There are so many different Denominations today; how can I know which one is the True Church?

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Answers to Bible Questions

Scriptures are from the KJV of the Bible

(Q) There are so many different Denominations today; how can I know which one is the True Church?

 

(A) As I begin to answer this question I want to make it clear that No Denomination on the face of this Earth makes up the One True Church. All Denominations are Man Made, they are physical organizations created by man, not by God. These Denominations are made up of Believers, and Unbelievers, whereas the True Church of today called the Body Of Christ, is only made up of True Sincere Believers. The True Church is a Spiritual Organism into which the Savior of mankind places those who Believe in him as their Lord and Savior.Joining an organization is foreign to Scripture, and in most cases it gives false security to those who have been joined to an organization without first having been joined to the Body of Christ,( which is the Spiritual Organism stated above ). When we Believe in Jesus Christ as our Personal Savior, we become members of his Body. We are not made members by participating in any physical act such as water baptism or physically eating bread or drinking wine. The Bible says we become a member of the church by the baptism of the Holy Spirit when we first Believed in the Gospel of our Salvation. Let’s read Ephesians 1: 13-14:

13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

What is the Gospel of our Salvation as stated above in verse 13? Read 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4:

1: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Now we can look at the book of Colossians 1: 16,17,18, 24 which is talking about Christ and his Body which is the Church.

16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

24: Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

 We have a few more Scriptures back in Ephesians 1: 17-23 about the Church which is His Body:

17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Christ is the Head of the True Church ; physical people make up the Body of Christ and these people could be part of any Denomination, but again it’s not the Denomination, it’s the True Believers in these Denominations that make up the True Church of which Christ is the Head of and Christ resides in Heaven.

What would be a good physical church to look for then?

1. A church that understands that Christ is the Head of the Church.

2. All the members believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.

3. The members all take the Bible literally and don’t try to water down the meaning of the Scriptures.

4. The church teaches the Scriptures from the Biblical prospective of Rightly Dividing the word of truth as it says in 11 Timothy 2: 15.

5. They understand and teach the Bible Dispensationally which is how you Rightly Divide the Word of Truth as stated above. For more information about # 4, and # 5 see my Answers to Bible Questions titled “ What does the word dispensation mean, and what are the different dispensations in the Bible”.

6. There is a commitment to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit, in the bond of peace, with all Christians everywhere; see Ephesians 4: 3-6:

3: Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5: One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6: One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7. The Bible is considered the final and complete revelation from God for the functioning of the Church.

8. Look for a nondenominational church that teaches “ we are saved by Grace and not of works “ as it says in Ephesians 2: 8-9:

8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Remember, the True Church is not a physical organization, but a Spiritual organism made up of True Believers. Christ who is the Head of the Body, is the one who places you into His Body when you Believe in His Death, Burial, and Resurrection, as the one and only way to receive Salvation. Putting your trust in one of the many Denominations for Salvation would be a BIG mistake! No Denominational membership will ever Save you!

 

John