One Church
The scripture tells us that there are two churches only. One that belongs to God (Revelation 14:12) and the other belongs to the devil (Revelation 17). There is only one true church (Romans 12:5), into which Jesus calls His end-time people—the bride of Christ. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). As we search for a church, we find out that there are hundreds of churches that call themselves Christian. Every one of them claims to be Biblical. So, how can we identify the true Church?
The True Church
We are grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ who solved this dilemma for us. The best way to judge if a church is true or not is by the words of the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn” (ch. 8:20). The law is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) and the testimony is the Word of God’s prophets. And in the New Testament, we also have the clear description of the true church in the book of Revelation by the prophet John chapters 12 and 14:
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).
Therefore, the true church according to both the Old and New Testaments will: 1-Have the Faith of Jesus. 2-Keep the Commandments of God, including the seventh day Sabbath. 3-Have the Testimony of Jesus Christ “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
God Calls His Children to Join His Church
The Bible teaches that our day is likened to Noah’s day (Luke 17:26, 27). Today, God has provided an Ark, which is His church, that will take His people safely through earth’s final events. Jesus asks His faithful children to leave Babylon and join the remnant church—of which He is the head. He says, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4; John 10:16). As God’s children formerly came out of literal Babylon in order that they might go back to Jerusalem, so His people today are called out of mystical Babylon in order that they may enter the New Jerusalem
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
