SO MANY CHURCH'S - WHO IS GOD'S TRUE CHURCH (Scripture)?

Sabertooth said:

God's true Church will not align completely within the boundaries of any single denomination. We know that each and every one of them contain Tares, too. Because of that, no church can claim to be free of unbelievers, even in its leadership. But God still can (and does) use those denominational frameworks to accomplish His ultimate purposes.

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prodromos said:

Since the Church predates the writing of a single word of the New Testament, it seems you seek to define the Church by men's fallible interpretations of Scripture. Good luck with that. How does the Church define the Scriptures? Investigate that and you will find the Church.

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Nova2216 said:

Q1. How do the scriptures define Church?

Answer - The church is the people according to (Acts 8:1-4).Those who obeyed (Acts 2:38) were added to the Lords church (Acts 2:47).Those who are in the church are saved. None are saved outside the church (Acts 2:38,47).

Q2. With so many Christian Church's in the world all professing Christ how can we know who is God's true Church?

Answer - The church which teaches truth (Jn 17:17) (Jn 8:31,32). The church of Christ (Rom. 16:16) (Eph. 4:12). Which church would the apostles say they were a part of in the first century? (no denomination was established in the first century)

Q3. How does the bible define as God's people?

Answer - As Christians (Acts 11:26) (Isa.62:2), followers of Christ (Jn 14:15 ; 15:1-10,14) (Mt.7:21) (Jn 3:19-21) (1Cor.11:1), the obedient (Heb.5:9) (Acts 10:33-35).

Q4. Who is God's ISRAEL in the new covenant?

Answer - Those who are in the NT Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16), the body is the church (Eph. 1:22,23) (Col. 1:18,24). There is One Lord, One Faith, One Body. (one church) (Eph. 4:5)

Q4. Who is Gods Church according to the scriptures in the New covenant?

Answer - Those who are in the NT Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16), the body is the church (Eph. 1:22,23) (Col. 1:18,24). There is One Lord, One Faith, One Body (one church). (Eph. 4:5).


Question - How does the sinner get into the Lords church? (where the saved are located)

The correct answer to this question will also correctly answer "WHEN" the blood of Christ cleanses mens sins. We find our biblical answer in (Rom.6:3,4) (Gal.3:27) and (Acts 2:38,47 ; 8:5:12,13,26-40 ; 22:16).

(Rom. 6:3) ... baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


Paul's Conversion:

(Acts 22:16) And now why tarriest thou?

1. arise,
2. be baptized,
3. wash away thy sins,
4. calling on the name of the Lord.

Did Paul come to baptism thinking his sins had "ALREADY" been forgiven?

OR

Did Paul come to baptism thinking he "NEEDED" to have his sins forgiven?


Only truth will sanctify and cleanse the soul of sins (Jn 17:17).



Read more here.
Mission Printing Home Page

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dqhall said:

Jesus chose 12 disciples. One of them betrayed him. Jesus taught, “Many are called few are chosen.”
Matthew 18:20 (WEB) “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”

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SANTOSO said:

Don’t be shaken or concerned that there are 50000 denominations or many non denominations are not counted !
As we have heard:
and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; -1 Corinthians 12:5
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. -1 Corinthians 12:6

Are you concerned which church has God’s truth? They are those people who are led by the Spirit of truth who guide them into all truth. As many faithful ministers of God have reminded us about the apostles’ way of life in Christ which agrees with what apostles have taught everywhere in every church. Therefore, the church of God are both Jews and Gentiles, who are built on the foundations of the apostles, prophets and Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.

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ss51 said:

Very interesting thread, the "eklesia" being the body of believers, not an institution or organization, we have been led astray by Constasntine who created a "church" based on Roman Government model when Christ emphasized personal relationship with Him, and meeting together in home churches. The church age and it's miss managed "worship" is coming to an end, personal relationship was the beginning in Genesis and we are returning to personal relationship as described in Revelation 22.

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Danthemailman said:

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Colossians 1:18 - And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:24 - I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.

God's true church is made up of all born again believers who have placed their faith exclusively in Jesus Christ for salvation. (Romans 3:24-28; 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9 etc..). The church, the body of Christ is not merely a building or a denomination with a name stamped on the front of it. Local churches are gatherings of people who claim the name of Christ. Members of various local churches may or may not be members of the body of Christ, depending on the genuineness of their faith.

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Scott Husted said:

Firstly you, everything else is redundant.

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pdudgeon said:

God can prove the truth to anyone, anywhere, any time and under any circumstances about churches. And He can use any means that He chooses to do so. He proved the truth to Jonah. He proved the truth to Noah and his family, He has proved the truth to many who have been locked up in jail. He has proven the truth to those who were blind, or unable to walk. So yes, God can and has proven His truth.

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nolidad said:

Hi Love Gods Word:

Hope my rather succinct answers to your questions help.

Q1) Scriptures define the church as Gods people or the followers of Jesus. In the early days there were ony 2 "denominations" The Jewish wing and the gentile wing of Christians. But they all made up teh body of Christ.

Peter was the Apostle to teh Jews, Paul to teh Gentiles and James led the Jerusalem church! As Paul said in corinthians we are the body of Christ.

Q2) God does not recognize "sects" and "denominations" as shown here:

1 Corinthians 1:11-13
King James Version

11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

The true church is comprised of all of those who have been born again and are followers of Jesus! There are many "good" churches and "bad" churches. Many denominations have devolved generally speaking into what Paul said:

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Q3) for the New Testament- gods people are defined of all those both Jew and Gentile who belong to Jesus!

Q4) In the New Covenant Gods Israel is those Jews who have received Jesus as Messiah!

Paul showed this clearly in romans.

Rom. 9: 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Romans 11
King James Version

11 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Galatians 6:16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Paul is asking for peace to two groups- those who walk according to this rule and to the Israel of God!

So The Israel of God in the new covenant are those remnant that are faithful and accept Jesus as Messiah in every generation.

Q5) Gods church is the same definition as teh church it is comprised of all believing Jews and gentiles who form one body- the church.

Hope this helps.

BTW I believe you are way off in counting denominations. Most sources who deal with these things put the number of denominations around 13,000 which is still way too large!

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Lazarus Short said:

I saw the thread title, and wondered if the OP was SDA. I opened the thread, to see my guess confirmed. My view: any church which claims to be the One True Church...isn't.

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1watchman said:

There are no doubt some true "born again" believers (note John 3; John 14; etc.) in many of the professing Christian sects, but if they do not bow to clear BIBLE-ONLY teachings ---"rightly dividing the Word of Truth", as God tells us, they will follow innovations and ways which sound nice to them. There are NO contradictions in a sound Holy Bible, so if one thinks there are, it is due to misapplying Scripture. A good reliable Bible Dictionary by a sound Bible-only source, will clarify meanings. Taking verses out of context and listening to various preachers is much of the problem for many readers. Let us be looking to God and not various doctrines!

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Tree of Life said:

It would be a terrible mistake to claim that only one expression of the church of Jesus Christ is the true church. Wherever the gospel is rightly preached and believed and the sacraments rightly celebrated, there is the church of Jesus Christ, no matter what form or affiliation it may take.

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fhansen said:

My thoughts now are that God doesn't want division, to the extreme that we have it now. People will always draw a line in the sand somewhere stating how much unity and how much division is acceptable. Either way, regardless of how one wishes to define it, Christ only established one church, with "one Lord, one faith, one baptism". Eph 4:5

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PaulCyp1 said:

Jesus Christ clearly demonstrated that He was God, by constantly doing things only God could do. He, God, founded one Church, said it was to remain one, and promised that one Church "The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth", and "Whatsoever you bind upon Earth is bound in Heaven", and "He who hears you hears Me". Anyone who reads the Bible should know this. God Himself clearly stated where He intended us to find His truth. It is obvious that we cannot find truth in manmade churches that have defected from His Church, since there are over 6,000 of them, the teaching of each one contradicting the teaching of the others. Truth cannot contradict truth, so untruth is clearly rampant in this manmade tradition. Which is why the stated will of Jesus Christ concerning His followers was and still is "That they all may be one, even as I and My heavenly Father are one".

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The Transcendentian said:

I don't have a lot of wisdom, but this is something that I was just thinking about.

I think theses verses are some relating to this issue:

1 Corinthians 1:10-13
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
1 John 4:1-6
1 John 4:13-16

I also think that EVERY Christian Church denomination has fallen away to a certain extent, even the "non-denominational" which is actually a denomination by the way.

What would happen if we actually applied the test mentioned in 1 John 4:1-6 to determine weather any denomination is part of the true Church or not?

Unity in the church is an issue that is really important to me.
True Christians should be completely united ( 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 ) in word (that includes theology) deed and mind. I don't think that means Christians have to agree on everything, just the truly important issues, and we should agree on which issues are truly important, and there should be no compromise about believing the core issues of the Christian faith.

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Saint JOHN said:

Q1 :How do the scriptures define Church

its the people NOT A BUILDING ! (the building is for comfort aganst wind sun rain etc)...

Ro 12:5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.

1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

1Co 12:20 But now [are they] many members, yet but one body.

1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.

1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Ro 16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1Co 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

and more !!...

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Q2. With so many Christian Church's in the world all professing Christ how can we know who is God's true Church?

Those who (are anointed by the Holy Ghost) and preach the FULL GOSPEL !

Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ro 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Mark16v16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

etc...package deal (accsess to all) upon recieving the Holy Spirit ! true believers not those who make excuses why not !! it is the same today NOT RELIGIOUS TYPES !

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Q3. How does the bible define as God's people?


(see above mark 16 above God gets in your face real !!!!)(that is the reciept from God that you are what you say = christian = christ ones = anointed ones.)

Joh 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

so according to the word (worship in spirit)

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

and more...

when a baby is born (norm) it cries out ; when a person is born again (from above) he also cries out in the pure (undefilable) language God gives to them.

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Q4. Who is God's ISRAEL in the new covenant?

there is 2 natural (hebrews etc God rejected as they killed Christ so far from God had they gone and still, trying like so many to appease by the Law which no one (except Jesus Christ ,who fulfilled the Law and the Prohets) can keep for any length of time. and the Spiritual new test.The Law was perfect;man imperfect,easy to corrupt..

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Ro 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Ro 2:29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.

God will deal with both.
etc...........

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Q5. Who is Gods Church according to the scriptures in the New covenant?

as above...

Ga 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.

and much more...

get the Holy Spirit and let God show you he will lead you and teach you all things that lead to life and Godliness..

Ac 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

this passage shows he saw and heard ,a con artist willing to pay !! not just sign a card ,make a decision, pie in the sky nonsense REAL IN YOUR FACE EVENT even today.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

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Cis.jd said:

I have two answers for this.

Based on Theology and doctrine, i believe it is the catholic church because of tt's apologetics and theology.

However, I also believe the "right" Church isn't depended on doctrines; but a church that manages to change or keep the person's life in a very positive direction psychologically and spiritually. That is the right church.

And sadly for me, this is what many protestant churches (most being non-denom) have done more than Catholics from my experience. The majority of kids i've known who were well mannered and showed loved to God where protestants while kids from Catholic households where commonly apatheistic. I believe even Fr. Barron admitted this as well with his sit down with William Craig.

To me, the right church is with in the person.

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