| Christian Life and Doctrine | June 1976 |
Which is the True Church?
“And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.” —I Kings 9:3
“But Christ as a son over his own house; those house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” —Hebrews 3:6
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” —Ephesians 5:25,27
“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” —Matthew 16:18
WHICH is the true church is a question often asked by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. There are many churches. Is any one of them exclusively the true church? Or do all church groups together make up the true church? The word “church” means different things to different people. To some it is a social club, or a political action group, either liberal or conservative, racial or nonsegregated. Others think of the church as a source of prospects to sell their wares, or a place to send their children to Sunday school while they rest at home.
According to the Bible, the church is not a building made with human hands, nor is it a denominational organization. Basically, the church is a group who are separated from the world, having accepted the invitation of their Lord to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
The church in apostolic days was known by no denominational title. They were simply known as the church at Jerusalem, or the church at Rome. The word church (from the Greek word “ekklesia”) means “those called out from the many.” And the true church, whether at Jerusalem or in any other place, is made up of those whom the Lord has called out from the world to serve him. The Apostle Paul says that the true church is the mystical body of Christ, saying that he is “the Head over all things to the church, which is his body.”—Eph. 1:22,23
There is more to joining the true church than to have one’s name placed on a church roll. In Acts 2:47 we read, “The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Other scriptures outline the steps which one must take. Repentance is necessary; that is, to have a realization that we were born members of a sinful race, dying because of Adam’s disobedience, unable to do perfectly; a realization that only through the merit of Christ’s atoning blood can we be made acceptable to God. “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Cor. 15:22) And then with great humility we must give ourselves to God, to do his will, in complete consecration, dedicating ourselves not to man, nor to any denomination of men, but to the God who “hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”—I Pet. 2:9; Rom. 12:1-3
When the Master was upon earth he had a mission to perform besides the great work of redemption in tasting “death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) He also had a message to proclaim. “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom.” This was the same kingdom for which he taught his disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” The true church, the members of his body, have the same commission now. They must also proclaim the message of the kingdom of God, which is an exemplification of his love soon to be manifested to all the families of the earth
This kingdom will be established through the thousand years of Christ’s reign. During that time, as kings and priests, the true church will reign with him in glory. What a wonderful prospect for both the true church and those whom they shall bless!—Rev. 20:6