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Steve Said,

First of all, ekklesia. Etymologically, thois comes from two words, ek meaning 'out' and kaleo, meaning to call. It is that which is called out. Its secular meaning is seen in Acts 19, those who are called out to a meeting. In Acts 7:38, there is a reference to the ekklesia in the wilderness. This is the only time that the word is used with reference to the people of the Old Covenant. Elsewhere the are called 'Israel after the flesh' or somesuch description. In Acts 7:38, the reference is to those who were called out of Egypt into the wilderness, where God gave them a covenant. In just the same way, Christians are those who have been called out of the world (1John 2:15-17), and led by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:12-14) through the wilderness of this world to the promised land, the City which hath foundations.
Steve as you pointed out yourself the term ekklesia has different meanings. But, even if we accept your definition of it as the sole definition you still have the same problem. For Israel itself were the called out ones and they had both lost and saved in their ranks. Of course, dispensationalists do not believe that Israel in the Old Testament was the Church (both lost and saved)! Steve what do you believe?

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Steve Said

Joe posted an article by Gregg Strawbridge. He repeats that most egregious error of ascribing the Parable of the wheat and the tares to the Church, when Our Lord clearly states that it refers to the world. He must surely know how wrong this is; how can he and others keep trotting out this obvious and appalling falsehood. If paedo-baptism depends on this, then it's time to ring down the curtain on it.
Steve you have displayed this type of reasoning several times now. So let me ask you some questions: Does London have any “physical” churches in it? Does London have any “physical” people in it? Is London in the world? Are these churches in the world? Are these people in this world? Steve, if the church and its people are still in this world then there are “wheat and tares“ in the church!

Another problem with your interpretation is that you have ALL the WHEAT (saved) OUTSIDE the Church and ONLY in the world. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/drop.gif" alt="" />

Reformed and Always Reforming,