What or Who is the Church?

[Lees]

You are denying that God added gentile believers to the Church already in place according to Ephesians.

Again, see post #(215)

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians the Church had already begun. Pentecost.

Lees

 

[1689Dave]

Again, see post #(215)

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians the Church already begun. Pentecost.

Lees

In Ephesians, Paul said the gentiles were outside of the church but became members through Christ. Why did God remove the unbelievers in Romans 11 leaving believers only? And then graft believing gentiles into Israel replacing them?

 

[Lees]

In Ephesians, Paul said the gentiles were outside of the church but became members through Christ. Why did God remove the unbelievers in Romans 11 leaving believers only? And then graft believing gentiles into Israel replacing them?

I don't understand your question. Give me the exact verses you are referring to and explain your quesiton.

Lees

 

[1689Dave]

I don't understand your question. Give me the exact verses you are referring to and explain your quesiton.

Lees

Here's an easy-to-understand translation.

“Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel, and you had no part in the agreements with the promise that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ’s death. Christ himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his own body.” Ephesians 2:12–14 (NCV)

This means God added believing gentiles to Israel making one people, (not two peoples) in Christ. This also means Israel is the Church. Are the broken-off unbelievers Israel? No, only believers are.

 

[Lees]

Here's an easy-to-understand translation.

“Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel, and you had no part in the agreements with the promise that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ’s death. Christ himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his own body.” Ephesians 2:12–14 (NCV)

This means God added believing gentiles to Israel making one people, (not two peoples) in Christ. This also means Israel is the Church. Are the broken-off unbelievers Israel? No, only believers are.

(Eph. 2:14-16) says nothing of the sort. It is clear that Jew and Gentile become a new body, new man, the Church. And that could not occur till after the Cross. I have showed you this several times already. See post #(215).

Lees

 

[1689Dave]

(Eph. 2:14-16) says nothing of the sort. It is clear that Jew and Gentile become a new body, new man, the Church. And that could not occur till after the Cross. I have showed you this several times already. See post #(215).

Lees

God removed the unbelievers from Israel and grafted into Israel believing Gentiles. Those he removed hate him with a passion. They exist because of this hatred. Those who loved Christ joined him as the King of Israel.

 

[brightfame52]

The Church, the Body of Christ is the Seed of Abraham, for its seen when we consider a couple of verses in Hebrews to start. Heb 2:11

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

This no doubt refers to Christ as the " He that sanctifieth" and the " we who are sanctified" are His Body the Church, and they are of One or they are One. The Head and His Members are One 1 Cor 12:12

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Col 1:18

And he[Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Now lets look again in Heb 2:16-17

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people

So He became One when He took on the seed of Abraham in the flesh, He identified in the flesh with those He is the Head of, they also being the members of His Body.

Christ is the Seed of Abraham Gal 3:16

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

And His Body the Church is Abrahams Seed Gal 3:29

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

[brightfame52]

The True Israel, the Church are those people who have Abraham’s spiritual faith regardless of their ethnicity Gal 3:7,26-29

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Rom 4:16

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Gal 6:16

16 And as many as walk according to this rule[rule of faith], peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.7