The One True Church

By Ron Graham

 

Of all those who claim the exalted position of the one true Church, which one do you suppose is correct? Can we actually know for certain, among all who claim to be correct on this matter, which one really is the one true Church? Hypothetically speaking, if I were to place all those organizations that make that claim alphabetically here on this page and then ask you to choose just one, which one would you select? Whichever name you would have selected wouldn’t matter, you’re wrong. None of the above would be the correct answer, although that option hadn’t been provided.

 

In the first three hundred years after Christ’s death and resurrection, the name given to Christ’s followers, those who were persecuted, and martyred for their belief, were known as Christians. Disagreements over which Church was the true Church were non-existent; they were just trying to survive while spreading the message of hope.

 

Constantine, who married the early Church to the Government, began the practice of establishing buildings for worship, which became known as Churches. The Roman Catholic Church being established early on continued the establishment of Church buildings. The RCC built these buildings all over the world as they went to battle against a multitude of nations all in the name of Christianity. Hence, their claim to “the one true church” was established, while all the time slaughtering those who opposed them, even the true followers of Christ because they would not adhere to Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholicism to this very day continually makes the claim that any Church organizations opposed to them are abominations to God.

 

Diligent Bible study brings about understanding, which will eventually lead us to conclude, without a doubt, just which organization is the true Church. Whoever claims the inerrant word of God as truth, and places Jesus Christ as the foundation and cornerstone to their beliefs, believing completely in His death, burial, and resurrection, and believing Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for their sins, are those who are the true and universal Church. If you belong to an organization that claims to be the only true Church, all I can say is, you’ve got real trouble folks. Many claim that salvation is in the Church, and of the Church, and is obtained only through the Church. I beg to differ. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. We go to Heaven because we believe Jesus Christ died for us, not because we’ve placed membership in a certain Church organization.

 

As born again believers we are the body of Christ, the temple of God, and the true Church. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16. It’s not a building and it’s not any certain place on earth. It’s in the heart of every believer. We confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. We respond to the truth of the Gospel with all readiness of mind, heart, and soul. Meaning that we’ve placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and have begun living a life that reflects that faith and trust. This then is the Church “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” Acts 2:47. “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren,” Acts 15:3. There are many such verses in the Bible that proclaim a universal Church. The inspired writers of The New Testament never referred to the Church as by any particular name other than by the name of the city wherever Christian Churches were located or established.

 

Believers meeting in a home, studying the scriptures, and worshiping God in spirit and in truth, are actually more biblical than those mega Churches. The early Church believers met in homes, not in a big white building or some kind of glass cathedral with a sixty foot high cross planted in front. It was three centuries after Christ’s ascension to Heaven that people started assembling in buildings and called them churches. Is there even one Church worshiping the way the early Church did it? I don’t know for sure, but I doubt it. Don’t misunderstand me there’s nothing wrong with worshipping God in your local Church building along with your brothers and sisters in Christ. My point is home churches were how the Christian faith began and remained for over three hundred years. I do believe there is something fundamentally wrong with many mega Churches.

 

As a side note, I believe that soon, even in America, the body of Christ will be forced underground. The only people meeting in these huge Church buildings will be the apostate church which will be of no significance to the persecutors of Christians.

 

There are many false religions that make the claim that they themselves are the one true church. Any of these organizations that deny the deity of Jesus Christ is a false church or false religion, and an abomination to God. Some organizations claim that unless you’re baptized, and baptized in their church, you’re not saved. Where do they get off making such a statement as that? They take Bible verses out of context, twist scriptures to fit what they believe, and they listened to their father the devil. He’s always working, doing whatever he can to sow discord within the body of Christ.

 

There really isn’t any one denominational or non-denominational Church that can, biblically speaking, make the claim that they are the one true Church, and why would they want to? This exclusivity is a damnable heresy and it should be eradicated. It’s divisive and counterproductive.

 

Jesus Christ, who is, who was, and who always will be, God Almighty. Jesus is the head of the Church. Believers are, corporately, the body of Christ.

 

The one true Church, if you want to address it in those terms, is made of those of us who believe God’s inerrant written word, who believe Jesus Christ is who He said He is, who have placed their faith and trust in Him as the sacrificial atonement for our sins, who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, who’ve repented of their sins, and believed in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. That would be my definition of the true Church. It’s not a name on a building that makes the Church. No. It’s a body of born again believers who claim salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Him alone, and they can meet anywhere.

 

One last thing, there is no other name under Heaven in which we can confidently place our faith and hope. Apart from Jesus Christ there is no hope, no Church, no salvation, no Heaven, there is only Hell.

 

God bless you all,

 

Ron Graham