Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
Reminds me of Jesus noting the ones who were scrupulous about outward purity and cleanliness. Actually they were the most Biblical, since both the divine command for purity and the practice handed down (i.e. 'closely following the apostles') was for this very thing. They could cite Moses in everything they did. Every cup and every laver had precedent.
But Jesus said the problem was inward, not to be solved by obeying forms or practices. Having the right name, up to and including "only the name of Jesus", doesn't make your heart right in the matter of receiving others. In fact, scrupulously insisting on the right name might eventually become a cloak for having all sorts of heart issues.
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Well said. Thankfully, God sees the heart. No fooling Him.
On this thread (yes, OBW we are interested too, thanks for starting it): My thoughts are that God is not stopped by our "names". Christ is building His church in spite of the gates of Hades always being open against it, and "the walls" we Christians throw up to divide ourselves from others.
I've seen the same Christ who appeared to the very human and fallible disciples in the enclosed room, and the Holy Spirit who was breathed into and poured out upon them, do those very same things whenever any group of believers come together in His name (in spite of the name of their church). As long as a group of believers turn their hearts to the Lord, open His word, and pray from a pure heart, His blessings pour out.
What does stop God's blessings are: taking or giving His place to others as head of the church, living in and promoting fornication or other sins, idol worship (worshipping the works of men's hands), and true division (not receiving other believers for fellowship or meetings because of a preference for certain ministers). Failing to deal with these things, by confessing ones' sins and asking forgiveness ultimately leads to God's judgement. Thus, we are charged to examine ourselves before we take the bread and cup in an unworthy manner.