What is the true congregation?

[Jeesuspelastaa]

All of us who believe in Jesus are His congregation. Therefore, all of us who live in the same city and believe in Jesus are His congregation in our home city. This applies in every city. It has been so from the very beginning of the congregation.

At the time the Bible was written, there were among others the congregation of such cities as
– Jerusalem (Acts 8:1, 11:22),
– Antioch (Acts 13:1),
– Cenchrea (Romans 16:1),
– Philippi (Philippians 4:15),
– Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2),
– Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1),
– Babylon (1 Peter 5:13),
– Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11).

Jesus Himself established the congregation through His death and resurrection in Jerusalem two thousand years ago. From there it began to spread throughout the whole world (Matthew 28:19). This same congregation has also spread to Finland(where I live).

We do not think that any person who believes in Jesus and has been baptized in His name belongs to a different congregation than we do (Galatians 5:20). The Bible clearly testifies that there cannot be many congregations in one city (1 Corinthians 1:2 & 2 Corinthians 1:1; Revelation 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11). “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” (Titus 1:5, KJV).
We may indeed gather in many different places, but these places are not congregations—the congregation is us (Acts 1:12; 12:12; 19:9; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). God sees in every city only two groups of people: the members of His congregation and the ungodly. Therefore, we do not exclude any person who believes in Jesus from being a member of this congregation.

The congregation to which we belong is God’s. Therefore, it is right to call it the Congregation of God (1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:16; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Timothy 3:15). God has the sole right to the name and the membership record of His congregation (Colossians 3:17; Luke 10:20; 2 Samuel 24:1–10). We do not divide God’s congregation by calling its members into a fellowship under some man-made name or by keeping a separate membership record of its members (1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11).

God Himself adds people to His congregation, as He has done from the beginning:
“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.
[…] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. […] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. […] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:38, 41, 42, 47, KJV).

We have all become Christians and been added by God into the membership of the congregation according to this original Gospel as revealed in the Bible—that is, after having repented AND, having come to faith and having been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2), meaning the people living in the city of Corinth who believed in Jesus and were baptized in His name: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27, KJV). Therefore, it is Biblical to say to those who live in the same city, believe in Jesus, and are baptized in His name that you are the Congregation of God in your home city, the body of Christ, and each of you is one of His members. This is the Biblical form of congregation membership.

Therefore, if you are a Christian in the sense that the Bible gives to that name, then you are already a member of this congregation. We warmly welcome you into the fellowship of this, your own congregation (Hebrews 10:25). Our task is to help others also to become Christians in this Biblical way, and thus to become members of the congregation and be baptized.
Jesus prays for His own congregation “that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:23, KJV). It is God’s will that His congregation be restored in each city according to the original and Biblical order revealed in Scripture.

There is no teaching in the Bible that different denominations and churches should be established. Although there are members of God’s congregation within them, none of them is the Congregation of God. God has not founded any of them. To them applies the teaching of Jesus: “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” (Matthew 15:13, KJV). Yet the perfect unity for which Jesus prayed will not be fulfilled by trying to uproot denominations and churches from the world. They will always exist among us in this world. True unity becomes visible only when we root them out from within ourselves.

Therefore, we do not build fellowship across denominational and church boundaries, but without them. We are not to be Lutherans, Catholics, Orthodox, Adventists, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, or any other kind of “-ist” or “-ian.” None of these existed when the congregation was founded. It is God’s will that we be simply Christians, in the same way as those whom He, from the beginning, had added to His congregation.

We build congregational fellowship in our home city according to this God-given way described above, not according to human ways. Thus the true Biblical order begins to prevail visibly within the congregation (Colossians 2:5). For the building up of congregational fellowship, God sets in our midst ministries (Titus 1:5; Ephesians 4:11–15). God blesses the tasks of Christians, equips them for His work, and grants them spiritual growth through the congregation (Acts 13:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25; 1 Corinthians 3:6–11). Therefore, one must be in congregational fellowship so that all this may happen in God’s way. This congregation remains united, in fellowship, and in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42; Colossians 2:19).

Blessings to you, Christian, who desire to hold fast to this Biblical congregational order and begin to gather accordingly! Jesus will guide you in all things.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9, KJV)

Blessings,
Weijo Lindroos, from the Turku Congregation
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland
Email: weijo.lindroos@pp.inet.fi

 

[Jeesuspelastaa]

The early congregation is our example.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

All of us who believe in Jesus are His congregation. Therefore, all of us who live in the same city and believe in Jesus are His congregation in our home city. This applies in every city. It has been so from the very beginning of the congregation.

At the time the Bible was written, there were among others the congregation of such cities as
– Jerusalem (Acts 8:1, 11:22),
– Antioch (Acts 13:1),
– Cenchrea (Romans 16:1),
– Philippi (Philippians 4:15),
– Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2),
– Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1),
– Babylon (1 Peter 5:13),
– Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11).

Jesus Himself established the congregation through His death and resurrection in Jerusalem two thousand years ago. From there it began to spread throughout the whole world (Matthew 28:19). This same congregation has also spread to Finland(where I live).

We do not think that any person who believes in Jesus and has been baptized in His name belongs to a different congregation than we do (Galatians 5:20). The Bible clearly testifies that there cannot be many congregations in one city (1 Corinthians 1:2 & 2 Corinthians 1:1; Revelation 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11). “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” (Titus 1:5, KJV).
We may indeed gather in many different places, but these places are not congregations—the congregation is us (Acts 1:12; 12:12; 19:9; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). God sees in every city only two groups of people: the members of His congregation and the ungodly. Therefore, we do not exclude any person who believes in Jesus from being a member of this congregation.

The congregation to which we belong is God’s. Therefore, it is right to call it the Congregation of God (1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:16; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Timothy 3:15). God has the sole right to the name and the membership record of His congregation (Colossians 3:17; Luke 10:20; 2 Samuel 24:1–10). We do not divide God’s congregation by calling its members into a fellowship under some man-made name or by keeping a separate membership record of its members (1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 3:4–11).

God Himself adds people to His congregation, as He has done from the beginning:
“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.
[…] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. […] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. […] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:38, 41, 42, 47, KJV).

We have all become Christians and been added by God into the membership of the congregation according to this original Gospel as revealed in the Bible—that is, after having repented AND, having come to faith and having been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2), meaning the people living in the city of Corinth who believed in Jesus and were baptized in His name: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27, KJV). Therefore, it is Biblical to say to those who live in the same city, believe in Jesus, and are baptized in His name that you are the Congregation of God in your home city, the body of Christ, and each of you is one of His members. This is the Biblical form of congregation membership.

Therefore, if you are a Christian in the sense that the Bible gives to that name, then you are already a member of this congregation. We warmly welcome you into the fellowship of this, your own congregation (Hebrews 10:25). Our task is to help others also to become Christians in this Biblical way, and thus to become members of the congregation and be baptized.
Jesus prays for His own congregation “that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:23, KJV). It is God’s will that His congregation be restored in each city according to the original and Biblical order revealed in Scripture.

There is no teaching in the Bible that different denominations and churches should be established. Although there are members of God’s congregation within them, none of them is the Congregation of God. God has not founded any of them. To them applies the teaching of Jesus: “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” (Matthew 15:13, KJV). Yet the perfect unity for which Jesus prayed will not be fulfilled by trying to uproot denominations and churches from the world. They will always exist among us in this world. True unity becomes visible only when we root them out from within ourselves.

Therefore, we do not build fellowship across denominational and church boundaries, but without them. We are not to be Lutherans, Catholics, Orthodox, Adventists, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, or any other kind of “-ist” or “-ian.” None of these existed when the congregation was founded. It is God’s will that we be simply Christians, in the same way as those whom He, from the beginning, had added to His congregation.

We build congregational fellowship in our home city according to this God-given way described above, not according to human ways. Thus the true Biblical order begins to prevail visibly within the congregation (Colossians 2:5). For the building up of congregational fellowship, God sets in our midst ministries (Titus 1:5; Ephesians 4:11–15). God blesses the tasks of Christians, equips them for His work, and grants them spiritual growth through the congregation (Acts 13:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25; 1 Corinthians 3:6–11). Therefore, one must be in congregational fellowship so that all this may happen in God’s way. This congregation remains united, in fellowship, and in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42; Colossians 2:19).

Blessings to you, Christian, who desire to hold fast to this Biblical congregational order and begin to gather accordingly! Jesus will guide you in all things.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9, KJV)

Blessings,
Weijo Lindroos, from the Turku Congregation
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland
Email: weijo.lindroos@pp.inet.fi

Thanks for sharing. I use congregation and Church differently in order to make a distinction between denominations within a building vs the Universal Church made up of all Holy Spirit filled Christians who have no buildings or borders.
Be blessed.

 

[Delvianna]

While I agree with you that there is 1 body of Christ and all who follow Jesus and his truth are within that, the problem is that there are teachings by other denominations that will not get people saved as they themselves aren't either. Just like Christ accused the Pharisees of leading people to damnation (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15) there are groups of people doing the same. Which is why I don't subscribe to the idea that debating scripture is "dividing the body of Christ" when there are a lot of people who are false brothers based on their doctrine and technically then wouldn't be IN the body of Christ to begin with. So I think it's dangerous to consider every denomination as part of the body when for example, Mormons claim "Christianity" but clearly aren't in the body...

 

[Maria Billingsley]

While I agree with you that there is 1 body of Christ and all who follow Jesus and his truth are within that, the problem is that there are teachings by other denominations that will not get people saved as they themselves aren't either. Just like Christ accused the Pharisees of leading people to damnation (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15) there are groups of people doing the same. Which is why I don't subscribe to the idea that debating scripture is "dividing the body of Christ" when there are a lot of people who are false brothers based on their doctrine and technically then wouldn't be IN the body of Christ to begin with. So I think it's dangerous to consider every denomination as part of the body when for example, Mormons claim "Christianity" but clearly aren't in the body...

Only our Lord knows the heart . Within all these denominations are those who are in His Flock. Jesus Christ of Nazareth made it clear.
" For many are called but few are chosen".

 

[Delvianna]

Only our Lord knows the heart . Within all these denominations are those who are in His Flock. Jesus Christ of Nazareth made it clear.
" For many are called but few are chosen".

If you preach that salvation is works based, both you and everyone else who agrees with that, is not apart of his flock, that is part of knowing their heart. So no, not within "all" denominations are his flock. There are denominations as a whole based on their teaching, that none will be saved due to it contradicting what scripture says about salvation.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

If you preach that salvation is works based, both you and everyone else who agrees with that, is not apart of his flock, that is part of knowing their heart. So no, not within "all" denominations are his flock. There are denominations as a whole based on their teaching, that none will be saved due to it contradicting what scripture says about salvation.

Thank you for sharing. I understand the Calvanist view point however, I do not share it.
Be blessed.

 

[Delvianna]

Thank you for sharing. I understand the Calvanist view point however, I do not share it.
Be blessed.

I'm not calvanist as I believe that our beliefs define where we go and although God knows who is his ahead of time since he knows the future, we still have free will to accept, deny or be influenced wrongly. It's the difference between believing in what Christ said will get you to heaven and altering that truth into something false and accepting that. Jehovah's Witnesses are another example due to the fact they believe Christ was created, is separate from the Father, and is of lower class than the Father and is Michael the Archangel. So I can confidently say, "All JW's aren't saved". That's what I mean.

Edit: If you leave being a JW, and accept God's truth and follow Him, then salvation is at the door. Just like if someone is a Muslim and turned and accepted Jesus, now salvation is open to them too but if you stay in the wrong doctrine that is literally preventing that salvation, then you will be condemned when you die.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I'm not calvanist as I believe that our beliefs define where we go and although God knows who is his ahead of time since he knows the future, we still have free will to accept, deny or be influenced wrongly. It's the difference between believing in what Christ said will get you to heaven and altering that truth into something false and accepting that. Jehovah's Witnesses are another example due to the fact they believe Christ was created, is separate from the Father, and is of lower class than the Father and is Michael the Archangel. So I can confidently say, "All JW's aren't saved". That's what I mean.

Ok. Only God knows the heart.
Thanks for sharing !

 

[Delvianna]

Ok. Only God knows the heart.
Thanks for sharing !

So, do you believe someone can believe Christ was just a prophet, you can sin as much as you want, and Jesus isn't God, and still get to heaven? Because you keep replying with "Only God knows the heart" when scripture has tons of examples of people leading others to hell that is even more nuanced than false doctrine, like the practices the Pharisees were teaching. This is why the road is narrow and few find it because not all beliefs = heaven. Mormons believe you become equal to God, is that not blasphemy? Do people who regularly blaspheme God by that belief go to heaven? I think you need to expand your view point because you're leaving out a lot.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

So, do you believe someone can believe Christ was just a prophet, you can sin as much as you want, and Jesus isn't God, and still get to heaven? Because you keep replying with "Only God knows the heart" when scripture has tons of examples of people leading others to hell that is even more nuanced than false doctrine, like the practices the Pharisees were teaching. This is why the road is narrow and few find it because not all beliefs = heaven. Mormons believe you become equal to God, is that not blasphemy? Do people who regularly blaspheme God by that belief go to heaven? I think you need to expand your view point because you're leaving out a lot.

Thanks for sharing. I have no interest in derailing this thread.

 

[Delvianna]

Thanks for sharing. I have no interest in derailing this thread.

That's not a derail when the topic is literally talking about what is the congregation as a whole which is why I replied what I did and then you replied to me claiming all denominations are apart of his flock. So this is absolutely on topic, but if you don't want to answer, that's fine.

 

[Delvianna]

From what I understand about works is that the works can’t be our works, the works must be GODS works in HIS people. Philippians 2:13 Ephesians 2:10 The works Paul spoke against were those of the law. The works James wrote about are GODS works in HIS people. James 2:17 These GODLY works are “agape” or GODS love in us by HIS Spirit, Romans 5:5 This GODLY love is what will fulfill the law, Romans 13:10 This is how Jesus fulfilled the law. The law as given by Moses could not have had this GODLY love if it requires GODLY love to fulfill it. The two greatest of all commandments Jesus gave are of the spirit of GOD who is love. GODLY love cannot sin. In his letter James mentions the “royal law” and it is love your neighbor as yourself. James 2:8 This information should end the confusion some have about law and grace.

Right, when I say works, I mean the idea that you can do a bunch of stuff and that gets you to heaven. There are denominations that hold to that teaching. Godly works proves you have the spirit but that is different than doing works and thinking that is what will save you. That's putting faith in works over putting faith in Christ. So righteous works are a product of the spirit and proves your standing in Christ, where there are people who say "I'm a good person, I'll get into heaven" and they mean because of their works. So if a denomination teaches that's how you get to heaven... that entire denomination won't be there. There are other aspects too like some denominations have created other "gods" essentially, some have created idols, some have created haughty spirits, and if that's the fundamental of their teaching, that's getting them no where either. Since scripture says:

Jeremiah 11:16–17:

"The Lᴏʀᴅ called your name, 'A green olive tree, lovely in form and with good fruit.' But with the roar of a great tumult He has set fire to it, and its branches are broken."
"For the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced disaster against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me to anger in offering incense to Baal."

That is what Paul references in Romans 11 and what we are grafted into. Grace doesn't mean license to continually sin against him and we see that in the new testament with the idea of the tribulation period in general. It is WRATH because of rejection of repentance against sin (Revelation 6). This is why the gate is narrow and "few" find it because there are practices by a lot of denominations that are really big sins against God which means, no salvation unless they stop.

 

[com7fy8]

God has the sole right to the name

In Acts 4:8-12 our Apostle Peter says > "the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth", and later says >

"'Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'" (Acts 4:12)

having been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

And we have >

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)

"Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

Yet the perfect unity for which Jesus prayed will not be fulfilled by trying to uproot denominations and churches from the world. They will always exist among us in this world. True unity becomes visible only when we root them out from within ourselves.

Our Apostle Paul says >

"For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you." (1 Corinthians 11:19)

The early congregation is our example.

One item > for some while, it seems to me, the early church members were not decades matured in the faith. So, I would not try to "copy" what was being done while the Christians all were still new in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. However, we do have what I would consider to be letters given in scripture by ones after they had become much more mature.

So, I would consider > as we each grow in Jesus and with one another, there can be discovering to do . . . how God ***creates*** better than we now might try and push to copy, based on our present level of maturity.

there are teachings by other denominations that will not get people saved as they themselves aren't either.

Yes, but I get what I think @Jeesuspelastaa is saying . . . how there can be genuine Christians in groups that are not correct in official stuff. It can even happen, that some unsaved pastor then trusts in Jesus and even turns that one's whole church to what is better, and they might stay in the group while they offer what is better.

claiming all denominations are apart of his flock.

Well, if a whole denomination were a part of Christ's flock, wouldn't this mean every member is saved? I think there is no denomination with every member saved. So, in case one member isn't, the denomination isn't.

Many churches teach another Jesus and another gospel.

Our Apostle Paul is plain about this, about if this is possible to have a false Jesus Christ >

"For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted---you may well put up with it!" (2 Corinthians 11:4)

So, yes we need to be able to tell the difference, to evaluate each group and every person >

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

But we can see how ones are very set: no matter what right thing you offer . . . uh-uh. And they might have the Bible. So, how can this happen? My take is > if a person meets a person of some group, and that group gets the person to believe the person will "go to Heaven" . . . then that person is not going to accept that the group or the pastor is wrong. Because the person does not want to believe the guarantee of Heaven has come from a false source. They can make an idol of anyone they feel has guaranteed them of what will get them to Heaven. And so they put who-knows-who above question.

If they have accepted some person or what some group says to do, possibly nothing else will do.

But God's word says >

"we who first trusted in Christ" > in Ephesians 1:12.

And Jesus Himself guarantees us "all" >

"'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I'm gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:28-29)

 

[The Liturgist]

The early congregation is our example.

Indeed, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, such as the Orthodox Church of Finland, or the Syriac Orthodox Church which has a large presence in Sweden, and the Assyrian Church of the East, also numerous in Scandinavia, and other traditional liturgical churches such as the confessional Lutheran churches (such as the Lutheran Church of Latvia), the Continuing Anglicans and other traditional Anglicans of GAFCON, traditional Old Catholics such as the Polish National Catholic Church (despite the name, they consist mainly of Polish Americans in the US) and the Norwegian Catholic Church (which exists mainly in Norway) and traditional Roman Catholics, particularly those using the Traditional Latin Mass, which is one of the oldest liturgies in continual use, despite refinements to the rubrics and music under Byzantine and Gallican influence (it was originally a very minimalist liturgy compared to other Western liturgies such as the Mozarabic, Gallican and Beneventan liturgies).

 

[stevevw]

From what I understand the early church was fairly insultaed from the world. From the Roman pagan politics and ideological beliefs within the public square.

So there was a pretty stark destinction that Paul and the congregations could refer to as to being a Christian. If people were being executed for their belief it was a pretty clear destinction and alien to the world.

Peter and Paul is writing to a number of churches the same message. Clement of Rome later did the same and writing as far away cities across the Roman Empire.

Ignatius of Antioch mentions around 110AD that where there is the Catholic church (universal church) there is Christ. The church fathers emphasise unity and Clement mentions that division was the beginning of sin and Christ was no longer in the church when dividied.

If we are transformed in our minds and hearts by Christ and His spirit lives in us then there is no way that people can be dividied and I think this is the key.

Today its easy to claim a Christian in words and the meaning of everything as been compromised. Even the truth itself in a postmodern society is rationalised into there being no single truth but many.

So I think as someone mentioned it is the actions more than the words. Living the words that united the minds and hearts. You cannot go wrong. If each is willing to lay down their life for Christ and others then they cannot be anything but of one mind and heart.

But where there is division I think this is bad fruit regardless of the cause. This is a red flag I think. I cannot understand how modern denominations can have fundemental differences in their beliefs. I believe is is a consequence of modern times and like everything else truth is relative.

But if the truth is so compromised to the point that its not to different from the world and becomes just one more identity group in a big pot of groups all fighting over truth. Then I think this is not good fruit and to be avoided.

I don't think Christs church is a religion though I think the Catholic and Orthodox are the closest. But a Christian within Christ church should be the same mind and spirit regardless of the church clubs we label religions and denominations.

Though I do think the church is one of the biggest deceptions satan uses to fool people away from God.

 

[Valletta]

There is still a remnant of the church that is basically invisible to professing Christianity. Jesus did say that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. Matthew 16:18 By the way Peter isn’t the rock, the foundation of this church, Jesus is. You are right about today’s churches. GOD calls people out of them not into them. 2 Corinthians 6:17

Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you, you are Peter,[a] and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the powers of death[c] shall not prevail against it.[d] 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,[e] and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” RSVCE

Jesus and the Apostles spoke Aramaic. The name given to Simon Peter by Jesus is the Aramaic "Kepha," transliterated into "Cephas." "Kepha" means "Rock" in Aramaic. This Aramaic name is preserved within the Koine Greek Biblical text. Thus Jesus said "You are Rock and on this Rock I will build my Church." That is, Jesus used Rock twice in the same sentence. Had Jesus wished to show what you contend he simply could have said "I am Jesus and on this Rock I will build my Church." God renaming someone, such as Abram to Abraham, often comes at an important moment in Biblical history.

 

[RamiC]

Delvianna, I agree. Many churches teach another Jesus and another gospel. The are about 45,000 different churches worldwide and are separated from each other over doctrine.

There are not 45,000 denominations. This is a link.

• These “denominations” are defined in terms of being separate organisations, not necessarily separate beliefs. This is a critical difference, not commonly noted by critics.
• The largest component (something like two thirds to three quarters) of these totals are “independent” churches, mostly in Africa. These are not necessarily different in doctrine, but are simply independent organisations.
• These estimates include national branches of the same denomination (e.g. the Lutheran Church of Germany and the Lutheran Church of Australia) as separate organisations in the count.
• There are many churches among the independent churches which would have effectively the same teachings, just different locations, different leaders, etc.

 

[The Liturgist]

Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you, you are Peter,[a] and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the powers of death[c] shall not prevail against it.[d] 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,[e] and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” RSVCE

Jesus and the Apostles spoke Aramaic. The name given to Simon Peter by Jesus is the Aramaic "Kepha," transliterated into "Cephas." "Kepha" means "Rock" in Aramaic. This Aramaic name is preserved within the Koine Greek Biblical text. Thus Jesus said "You are Rock and on this Rock I will build my Church." That is, Jesus used Rock twice in the same sentence. Had Jesus wished to show what you contend he simply could have said "I am Jesus and on this Rock I will build my Church." God renaming someone, such as Abram to Abraham, often comes at an important moment in Biblical history.

Indeed, this clearly points to the Orthodox (Eastern and Oriental) being the legitimate congregation, since after the Latin church separated from us in 1054, that left the other two Petrine sees, Alexandria and Antioch, and Constantinople - New Rome, the see of St. Andrew the First Called, and Jerusalem, in the territory of the EO and OO churches. The Orthodox in the Middle East are known as Romans, for they were citizens of the Roman Empire until its conquest by the Turks, and after that, of the Roman Millet, the autonomous courts that continued to apply Roman law to Christians in private matters in the Ottoman Empire (offenses against Muslims or against the Osman Bashi would be tried in an Ottoman court under the principles of Islamic jurisprudence).

 

[The Liturgist]

If you preach that salvation is works based, both you and everyone else who agrees with that, is not apart of his flock, that is part of knowing their heart. So no, not within "all" denominations are his flock. There are denominations as a whole based on their teaching, that none will be saved due to it contradicting what scripture says about salvation.

The Nicene Creed doesn’t say anything about the issue of Sola Fide or “works based salvation”, since the issue was unknown in the early church and did not become controversial until the 16th century.