briar patch

[Joy]

The Jews were the FIRST ONES TO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

SCRIPTURE was given by God to the JEWS, entrusted to them by GOD, God Says, (IN the BIBLE).
(God Says in the Bible: Salvation came through the Jews)

More Jews TODAY may be believing the Gospel of Christ than ever before in history ( I don't know how many total then or now)

I hope many are, but John 1:11 states:
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

[Aaron]

"(In short, an answer to a question, or part of the answer, asked by Joy a little while ago (I honestly thought was common knowledge among the set apart (holy, set apart to God) Jews and Anabaptists ) )"

The Jews don't believe the Gospel of Christ.

The Jews were the FIRST ONES TO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

SCRIPTURE was given by God to the JEWS, entrusted to them by GOD, God Says, (IN the BIBLE).
(God Says in the Bible: Salvation came through the Jews)

More Jews TODAY may be believing the Gospel of Christ than ever before in history ( I don't know how many total then or now)

There is a pertinent distinction, though.
In general, Jews today do not believe the Gospel of Christ. Fortunately, there are exceptions.
In general, Anabaptists today do believe the Gospel of Christ. Unfortunately, there are exceptions.

So referring to both groups as set apart in the same way does not compute. Nor does elevating Anabaptists above other believers, all of whom are set apart.

Whether in Baptists, Lutherans, Protestants, whatever, including Anabaptists and Waldensians (sadly seen on world wide television last year tying up with the world babylon system willingly (one , not all Waldensian congregations(pastor), seen doing this) ....
whether in America, China, Asia, wherever,
few are set apart.

Wherever Jesus and those in Jesus are or go, they/we/ are set apart in Jesus.
Just by going someplace though, does not make those people there (like in Athens in the NT) set apart. They each need their own faith in Jesus.

No one is elevated above other in Christ Jesus. (the way you seem to mean elevated anyway)

The exceptions today are the ones who do believe in Jesus and abide in Him, being born again, by the Will of the Father in heaven. As written = "Few find the narrow gate or narrow road to LIFE" ; "MANY are on the wide path to destruction".

Jesus says that when with one heart and one voice His People cry out "Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Adonai!" (i.e. instead of rejecting Him, turning to Him and praising Him)
at once then , He Returns.

[Josh]

What is the utility of thanking in public for PMs, other than to make some of us feel left out?

Jesus calls us "out", "EK-", as in "EKklesia" , out of the world, out of society, out of the flesh, out of religion , to
be holy - holy = set apart
In Christ Jesus.

So , then, with this partly to go by, would you want to be "in" still, "in" some group not "in Christ" ? Or EK- , "out" of any group that is not in Christ ?

Personally, I like going to a church that says "in Christ" on its church sign. But I'm not sure I can exegete that from "ekklesia".

[Aaron]

Personally, I like going to a church that says "in Christ" on its church sign. But I'm not sure I can exegete that from "ekklesia".

If they are not Ekklesia, that means they are of the world - not in Christ, not saved from the world, not saved from sin.

[Josh]

Personally, I like going to a church that says "in Christ" on its church sign. But I'm not sure I can exegete that from "ekklesia".

If they are not Ekklesia, that means they are of the world - not in Christ, not saved from the world, not saved from sin.

Aaron, what does that mean? My church sign says "Church of God in Christ", but I'm not sure that somehow makes our church better than, say, a gathering of believers that calls itself "Christian Fellowship".

[Aaron]

Personally, I like going to a church that says "in Christ" on its church sign. But I'm not sure I can exegete that from "ekklesia".

If they are not Ekklesia, that means they are of the world - not in Christ, not saved from the world, not saved from sin.

Aaron, what does that mean? My church sign says "Church of God in Christ", but I'm not sure that somehow makes our church better than, say, a gathering of believers that calls itself "Christian Fellowship".

What the sign outside says does not indicate at all if the heart is circumcised or not, nor if anyone there is born again, nor if anyone there is abiding IN JESUS, or HIS WORD ABIDING IN THEM.

In the New Testament, "Ekklesia" is one of the original words describing the true disciples / assemblies of those who had received salvation after being immersed in Yeshua's (Jesus') Name. (from ACTS thru REVELATION)

I use Ekklesia to refer to anyone who has died to the world and the world has died to them - anyone who was buried with Christ, crucified with Him , and raised as Scripture says in His Life by Faith.
In Scripture, Ekklesia might more distinctly refer to the assemblies, not to the individuals, but I have not yet gone that 'deep'? to see if that is so or not.

[Josh]

I'm really quite curious what Aaron is talking about.

[Aaron]

I'm really quite curious what Aaron is talking about.

Good, .......... (I hope and pray) ......

Thankfully, there is a "short" answer available >
excerpt from the page >>

"It is important that the church today understand the definition of ekklesia. The church needs to see itself as being “called out” by God. If the church wants to make a difference in the world, it must be different from the world. Salt is different from the food it flavors. God has called the church to be separate from sin (1 Peter 1:16), to embrace fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42), and to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). God has graciously called us unto Himself: “‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you’” (2 Corinthians 6:17)."
https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-ekklesia.html

[Aaron]

.....I use Ekklesia to refer to anyone who has died to the world and the world has died to them - anyone who was buried with Christ, crucified with Him , and raised as Scripture says in His Life by Faith.
In Scripture, Ekklesia might more distinctly refer to the assemblies, not to the individuals, but I have not yet gone that 'deep'? to see if that is so or not.

Galatians 6:14 As for me, however, I will boast only about ...
www . bible.com/bible/296/GAL.6.14.gnb
"As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; for by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world.

[Neto]

I'm really quite curious what Aaron is talking about.

Not sure in what way you mean this question, or in regards to what part of what has been said above, and I imagine you know this, but the ETYMOLOGY of the Greek word ekklesia is glossed as something like out of - called/summoned. But by the time the New Testament books and letters were written, it meant no more than 'a gathering, an assembly', or, in its usage where it referred to the Church, it was used as the Greek counterpart for the word translated in the Old Testament as 'congregation'. It was often used by the Jesus Freaks (at least during the time I was involved in this 'Christian Hippie' Jesus People Movement) in place of English words to refer to Christian gatherings. God knows every human language, and none are more 'holy' or 'proper' than another. (Leave that idea to Islam.) God wants to 'speak' to every person in their own language.