This episode elaborates on the previous episode, principally focusing on Matthew 16:18-19, where believers are given the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Christ builds His Church by calling people out of the kingdom of darkness and placing them in the kingdom of Christ, through the person of the Holy Spirit. The "ekklesia," or church literally means "those called out of." Those who don't respond to the call carry on in the kingdom of darkness, and the natural locus of ungodly power is the state. This fact alone points to the inevitable conflict of kingdoms as both the Church and non-Christians seek to co-op the State to serve their respective interests. The history of Christian nationalism largely reflects widespread corruption in the Christian Church based on an unhealthy mixing of the kingdoms. Since Christ gave believers the keys to the kingdom of heaven, NOT those accessing worldly kingdoms, Christians should focus their efforts on reaching unbelievers through preaching the gospel. Setting up earthly "Christian" kingdoms amounts to making the Church another powerbroker, diluting and corrupting its mission. Believers instead should utilize their LEGITIMATE authority to make disciples, not presuming they have been given a mandate to FORCE Christ's other-worldly kingdom onto non-Christians. The episode finally addresses "binding and loosing" as it relates to the keys of the kingdom.
The Proper Response to Christ’s Authority
This episode unpacks the appropriate response of believers to Christ's triumphant resurrection. "All authority has been given to Me [Christ] in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18-19) Based on Christ's universal authority, Christians are commanded to make disciples of all the nations, and their primary mission is to proclaim the gospel, calling people out of darkness into the marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) The universal body of Christ is composed of those who have been called out of the kingdom of the darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ. (Colossians 1:13) The word "church" literally means "those who are called out of," and believers are given the veritable keys to the kingdom, as they proclaim access to God's kingdom through repentance and faith in Christ. This then is the mission of the church and the mandated response to Christ's universal authority. It is NOT the setting up of an abominable church-state mixture where all are compelled to submit to Christian rule, in the same way that mosque and state are intertwined in predominantly Islamic countries. The episode finally concludes that the principal enemy of the church (those who are called out of) is demonic forces ("gates of hell"), not the world, whose hostages we are called to liberate.
Forgiveness-focused Salvation Usually Indicates a Worship Disorder
This episode addresses the subtle idolatry of many believers who fail to grasp the purpose of salvation, which should be, according to Hebrews 9:14, service/worship of God. The previous episode noted typical reasons why many say they go to church: "being a better person" and "feeling better about oneself" are some of the anthropocentric responses indicating a worship disorder. Salvation in this skewed perspective is principally about the forgiveness of sins and addressing low self-esteem, making man's needs the purpose of salvation. Hebrews 9:14 however insists that forgiveness of sins is simply the necessary condition of being a better worshipper: "the blood of Jesus cleanses our consciences from dead works [forgiveness] to serve the living God." Biblical salvation always has worship and service to God as the driving motivation behind all religious activity. While it necessarily addresses mankind's sin issues, and by declaring him holy, his esteem issues, salvation always considers the endgame, which is worship and service of the living God. All "good" works flow from sanctified worship. If worship of God is not the ultimate goal of salvation, then believers will naturally make themselves the idol gods they serve, corrupting all so-called "good" works they produce.
Why Go to Church? Your Answer Might Reveal an Idol/Idle God
The last few episodes highlight a central goal of salvation: pure, undefiled worship/service of God. Embrace of this objective, according to Hebrews 6:1 is through "repentance from dead works" and "faith toward God." This episode poses a simple question designed to test if we've truly repented from dead works: "Why do we go to church?" The Biblical answer, according to Hebrews 9:14, is that it enables us to become better worshippers. We correctly seek to be equipped for the work of ministry SO THAT we can serve God better. A common answer among those who have only partly repented from dead works is that they go to church to be better people, possibly indicating that worship and service of God is not really the ultimate objective. Their anthropocentric religious activity is aimed at self-improvement, mostly gaged by feelings and comparative assessments with others. (see the Pharisee and the Publican, Luke 18:9-14). Theocentric worship, not anthropocentric worship decked out with the form of godliness, must be the goal. Consequently, repentance from dead works is a repudiation of EVERYTHING and EVERY WORK that ultimately replaces worship of God with another substitute. And, it is absolutely essential to produce good works acceptable to God.
The preferment of “church” to “congregation” in the KJV
This episode addresses the translation of "ekklesia" in the KJV into "church" in Matthew 16:18. King James, who was understandably partial to the "established" Church of England which he led, insisted that translators use the word "church" instead of "congregation." The dispute is less over the literal meaning of "ekklesia" than over the connotations of the word in seventeenth century England. Both "church" and "congregation" accurately convey the meaning of "ekklesia," which literally means "those called out of." Yet one connotation of "church," which is still true today, points to the building and the establishment behind the structure. "Organized religion" embodies this connotation, on top of the literal meaning. James, who headed the established Church of England, insisted that "church" be the word translated from "ekklesia." Significantly, 4 previous English translations used the word "congregation," including the Great Bible and the Bishop's Bible. Ironically, the Geneva Bible, produced by Marian exiles who most resisted the "established" church, opted for "church" over "congregation, " largely in deference to John Calvin's high ecclesiology.
“Also no Salutations to Saints in Thessalonica”
On the road to answering the question regarding the omission of the word "saints" in the intro to Galatians, this episode notes that the same omission occurs in the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Paul uses the words "saints" in 6 of his 9 epistles to churches. The episode notes Augustine's distinction between the visible and invisible church, and posits that Paul addressed his letters to the visible church, which included believers and unbelievers. Christ's use of the word church in Matthew 16:18 only referred to believers. "Upon this rock, I build my church." The distinction between the visible and invisible church might possibly influence how the question is ultimately answered.