Dmitar

I agree, the anointed are part of Christ Body. We all have a different function within those Body Parts. However, I still don't see where in scripture, you separate "leaders" which the first century congregations (Churches) had alongside the apostles where scripture divides those body parts to mean individuals instead of unity. I apologize. I thought you were fluent in Greek, since you mentioned Greek Scripture instead of the New Testament. NWT (Ephesians 5:22-24) . . ., 23 because a husband is head of his wife just as the Christ is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body. 24 In fact, as the congregation is in subjection to the Christ, wives should also be to their husbands in everything. NIV Ephesians 5:23-24 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 1.32 ἐκκλησία, ας f: a congregation of Christians, implying interacting membership - 'congregation, church.' τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Κορίνθῳ 'to the church of God which is in Corinth' 1 Cor 1.2; ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι πᾶσαι τοῦ Χριστοῦ 'all the churches of Christ greet you' Ro 16.16. I also, didn't want to insult you by using the New World Translation of Jehovah's Witnesses since you are a former member. I will have to consider this understanding of yours, since this passage is referring to treating our own body as a temple. NIV 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. NWT (1 Corinthians 6:17-20) . . .. 18 Flee from sexual immorality! Every other sin that a man may commit is outside his body, but whoever practices sexual immorality is sinning against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the holy spirit within you, which you have from God? Also, you do not belong to yourselves, 20 for you were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in your body. Remember, I'm desperately trying not to twist the words of the gospel to mean something else.

Does this mean to you that only the apostles were enlightened and no one else benefited from God's words, even though Jesus spoke of them to the people? What would be the purpose of scripture, then? Aside from the text you claim are for the anointed in Mark 4:34, the highlighted portion is your understanding of what Jesus was indicating. Yes, in preparation, Jesus will implement a spiritual strategy to benefit mankind though the Kingdom of Heaven along with the Saints. That’s Gods plan. How do you believe those Saints are gathered? Does that mean, all the Saints were gathered in Jesus time? Mark 4 : 34 Berean Study Bible"He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples." And privately Jesus will explain everything to the True Anointed ones, so that those True Anointed ones will guide the Earthly ones that are willing to listen. Then you don't believe the church is part of that body like Jehovah Witnesses and their poor understanding of it here. "The church is called the body of Christ because Christ is the head of the church and we are called to do the work of Christ, each like members of a body. We have different skills, purposes, and spiritual gifts, yet every believer is equally important to the full functioning, mission, and efficacy of the church. What Does "Body of Christ" Mean?" 1 Corinthians 12:12–14 — English Standard Version (ESV) 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. Isn't it also written in the Greek Scripture? 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 Καθάπερ γὰρ τὸ σῶμα ἕν ἐστιν καὶ μέλη πολλὰ ἔχει, πάντα δὲ τὰ μέλη τοῦ σώματος πολλὰ ὄντα ἕν ἐστιν σῶμα, οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστός· 13 καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι ἡμεῖς πάντες εἰς ἓν σῶμα ἐβαπτίσθημεν, εἴτε Ἰουδαῖοι εἴτε Ἕλληνες εἴτε δοῦλοι εἴτε ἐλεύθεροι, καὶ πάντες ἓν πνεῦμα ἐποτίσθημεν. 14 Καὶ γὰρ τὸ σῶμα οὐκ ἔστιν ἓν μέλος ἀλλὰ πολλά. (1 Cor. 12:14 BYZ) 1 Corinthians 12:14 nam et corpus non est unum membrum sed multa (1 Cor. 12:14 VUL) Remember, I'm trying very hard not to twist your words, without having to TWIST the words of the gospel of Christ. Acts 2:42-47 English Standard Version The Fellowship of the Believers 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Hebrews 10:19-25 English Standard Version The Full Assurance of Faith 19 Therefore, brothers,[a] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 English Standard Version 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Without having to twist your words and make an assumption in your understanding, can you elaborate on your thought and understanding? Without sounding repetitious I would ask you again, if this is your understanding, then the New Testament was written only for the saints, and no other people would inherit the earth. There would be no benefit for them. It might sound strange, however, the way you are stipulating your thought, that's what you are leading me to believe. Are you explaining how you have moved away from "traditional view" of Christ Body to form a new scriptural understanding of Ephesians 1:22-23 Ephesians 1:22-23 New International Version 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Does your understanding of the "church" meant to mean only the 144,000 saints? Where does that leave the rest of the followers of Christ if they are not part of the church? Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Once again, I don’t want to twist your understanding since it is important to you as you see and believe it, however, being of one mind, one faith, one body in Christ was Paul's words to the gentiles. Ephesians 3:3-9 New International Version 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Unity and Diversity in the Body 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Colossians 1:24-27 Paul’s Labor for the Church 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. I must sound like a broken record, and I am trying very hard to understand your view, but I'm still having some difficulty how you are separating the 144,000 which is part of Christ Body alongside the rest of the members of the congregation which is part of the same body. Galatians 3:26-28 New International Version 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Romans 16:25-27 New International Version 25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from[a] faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. I will prayerfully place your thought into consideration without having to twist the words of the gospel.

Thank you for admitting people here have no moral or ethics when it comes to scripture. Why apply it if it's all for fun and games? It appears this site was formed to have Jehovah's Witnesses rant, vent, and politicize world events instead of complying with scripture. Once again, you are letting people here know your religion is false. I guess you're proud of that fact, unless you are former members insisting you are current ones. Then you would be correct, baptism here would be meaningless. However, I don't recall where my questions would somehow be seen as trying to form a congregation here. Can you explain your poorly worded sarcasm?

I'm glad you see that about yourself. I believe you also mentioned, let it go as a preceding judge. However, I will not lower my standards just to be quarrelsome with you.

Then you want to revert to Judaism, where the Israelites or Judeans became none compliant with God's laws. Not that Christianity is fairing any better, however, there are Christians being compliant with God's Law's. Is the Torah the only thing you wish to accept? Then you would have to agree, corruption started with the original sin. You don't believe there will be a third testament of man after judgment day? Isn't that the promise God made to man, to return man back to his/her original disposition.

No, thank you. I wouldn't learn anything from a false religion. At least that's what you people are making your religion out to be, here. What matters, is God happy with Christians that do take their baptism seriously.

Not to be indifferent by your attitude, but commonsense dictated to me to have to ask if you are Jehovah's Witnesses from a forum dedicated to Jehovah’s Witnesses Open Club. I see now, people here don't practice what they preach. But, you can laugh about it at my expense. I see now, you are part of false religion. Can you laugh at that too?

Did Jesus not change that? Do, you believe, Jesus found no use for the First Christian Congregations? If not, why do you believe that? Why would you think the apostles found no problem with them, but Jesus did, if that's your understanding.

It seems you misunderstood me. My concern is with the Church of Christ, everyone that is a true follower is part of that church, not just the anointed. Apostle Paul was specific in his understanding. I was unaware I twisted your words. That was not my intent. My apologies if you think I did it intentionally. However, An empty vessel cannot be placed in a Christian Life, nor its Dominion. So, I will ask you again, have you converted to atheism or agnosticism? In case you wish to ask by whose authority, By the authority of God's own words and the teachings of our Lord. It would not be good at all to twist the words of God.

I see, it's an insult to ask if you are a Jehovah's Witness. I guess, I would be insulting you, if you are a Jehovah's Witness? This is a strange reason. You would think a Jehovah's Witness would be proud to claim they were if asked unless they had a dark side to them, and they wished not to be associated with that organization they disparage by name and action. However, that means you're being rude and obnoxious is because you believe my question was insulting to another. Is this correct? Then you only ask people you wish to be quarrelsome with. None Responsive. I won't dignify it with a response, as it is simply adding to being quarrelsome, which is not my intent. It only saddens me, people here have a short fuse, and don't have common decency, for an adequate response.

In Early Christian Churches, Elders were the leaders of the congregation. Does your understanding mean, those Elders were anointed just because they were the first to build upon Christ Church? I noticed you down voted a question I posed @Srecko Sostar earlier on the 144,000 thousand that I later clarified for @Srecko Sostaron the followup response. Since you and he must believe in something, I will pose the same question. Do you believe, the 144,000 thousand saints are the ones to inherit the earth, or will it be others? If not about the saints, explain why you personally believe scripture is only meant to satisfy the requirements for anointed, and no one else? Christ not just spoke to the anointed, but also to regular sinners that wished to repent. The message was meant to be applied the same.

Instead of putting a confused emoji, I'll just ask you to explain your thought. The Church of Christ is Christianity as a whole. However, not all Christians obey the sanctity of God and Christ. Therefore, the Church of Christ is the Body of Christ. Are you referring to a brick and mortar house of the Lord that is used as grounds to worship, like the synagogues and the first Christian congregations were used? The house in itself has no meaning, rather a place for Christians to unite and encourage one another under the Lord. So, a House, Church, Congregation, etc. that is used as a house of worship is sanctified by God's Holy Spirit. An atheist would not think of such things, and condemn such placement, while an agnostic might think, worshiping God under the stars is enough.

How does being part of this world coincide with Bible teachings? I don't believe being a popular man-made character raises to that level of spirituality. Is this how Jehovah Witnesses teach those that have yet to know Jehovah and Christ, by comparing the creator and his begotten son to a man-made part of this world cartoon character?

Then you no longer believe in Christ, as determined by His church and God's words. Have you become an atheist, or are you an agnostic? We all have a belief system regardless if we think we don't.

Does this mean, Jehovah Witnesses use cartoon characters to follow God and Christ? Why not use Jesus as an example? I would think that would be more appropriate than some man-made and part of this world character. However, thank you for your response.

Does, answering a question with a question a gimmick Jehovah Witnesses often use, instead of answering a simple question. I find it hard to encourage someone to be a Jehovah's Witness with such an attitude as a student of the bible. Does everyone here need to be a Jehovah's Witness or Ex-Witness in order to be here in this forum. I get rude criticism from both the hard left and right. Have you asked the same question of Space Merchant? What is the purpose then to hold an open forum, if only you people can comment? Does this mean, I will need to be rude and obnoxious as most are here, in order to be accepted into this fold? I asked a question on why @JW Insider was so concerned about China he was willing to defend a corrupt regime. I didn't engage in his personal politics of China as @Arauna is doing. There is no need for me to do that. If I wanted to engage in politics, I would offer the US finding of Human Organ trafficking by China that many institutions are aware of with the Chinese prison population. Well documented evidence of Chinese Hospitals preforming transplants on the same day an execution was preformed. These are human atrocities that happen by corrupt regimes. Even though China signed the Organ Harvesting act of 1984, it has not complied. Jehovah will erase all those regimes that have nothing to do with Christ Kingdom.

Summary: Definition The Christian life is the life of repentance, faith, and good works lived through the power of the Spirit and with the help of the means of grace as the Christian is conformed to the image of Christ to the glory of God. Can you explain how you define, Christian Life?

Likewise.

@Srecko Sostar I see you are confused about my question. Let me put it this way, are the 144,000 thousand responsible to inhabit the earth? I'm sure your answer would be, no. The question stands on the premise you said you once had a Christian life. Can I ask, what is preventing you from continuing that service for God? Ultimately, we are responsible for our own salvation. What is preventing you from Christian service elsewhere. Have you converted to atheism or agnosticism?

Do you believe, it will only be the 144,000 saints that will inherit the earth? Is so, why is it necessary for humanity to comply with God's commands if God already knows who those are.

None Responsive. I fail to see where my comment hurt you. Can you expand on how you being rude, makes me rude? Or is this something Jehovah's Witnesses often do to evade a question or comment?

I'm glad you continue those scriptural applications in your behalf. I'm glad it's having an impact. However, you did not answer my question, are you a Jehovah's Witness?

How does your attitude comply with scripture? Are you implying a Christian should not be a slave to God? I obey my creator YHWH, who do you obey with being part of this world, when it shouldn't be invoked in a Christian life? Are you a Jehovah's Witness?

I'm glad you have an application of confidence for yourself. Continue to recite scripture in your behalf. However, my point was made with your response. Are you a Jehovah's Witness? I have asked others if this is something Jehovah Witnesses do in their daily lives, to be rude and obnoxious to others. I have not received a response.