Where Is the True Church of God?

“Where is the true one?”

Atheism is growing in numbers. Yes, it is growing across the globe.

Church attendance also is in decline and many people are giving their full-time to secular work, recreation and love life, and it seems good enough if he/she has a minute of conversation with God. The prophetic lines of the psalms of David are now fulfilling,

“God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

Everyone of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalms 53:2-3)

One of the primary reasons that makes people to cease from looking for truth lies upon the popping out of various religious denominations with various theological views but have the same claim of being the true Church founded by God. Being confused and exhausted from false hopes that their churches promised to them in exchange of their intense physical, mental, and financial devotion to its cause, people decided to stop the quest for truth. While ministers and pastors are becoming more wealthy, church members were left into dissatisfaction and despair, until they decided to take no more time for religion which they regarded as foolishness.

Falsehood is a deadly virus that arising today and kills the spiritual life of a person. The Bible speaks the truth, and it tells about the true Church. But the truth that was being said in the Bible was covered by the clouds of falsehood that arising today. Ephesians 5:2 says;

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

Christ is the savior of the body which is the Church.  But where is that Church that He’s going to save? Is it among those more than forty-two thousand Christian  denominations now registered in different parts of the globe? Founded by those people who said to be called by God to restore humanity unto Him? The Holy Scriptures speaks clearly;

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psalms 127:1)

Logically speaking, every house has builders. And these builders are their owners. In the Bible, God has His own, too. And of course, He was the builder of His own house. What then is the house of God?

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (I Timothy 3:15)

The house of God is His Church; the Church which was headed by His begotten Son, Jesus Christ. So, those denominations claiming to be of God but ruled and headed not by Christ but by their founders are false and deceptions.  To consider a church to be of God, it must be built by God. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”, according to the Bible. Hence, if a particular Church was built by man, it’s considered nothing.

Then, where is the true Church of God in our time that those people who really care for the truth will finally take their rest from this quest? How do we able to identify if such Church is the real one or it’s just one of those vain churches scattered all over the surface of the earth? Apostle Paul said;

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (I Corinthians 12:28)

Of course, we are speaking of those true apostles of God, true prophets, true teachers of the gospel, true miracles, true gifts of healing, true government of the gospel, etc. These elements were installed only in the true Church. And where is that true Church? Obviously speaking, that was the Church built by Christ more than 2000 years ago in Jerusalem. Other than that Church, there’s no truth. And don’t be deceived by some preachers of religion saying that the Church founded in Jerusalem was already apostatized or fallen or destroyed. The Lord Jesus Christ has a promise, saying;

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29)

The true Church will never perish but it will stand until the day of judgement. It will remain a light unto the world and vessel of truth that will enlighten the world in the midst of its darkest days. Christ was its founder, so we should not think that it will fall as a house built in the midst of sand. In it, all that will be saved shall be baptized. But how we will be part of it? How we will have fellowship with those members of the Church founded 2000 years ago, like the apostles? is it possible? Of course, it is possible. John said;

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;…
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (I John 1:1,3-4)

“The Church endured spiritually, and the Bible is the only access to that Church.”

To be part of the only true Church where God put His elected apostles, John said, “that which we have seen and heard (the word of life) declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us.” Through faith with those words they declared in their epistles and letters, man may have fellowship with the true Church. We don’t need to see the apostles personally, or return to their age literally. We can become members of the Church founded in Jerusalem by simply upholding with those words preached by the apostles. We don’t need to look for those churches claiming to be the restoration of the 2000 years old Church because nothing was restored. The Church endured spiritually, and the Bible is the only access to that Church.

The reason why so many religious people ended into infidelity after a long long time of quest for truth lies to the fact that they look for truth with those churches or organizations built by human in our time, rather than seek it in the Holy Scriptures which is the sole record of all godly truth specially about the Church of God. Thus, everyone who seek the truth should return to the Bible. This is the only access that will connect us to the only true Church founded more than 2000 years ago in Jerusalem.

White Sepulcher; A Glimpse to the Professed Preachers of Christianity Today

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Before He ascend unto His Father in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ asked Peter;

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

To prove his love to his Lord, the apostle Peter was given three same consecutive commands, “Feed my flock”, said the Lord. So, when the Lord ascended into heaven, Peter feed the flock of his Lord.

Feeding the flock is the major work of a shepherd. He guides them through a rich pasture and defends them against any attacks of wild beasts and strangers.  He should shepherd the flock the same way as the Head Pastor directed them.

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.“ (Psalms 23:1-5)

But instead of feeding the flock, what if it is the flock who feeds the shepherd? In the present age of Christianity, thousands of preachers are claiming that they were sent to feed to flock of God. They were called by their members as “reverend”, “eminence”, and sometimes “father”, that it seemed they have lordship over the organization. But looking back to the Scriptures, we will realize  that those early servants of the gospel had never been called by such lofty titles. Christ said to them,

“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. “(Matthew 23:8)

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven“. (Matthew 23:9)

The word “reverend”, which many preachers proudly attached before their names, was used only once in the entire Holy Scriptures. Among the thousand verses of the Bible, this word was written only one time and that was addressed solely to God. Psalms 111:9 says. “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” This sacred honor has been used by almost all professing pastors of our time, whether Catholics or Protestants. More than this, Pastor Apollo Quibloy of the so-called “Kingdom of Jesus Christ” proclaimed himself “king” of his organization. These pastors, instead of serving the flock of Christ, are  being served by their members. Their members become so blinded that they didn’t notice how their leaders used them as merchandise, channel of benefits and wealth. Paul said,

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,“ (Philippians 3:7,8)

Christ declared, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

A shepherd must give his own life for the flock as Christ gave His own to the Church. But look upon today’s pastors. Instead of sacrificing their lives for the sake of the flock, the flock gives everything to them. As compensation to their invented teachings, these pastors formulated several types of offerings to exhaust the pockets of their members. Love offerings, monthly offerings, thanksgiving offerings, miracle offerings, offering during the Lord Supper, storage offering and many other unbiblical forms offerings has been introduced to their members. Moreover, they also sell different kind of stuffs to the people, teaching them that these things will bring blessings, cure to their diseases and charms of good luck – teachings that’s nowhere to be found in the Bible.  But how about their flock? These people have been deprived of reading the Bible to know the truth, but rather advised them that the Bible is so mysterious and that not one of them would comprehend its teachings unless explained to them by the pastors. Thus, the minds of these people are being manipulated that results into fanaticism.

“As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.” (Jeremiah 5:27,28)

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:18)

Behold at the reality of modern Christendom – while members are dying because of poverty and starvation, their pastors lived in luxurious mansions, traveling around the world, riding luxurious vehicles and private jets or helicopters, and yet members are continually giving their money to them. While members are suffering to live at the top of trees or under the bridges and sky-ways, or at the side of the creek, their pastors enjoy a pretty living in their palaces. In their previous life, these preachers lived a hand-to-mouth kind of living, but become great, rich and powerful as they become leaders of religion. One of the best examples is Felix Manalo, the founder and the first of the ruling dynasty of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) that based in the Philippines. He told that when they crossed the Pasig River together his wife, he don’t even have a cent to pay the boatman. But now, after several years of leading his Church he established in Manila, the leader of the Iglesia Ni Cristo became a millionaire and his successors billionaire. And how about their flock? They have been discouraged to read the Bible.

“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. “(Isaiah 56:10,11)

Block voting is one of the most beloved doctrine held by these pastors. By promising a huge number of votes, religious leaders sell their members to gain power, favors, and money from corrupt politicians. Felix Manalo’s church and the Charismatic group led by Mike Velarde are foremost among these religious syndicates in my country. To them, Peter said;

“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (II Peter 2:3)

When Paul leads the Church, he never even imagined to use his authority to exploit the church. He regards his ministry as a sacrifice, a great responsibility without hoping anything to compensate his service. But rather he suffered the persecutions and unimaginable sufferings in the hands of the wicked just to bring the gospel to the people. In his epistle he said,

“Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. “ (II Corinthians 11:22-28)

Even Christ Himself, though Lord of lords and King of kings, hadn’t lived in such luxury, but let his body lay at night to sleep without even a pillow for His head.

A true shepherd of the flock shall lead the sheep by the same manner as Christ lead them. He will give his life for the flock and serve them with all the blessings and gifts given by God through His Holy Spirit. He will never let his flock to become empty and ignorant about the word of the Lord, but like the Bible said;

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15)

People must how to become meticulous when it comes to the subject of salvation. We must not be driven by emotions, fame and fine speeches of professing pastors of religion, but by truth, we must test them according to the standards of the written word of God; compare their doctrines with “Thus saith the Lord”, and God will lead us to the right path.