Don't hate the word "church"

Originally posted by @thinkofone

Originally posted by @sonship
I don't ignore them at all.

You ignore that God is.
The top of the list is all that is needed.

(Prove me wrong by confessing that you believe in God).

In John 20 Jesus breaths Himself into His disciples. They receive the Holy Spirit. Then there is a difference between human beings who have the Holy Spirit and human beings who do not.

The church consists of those who have the Holy Spirit.
The night He appeared to them after His resurrection -

"And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced at seeing the Lord.

Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you, as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.

And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven them, and whoever sins you retain, they are retained." (John 20:20-23)

"But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Yet if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not of Him." (Rom. 8:9)

In resurrection Christ dispensed Himself as the Holy Spirit into His disciples John 20:20. This was in keeping with His promise that He would not leave them as orphans but would come to them, as the Spirit of reality.

"I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. Yet a little while and the world beholds Me no longer, but you behold Me; because I live you also shall live.

In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." (John 14:18-20)

Luke 8
21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

This is the dividing line according to Jesus. It is clear the many Christians believe otherwise. Many Christians do not believe that the dividing line is those "who hear the word of God and do it".

Oh, but ToO depends on his good reading comprehension skills to teach him only what the Father can show him by revelation.

Satan, in tempting the Son of God, had good reading comprehension skills and was subtle and intellectual too.

"And he [the devil] brought Him into Jerusalem and set Him on the wing of the temple and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here;

For it is written, To His angels He shall give charge concerning You to protect You. And on their hands they shall bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone."

And Jesus answered and said to him. It is said, You shall not test the Lord your God." (Luke 4:9-12)

"And He said to them, This it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise up from the dead on the third day, And that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things. " (Luke 24:46-48)

You will probably never see ToO quote anything in the Gospels AFTER the resurrection of Christ.

The dividing line is FIRSTLY those who repent and receive forgiveness of sins in the name of the resurrected Christ.

"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And He said to them, Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise up from the dead on the third day, And that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:45-48)

"And behold, I send you the promise of My Father upon you; but as for you, stay in the city until you put on power from on high." (v.49)

No doubt someone will not accuse me of some kind of emotionalism. But I am rather calm here. I just know not to be fooled about dividing lines by an Atheist who disbelieves in the incarnation of God as a man and His redeeming death and resurrection.

No excitement or emotionalism is needed. It is evident that in spite of ToO's appeal to Luke 8 he has no intention of being on the side of the dividing line the risen Christ is TODAY.

Originally posted by @sonship
No doubt someone will not accuse me of some kind of emotionalism. But I am rather calm here. I just know not to be fooled about dividing lines by an Atheist who disbelieves in the incarnation of God as a man and His redeeming death and resurrection.

No excitement or emotionalism is needed. It is evident that in spite of ToO's appeal to [b]Luke 8 he has no intention of being on the side of the dividing line the risen Christ is TODAY.[/b]

This thread is a bit of a parchment

Originally posted by @thinkofone
Who is and is not a part of the assembly of which Jesus spoke?

Luke 8
19And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” 21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and [b]My brothers are these ...[text shortened]... Christians do not believe that the dividing line is those "who hear the word of God and do it".

" I have come to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled!

But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! " (Luke 12:49,50)

Jesus referred to His extended family as the crowd listening and wanting to do God's will.

Luke 8
21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

This is the dividing line according to Jesus. It is clear the many Christians believe otherwise. Many Christians do not believe that the dividing line is those "who hear the word of God and do it".

"I have come to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled!

But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am pressed [or constrained] until it is accomplished!

for from now on there will be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against her daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.." (Luke 12:49-53)

"the last Adam became a life giving Spirit" (1 Cor. 15:45)

Originally posted by @sonship
Diversity is okay. Truth is even better.

Originally posted by @fmf
The diversity I am talking about is seen in the various, competing claims about the "truth".

Jesus was constrained in Luke 8. He longed to cast fire on the earth of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit could come only after He accomplished the baptism of His redemptive crucifixion.

"But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am pressed until it is accomplished!" (Luke 12:50)

No FMF, I do not want to talk a lot about you.

Jesus was constrained in securing those who could and would do the will of His Father until he undergo the baptism of His death.

"I have come to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.

But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am pressed [constrained] until it is accomplished." (Luke 12:49,50)