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Originally Posted by Koinonia
I would say that believers constitute the "local visible expression of the universal church." I believe that seeking to be such as a group separate (or smaller than) all other believers is misguided and presumptuous.
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This characterizes the denominations doesn't it? Every group established under some denominational name seeks to be smaller than all other believers in the city. A group which refers to itself by the locality would be seeking to be a group which includes all believers in the locality and encourages others to join.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koinonia
The local church includes all believers in that place. Even you claim to believe this.
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Yes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koinonia
There were not special groups in Revelation that constituted the "church in the city" because they had the right name (as opposed to anyone else without the right name). So, it is wrong to equate the situation of Revelation to the situation of today.
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Suppose at that time, a group separated from the church in the city and decided to call themselves Lutheran and another Baptist. Would not the remaining church in the city be justified in calling itself the true local expression? Or would it have to consider the Lutheran and Baptist churches genuine local expressions as well?