The True Church

WHERE is the one true Church? What is this one true Church like? What are the marks that show what the true Church is?

The one true Church is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:44-47). It is made up of all converted (repented) men and women, of all true Christians (Matthew 18:3). It is a Church of which all the members have the same marks. Sometimes they worship differently, or have slightly different prayers; some worship kneeling, and some standing; but they all worship with one heart (Acts 4:32). They are all led by one Spirit (John 16:13, Ephesians 4:4); they build upon one foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11); they all draw their religion from one single book - that is the Bible (2 Timothy 3:15-17, John 17:17). They are all joined to one great centre - that is Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Colossians 1:18).

It is a Church which is not dependent upon any ministers on earth, although it is important that ministers and elders in the Church preach the Gospel to its members (Rom.10:14-15). The life of its members is not based on membership with any Church here on earth. The True Church has only one Great Head (Co1:18, Eph.5:23) - one Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), one chief Bishop (1Peter 2:25) - and that is Jesus Christ.

He alone, by His Spirit (1 Peter 1:7-11), admits the members of this Church, though ministers may show the door (John 10:1-9). Until He opens the door, no man on earth can open it - not even a bishop or any other person who says they are the way to eternal life. When a man repents and believes the Gospel, he becomes a member of this Church (Acts 2:38-41). Like the thief on the cross beside Jesus Christ, he may have no opportunity of being baptised, but he has that which is far better than any water-baptism - the baptism of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). He may not be able to receive the bread and the wine in the Lord's Supper, but he remembers Christ's body and remembers Christ's blood by faith all the time (John 6:53-56), and no minister on earth can prevent him. He may be rejected by people in a Church on earth (Mark 13:9) but no person or group of people can stop a person entering the true Church (John 10:29).

It is a Church whose existence does not depend on forms (Matt 15:8-9), ceremonies, cathedrals, churches, chapels, (Isaiah 66:1, 1 Kings 8:27), pulpits, money, kings, governments, magistrates or anything else that comes from men. This Church lives on and continues when all other things from men have been taken away (Matt.16:18) Its existence depends on nothing but the presence of Christ and His Spirit; and they being ever with it, the Church cannot die.

This is the only Church that possesses true unity (John 17:21). Its members are entirely agreed on all the important things, because they are all taught by the one Spirit (John 16:13,v.7-10, 1 John 2:27). These things are God, and Christ, the Spirit, sin, their own hearts, faith, and repentance, and the necessity of holiness, and the value of the Bible, and the importance of prayer, the Resurrection, and the Judgment to come - about all these points they are all agreed (Acts 4:32, Heb.6:1-3).

This is the only Church that is true. It is not the Church of any one nation or people. Its members are to be found in every part of the world where the gospel is received and believed. It is not confined within the limits of any one country, or pent up within the pale of any particular forms or outward government. In it there is no difference between Jew or Greek, or black men or white men (Gal.3:28, Romans 10:12).

This is the Church that bases itself on Jesus Christ and the Apostles only (through the Bible). It is built on the foundation laid by the Apostles, and holds firmly to the doctrines which they preached (Eph.2:19-22). The two important goals that its members aim for are apostolic faith and apostolic practice (in other words, having faith in and practicing what Jesus and Apostles said only). People who say that they follow the Apostles but believe in other doctrines, are no better than "sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal" (James 2:17-26).

This is the only Church that is certain to endure unto the end. Nothing can altogether overthrow and destroy it (Matt.16:18). Its members may be persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned, beaten, beheaded, burned; but the true Church is never altogether extinguished; it rises again from its afflictions; it lives on through fire and water (Rev.2:10-11). When crushed in one country it springs up in another. The Pharaohs, the Herods, the Neros, and many other conquerors have tried very hard to kill the people in this Church, but their efforts are a waste of time. The true Church outlives them all and sees the oppressors buried each in their turn (Isaiah 54:17). It is an anvil that has broken many a hammer in this world, and will break many a hammer still (Jer.50:23); it is a bush which is often burning and yet is not consumed.

This is the only Church of which no one member can perish. Once enrolled in this Church (the Book of Life), sinners are safe for eternity (1 Pet.1:3-5); they are never cast away (John 6:37), that is, unless a person makes a deliberate decision to reject the salvation that Jesus offers and turn away (Heb.10:26-31, 2 Pet.2:20-21).

The election of the Father, the continual intercession (negotiating for us) by the Son, the daily renewing and sanctifying (purifying) power of the Holy Ghost, surround and fence them in like a garden enclosed (1 Pet.1:2-5,Jude 24-25).

This is the Church that does the work of Christ upon earth. Its members are a little flock (Luke 12:32), and few in number, compared with the children of the world: one or two or three there (Matt.18:20) and a few in this district and a few in that. But these are they who shake the universe (Acts 17:6); these are the people who change the future of kingdoms by their prayers (James 5:16); these are they who are the active workers for spreading the knowledge of pure religion; these are the life-blood of a country, the shield, the defence, the stay, and the support of any nation to which they belong.

This is the Church that shall be truly glorious at the end. When all earthly glory is passed away then shall this Church be presented without spot before God the Father's throne (Rev.7: 9-17). Thrones, and powers upon earth shall come to nothing (Rev.11:15,Eph.1:20-22); dignities and offices, and human wealth shall all pass away; but the Church of the firstborn shall shine as the stars at the last, and be presented with joy before the appearing, when the Lord's jewels are made up (Titus 2:13, 1 Thess. 2:19, Col3:4, 2 Tim.4:8,Heb.12:22-24).

Reader, this is the true Church to which a person must belong if he wants to be saved. Till you belong to this, you are nothing better than a lost soul. You may have the form, the husk, the skin, and the shell of religion, but you have not got the substance and the life (Matt.23:27-28). Yes; you may have countless outward privileges; you may enjoy great light and knowledge (Phil 3:4-7) - but if you do not belong to the body of Christ, your light and knowledge and privileges will not save your soul.

Some people think that if they become a member of a particular Church and do certain rituals, then they well be saved. But this is a mistake. If you don't study God's Word and follow His Son Jesus Christ exclusively, it may be better for you if you weren't born!