and began a "personal" relationship with God. As it grew I am sure there were many bandwagon followers such as Annannias and Saphira that tried to jump right on board. What they didn't get is that a relationship with God is built upon personal faith and confirmed (sealed) through Gods Spirit. Just like Abraham, the early christianity had a personal walk with God, but just like orthodox Judiaism, christianity became an orthodox religion that only knew the commandments of God without knowing God.
Within OT Judiasim God reserved a remnant, and Within NT Christianity God preserves a remnant (aka the church). The remnant is what is the bride. You can say I am a dispensationalist in regard to the return of Christ, because I do expect Jesus to return in physical form. I don't think we are living in a millenial reign that the devil is at present bound in a fiery pit not to torment God's people. Dispensationalist teach we are living in the gap, while preterist teach we are living in millinium. I don't think either is right, but I do see similarites in these religions. I made the mistake of using church when I was speaking of Christianity. I don't think there is a fallen church because the church is the remnant that always remains. Just like the Jews had a remnant.