The True Church

Why are there so many denominations in the world today? Is there a “true” church? And if so, how do we recognize it?

Throughout the history of mankind God has always had a “true” church composed of a “remnant” people who have placed their faith totally in the truth of His word and who have remained steadfast in their obedience to Him. They have not bowed the knee to the traditions of man or the whims of a godless society. God has never been without a true witness, a people who hear His voice and keep the power and love of God alive in a world deluded by the prince of darkness and destroyed by the ravages of sin. But with so many different beliefs and denominations today, how do we recognize the “true” church and what criteria marks its difference? Does it really matter what church we attend as long as its focus is on God? In these last days, God will call His people out of “spiritual Babylon”, out of the false teachings that have plagued his church throughout the centuries. The word “church” means “the called out ones” and “remnant” means “those remaining”. What are these “remaining ones” called out from, and what sets them apart from the rest of the world? Will they have a specific message for mankind? If we truly desire to discover truth, the bible will reveal to us all the knowledge necessary to walk therein. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32, and many, many have found this truth and walk in the liberty of its teaching.

But what is truth? John 17:17 says “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy Word is truth”. God’s Word will distinguish truth from error, good from evil, light from darkness, and only as we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we be assured the answers to our most perplexing questions as we search the scriptures. John 16:13 states “when the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth. What a promise! We can know the truth about God’s true church as we rely upon the power of His Spirit to open to our willing minds and obedient hearts to what constitutes this faithful body of believers.

Why have so many denominations developed over the centuries, and can they all hold the truths of God as their foundation when they practice so many varying viewpoints? No wonder non-Christians become disinterested and discouraged when they see the confusion that exists in the Christian faith. Fortunately, the bible holds the key to the dilemma. As we begin to study, let’s try to understand how much has been compromised and how far man has wondered from the pure, apostolic church that Christ established while He was upon earth. Do the churches today with all their individual beliefs and doctrines have the faith, obedience and purity of that first church? As the scripture says “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and should have our foundation rooted firmly in the truths of scripture.

In scripture the “true” church is pictured as a pure women who has remained faithful to her husband., Jesus Christ. She has not committed spiritual adultery by uniting with the manmade traditions and doctrines of the false religious system represented by the scarlet woman. How do we discern the true from the false? What is the standard by which we judge between truth and error? What do we as a searching, seeking people look for if we desire to know the truth about God’s true church? If we desire truth, we must be willing to set aside preconceived ideas and teachings that have invaded the church through compromise and conformity, and walk in the marvelous light that God will shine upon those who earnestly desire the truth.

In these end times the faithfulness of the church will be tested more than in any other era of history. If we are to endure this terrible time of trouble, it would do well for us to know what it is we stand for and why. Does scripture indicate a “remnant” church and how we can recognize it? Revelation 14:12 states “And the dragon was wroth with the woman (church) and went to make war with the remant (the remaining ones) of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”. In this verse we see three things, 1) there is a “remnant” people, 2) we can recognize them because they keep the commandments of God and 3) they have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10) Those “remaining ones” will keep the whole law of liberty, the unchangeable, eternal, everlasting Ten Commandments exactly as they thundered forth from the finger of God on Mt Sinai, and they will understand and preach the prophecies regarding end-time events as found in Daniel & Revelation.

What was the church like in Jesus day? How has it changed over the centuries from the pure, apostolic faith based on devotion to God and love for one another? Unfortunately man detoured to elaborate church liturgy, church doctrine and man-made laws trying to establish how “he” wanted to worship God. Thus, we set aside the pure and simple truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and followed the teachings and desires of our own heart. But Jesus states in Matthew 15:9 “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Do the churches today base all of their teachings on the only source by which we must judge the truth......the scripture! Institutions may come and go, church doctrines may come and go, but the Word of God remains forever, our sure foundation (Matthew 24:35).

God has a purpose for His church. It exists to help people grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). But, over the centuries has this knowledge, this truth, been progressive, leading man to a better understanding of what must take place for the close of time? One of the works of the true church is its monumental task of drawing the world back to faith and obedience in God through the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). What is the message the church must project? The Three Angels seen in Revelation 14:6-9 sound a very urgent call for these end times.... 1) Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come, and worship Him who who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water. Man must return to worshipping God, his creator! 2) Babylon is fallen! Man must heed the call to come out of spiritual Babylon. She who has made the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that false system of worship that speaks against the law of God, and 3) man must understand the last critical warning of this message....receiving the mark of the beast. This is the everlasting gospel wrapped up in the most solemn message that must be given by the end-time church.

Through earth’s history, the enemy of God, Satan, has worked to shroud the truth of God in error, deception, and complacency. Through the glorious work of the reformation, truths long lost sight of during the dark ages again came to light. Truths such as the authority of the scriptures, salvation through Christ alone, the second coming, obedience to God’s law, the seventh-day Sabbath, baptism by immersion, the real truth about life after death and the immortality of the soul, and the work and the power of the Holy Spirit.. Throughout the ages a remnant has always stood fast on what was revealed to their understanding regarding the truths of God’s Holy Word. They were a people with vision, with hope, with trust in the principles set forth by their creator, whose deepest desire is to reflect the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As the final message of salvation calls all mankind to fear God and give Him glory, the full and final

display of God’s love, mercy and grace will shine forth through His church as in complete faith and complete obedience they endure the trial and tribulation heaped upon them by a world that has placed their allegiance with the “synagogue of Satan”. In that fateful day denominational allegiance will matter no more. Then it will be truth against error, the pure light of Christ’s righteousness against the incredible darkness of the prince of unrighteousness, the true church versus the false. Now is the time for preparation, for seeking truth and avoiding deception. Now is the time to turn our hearts back to God and heed His call to come out of spiritual Babylon. That false system of worship whose final fate and destruction is vividly portrayed in Revelation 17 & Revelations 18.

In searching for the true church there are important characteristics that will guide us in the right path as we seek to follow the truth. In essence the “true church” will have Jesus Christ as its head, for no religious leader has the right to interpose himself between our souls and God. The “true church” will have its foundation in the scripture and not in human teaching or traditions. The “true church” will be a commandment-keeping church who keeps fully the Word of God, including the fourth which establishes God’s seventh day Sabbath as the true memorial of His creative power. According to the Bible itself, any church that does not keep the true Sabbath cannot be the remnant. It may teach good things, it may use the bible and help people find Jesus, but it is not the remnant of God today. Many may say “it doesn’t matter which day you keep or if you keep the commandments fully, but what does scripture say....Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14). The true church does not teach the Babylonian principles of image worship, immortality of the soul or sun worship. Are the churches today unknowingly and blindly sipping from the wine cup of the scarlet woman of Revelation 17? God will have a church in these last days who hear His voice, hear His call to come out of Babylon before it is too late, and avoid the mark of the beast. Soon the judgments of God will fall and the “church” must make a stand for truth or error, scripture or tradition, Christ or the anti-Christ, the seal of the living God or the mark of the beast. Where will we stand in that fateful day of darkness? Jesus says “my sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. John 10:27 The choice is ours!

There is a movement called by God in these last days that keep all the commandments, including the fourth, observing the true seventh-day Sabbath. They look for the soon coming advent of Jesus Christ in the clouds of glory. They have the faith of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. They will be preaching the clarion call of the three angels message of Revelation 14:6-10, and with the urgent plea of Revelation 18:4 call God’s people out of Babylonian error that they receive not of her plagues which fall without mercy upon a rebellious people. This is God’s church! Many will hear the call and enter in because they love the truth, the truth that will lead a people through the time of tribulation and into the heavenly Canaan...

GOD IS CALLING..... WILL WE ANSWER?

To learn more about the “true church” and how to recognize it, write for a free copy of ‘WHY SO MANY DENOMINATIONS. And be prepared for what lies ahead.