The True Church

Dear Brethren,

We have been asked, “Where is the True Church of God?”  This is a good question - in fact, it is a most important question.  Those who ask this question, usually want to know which organization is the true church.  They want to find it so that they can join it.  That is understandable – but there is more to the question.

Jesus Christ has only ONE true Church.  He said, “I will build my Church.”  (Matthew 16:18)  Jesus said that He would build or construct His own ‘ekklesia,’ assembly or congregation.  But today, we find ourselves in a world of religious confusion.  There are so many groups, organizations, individuals and churches that claim to represent Christ’s true Church.

We must understand that the Church of God is not a physical building – but a spiritual entity.  A better question would be, “WHO is IN the true Church of God?”  The “Church” is the body of true believers that God the Father has called to be a part of the “Body of Christ.”  The True Church of God is that body of true believers who make up the “Body of Christ.”  They have the Spirit of God and they are scattered all over the face of the earth.  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  (Romans 8:14)

A Christian then, is one who has been given God’s Holy Spirit at baptism, after having been granted repentance and faith by God.  A true Christian is one in whom God (in Spirit) lives.  Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we [the Father and Jesus] will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”  (John 14:23)

At that point, an individual becomes a part of the Body of Christ – he or she is IN the Church.  “Now you are the Body of Christ, and members in particular.”  (1Corinthians 12:27)

Jesus is the head of His Church – and converted Christians are individual parts of His body - the Church of God.  “God the Father has put all things under His [Jesus’] feet, and made him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body.”  (Eph 1:17,22-23)

Jesus Christ has only one body – thus, He has only one Church.  We see this over and over in the Scriptures.  The “Body of Christ” is the Church of God.  “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.”  (Colossians 1:24)

We have been given the inestimable blessing of being a part of God’s true Church.  The Scriptures are clear – Christ’s body is supposed to operate as an integral whole. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”  (Romans 12:4-5)

Christ returns, He is going to reintroduce in perfection and completion the same structure of rules that He gave to Adam at creation, and to Moses at Sinai.  Each member of the Body of Christ has a responsibility to live according to the rules of the Kingdom of God – now – at this time.  We are to put into practice the way of life that Jesus taught.  As individual members of His Body, we are to live as He lived.

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Sermon:  "Body of Christ"

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