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Apostolic_Believer
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Disclaimer: This blog is intended to exemplify through scripture that we are all suppose to be One. I am not trying to impose my Christian beliefs on anyone in this blog. If you are offended by this blog and feel that I’m imposing certain Christian beliefs upon you, then I am sorry and I’m not intending to do so
Some of the following are topics that I’ve focused on lately while studying scripture, which inspired me to write this blog.
1.)What is truth and where can we find it?
2.) Would Jesus want church to change constantly, or would he want us to keep our traditions/doctrines?
3.)What would Jesus think about divisions in the church?
4.)Does Jesus want there to be 25,000 plus different Protestant denominations that each have different beliefs, ways of worship, and/or interpretations of the bible.
5.)Would Jesus change over time?
I’m going to start this blog by talking about truth. What does the bible say about truth?
John 14:6- Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 8:31-32- To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 18:37- for this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.
It seems as if the truth is a hot commodity. We need to know the truth to come to the father. We need to know the truth to be made free. We need to know the truth in order to hear the voice of Jesus Christ. In other wards, we need to know the truth in order to be SAVED, to reach heaven, to have eternal life.
How do we know the truth? Where do we go to find the truth? Where can we look for it? Many will agree that we can find these truths in the bible. So does that mean that anyone can just pick it up and read scripture and be an infallible interpreter? Let me show you where I am going with this.
Romans 2:25- Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. (Seems like a strong recommendation from Paul for circumcision).
Galatians 5:2- Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. (Seems like circumcision isn’t necessary).
So which is it? Circumcision or no circumcision? What does the bible teach?
Romans 3:27-28- Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (So we are justified by faith apart from works, they have nothing to do with our justification…. or do they?)
James 2:17- so faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
James 2:24/26- You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. (so we aren’t justified by faith alone.)
So which is it? Are we justified by faith and works, or faith alone?
What I am doing here is demonstrating that we cannot just pick up the bible and start reading it and expect to come to the knowledge of the truth that is necessary to our salvation. Nowhere in the bible does it say that we are supposed to be infallible interpreters of scripture. You might be wondering now, what does the bible say about individual’s interpretations?
2 Peter 3:16- speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. (Peter is telling us some things in Paul’s letters are hard to understand, and that the ignorant and the unstable twist)
He didn’t say that the evil twist these letters, he didn’t say the non-believers twist the letters. We all are ignorant, how many of us can translate Greek and Hebrew? How many of us can understand the first century idioms used in the bible? How many of us have PHD in scripture? If we did, would that bring us closer to the truth? There are all sorts of opinions of what that passage or that passage means. Well some of you might be wondering, how can an ordinary person find the truth. So can we read scripture and not be ignorant. No one who reads scripture thinks that they are ignorant. Many people are ignorant of being ignorant on interpreting scripture for themselves. The truth is that people reading scripture and deciding for themselves what is and is not truth, and what is and what isn’t correct doctrine isn’t scriptural at all. This should cause some serious reflection, especially this day in age.
2 Peter 1:20- Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.
Acts 8:27-31- So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the Prophet. The spirit told Phillip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.†Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet, “Do you understand what you are reading?†Phillip asked. How can I, “he said, “unless someone explains it to me?†So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The bible is clear, we need truth to be saved, but the bible is also very clear that we can’t just get this truth by picking up the bible and reading on our own. Not that you shouldn’t pick up the bible and read it, because you should. And I’m not saying that you can’t come to some knowledge of the truth from reading it, but some things in scripture are hard to understand. Like in Acts 8:27-31, we need a guide who can guide us to the truth, but who can guide us?
Well the early Christians had the apostles to guide them. They helped guide them not just on interpreting scripture, but also on how to live the Christian life. So where can we find those people today? In 1 Cor. 12:28, we learn that “God has appointed in the CHURCH first apostles, second prophets, and third teachers.†So we see that in the church, God has appointed these people who can guide us to the truth. So our search for truth should be in the church. This is confirmed in 1 Timothy 3:15, that the CHURCH is the “pillar and foundation of truth.â€Â
1 Timothy 3:15- if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
So right here, Paul is saying that the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth!
Most people would say that the bible is the pillar and foundation of truth. But the bible is telling us that THE CHURCH is the pillar and foundation of truth.
What does a pillar do? It holds things up. What does a foundation do? It provides protection or defense. So Paul is telling us that the CHURCH upholds and protects/defends the TRUTH! So now we know where to find the truth, the truth we need to be saved, the truth we need to come to the father, the truth that we need in order to be made free, the truth we need in order to hear the voice of our Lord and Savior. So what do we do, what church do we go to?
Well let’s consult our local yellow pages, because after all church is where we need to be for the truth. But what happens when we go to the yellow pages and look up church? There are several pages of churches there. Which church do I go to? Are they all the same? Is one better than the other? Which church? Well if you look in any phone book you can see all the different type churches. Here are some examples in the County I live in Yellow pages, there are:
Advent Christian Churches, African Methodist Episcopal, Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Baptist American Association, Free will Baptist, Independent Fundamental Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Southern Baptist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Church of God, Christian Independent, Church of God in Christ, Church of God of Prophesy, Christian Science, Episcopal, Evangelical, Greek Orthodox, Interdenominational, Jehovah’s witness, Latter Day Saints, Lutheran, Lutheran ELCA, Lutheran- Missouri Synod, Methodist, United Methodist, Nazarene, Non-denominational (Eastgate/ Faith Family Christian/ Northstar), Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Presbyterian USA, Primitive Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Unitarian, United Pentecostal, and Unity.
How can we know the truth, if we don’t know where to find the truth? So how confusing is this? What are we suppose to do now, if we aren’t sure which type of church holds the truth. When we look at Christianity this day in age, what do we see? Well we see the Catholic Church, we see about 10 to 12 different types of Orthodox churches, we some 25,000-30,000 different protestant denominations worldwide. Did Jesus Christ want Christianity to be divided into 25,000 different churches and denominations? What is the meaning of all these churches and denominations? With the situation we have today with Christianity, one of three things must be true.
1.) Jesus established more than one church.
2.) Jesus established one church, but this church is an abstract invisible spiritual church, that everyone belongs to no matter what denomination. In this invisible church. Two things must be true.
A.) Doctrine does not matter.
B.) It’s acceptable to have conflicting doctrines.
3.) Jesus established one church, this church is a visible church, it’s a church in which doctrine matters, and in which there can be no conflicting doctrine. This church would have to contain the fullness of truth as revealed by God and all the other churches at BEST have partial truth.
Now lets examine each of these possibilities. Remember, the purpose of this examination is to find truth.
1.) Did Jesus establish more than one church? NO WAY!
Mathew 16:18- And I tell you, Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
(Notice that Jesus tells Peter that on this rock he will build his CHURCH, not churches).
John 10:17- (Jesus says) So there shall be ONE flock, ONE shepherd.
(Not 10 flocks, Not 100 flocks, and definitely NOT 25,000 different flocks)
Also we know that the church is the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 1:22-23- and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Colossians 1:18- He is the head of the body, the Church…
So how many bodies of Christ are there? One
Ephesians 2:16- and that he (Jesus) might reconcile us both to God in ONE body through the cross.
Ephesians 4:4- There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
One Body, scripture never mentions the bodies of Christ. Since the CHURCH is the body of Christ, we must conclude from scripture that there is ONE CHURCH and only one church that was established by Jesus Christ.
2.) Many Protestants believe that no matter what denomination you are that we “Christians†all belong to this abstract invisible church that is spiritual in nature. Lets examine this into detail. Did Jesus establish this invisible Church? As we see in scripture the answer to that question is NO.
John 17:21- that they may all be ONE; even as you, Father are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
(So Jesus is praying for this Unity as One, so that the world may SEE and believe that God sent him)
Can the world look and see that we are all One as Christians, that we all agree on beliefs, worship, and interpretations of the bible? I wish that that was true, but its not. There is constant arguing (protestant against protestant, Catholic against protestant, Orthodox against Catholic and so forth). The world can’t see an invisible unity, because when the world looks at Christianity it sees 25,000 plus divisions.
John 17:23- …that they may become perfectly ONE, so that the world may know that you have sent me…
(Obviously this unity Jesus is talking about isn’t an abstract invisible church. It has to be a unity that the world can see). Some might say, well he is only talking about the unity of the apostles, well lets look at that.
John 17:20- I do not pray these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word.
(Jesus is clearly saying that unity of those who believe in him “Christians†will be seen throughout the world so the world may believe he was sent by the Father.)
Mathew 5:14- You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
(This Church cannot be hidden.)
Mathew 18:15-17- "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
(If the Church is invisible, where does one go to fulfill this scripture passage?) This also raises some other questions, what Church? It’s obvious through scripture that there is one church that is visible and has the fullness of the truth. There are so many different churches that have different beliefs on many issues.
If there is no visible church, then who decides what is and what is not the truth? Who decides what is good and bad doctrines? Who decides what is moral and not moral? Who speaks of the church in 1 Timothy 3:15 that is the pillar and bulwark of truth? Who speaks for the church? How does the church function as the pillar and foundation of truth? This day in age its as if we have thousands upon thousands of church pastors who each act as a pope of their flock, deciding what’s right for his flock and what is good or bad doctrine for his flock. What makes more sense, that God would establish one Church or thousands of different types of churches? Why are there 25,000 different denominations of Protestantism? It’s because they all believe something different.
With each new so-called correct interpretation of scripture that one comes up with, a new denomination forms. On average 5 new denominations form worldwide each week. Sometimes these differences are small, and other times they are large. They each believe at least one thing differently from other denominations. So if you define the church and say that it is an invisible church that is made up of a few entities, including believers of all denominations. Believing that we are all the true church no matter how different doctrines are means; that doctrines don’t matter, or it’s ok to have conflicting or contradicting doctrines. For Example:
Baptist- believes that baptizing babies is absolutely unacceptable.
Presbyterian- believes that it is ok to baptize babies, but it’s merely symbolic.
Episcopalian- believes in baptizing babies and that infant baptism washes away original sin.
Those were just some examples; there is a plethora of differences in doctrines between different denominations. If they are all the true church and each accepts Jesus as their personal lord and savior, then doctrine must not matter. What does the bible say about doctrine? Is doctrine important?
1 Timothy 1:3- remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach different doctrine.
(Doctrine looks pretty important here)
1 Timothy 4:1- Now the spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.
(You can depart from the faith, from believing in the WRONG Doctrines)
Ephesians 4:14- so that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine
(Paul's talking about those who want to be bishop in this letter to Titus)
Titus 1:9- He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Doctrines and dogmas are nothing more than the truths revealed to us by Jesus Christ. They are almost like lamppost that lights the path to Jesus Christ. It should be made apparent that doctrines are essentially important. Some Protestants will say that they know there are differences from their denomination and another. They will then say things like, well we agree on essential doctrines, but there are some non-essential doctrines in which we differ. Well that sounds good at first, but lets examine that closely. They agree on the essentials and disagree on the non-essentials, but NOWHERE in the bible does it say that about doctrines, or where is the table in which it shows me where which doctrines are essential and which ones are non-essential. Does the bible give us a clue to whether there are essential or non-essential doctrines?
Mathew 4:4- Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
(Doctrines are words from God. I don’t see some words are essential and some are not)
Mathew 5:18-19- I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(Seems like every part of the law/ doctrine is important. Do you still think that we can divide doctrines into essential or non-essential doctrines?)
Malachi 3:6- I the LORD do not change.
Hebrews 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
If the Lord does not change, then there can’t be any conflicting doctrines. If the apostles were guided in all truth (John 14:26), then there can’t be contradictions in doctrine. If the Holy Spirit brought and led them to remember all things (John 16:13), then there can’t be conflict in doctrine. Lets go back to a verse from earlier.
John 8:32- You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
(If there is conflicting and contradicting doctrine, how can one know the truth?) If you don’t know the truth, how can you be set free?
Scripture shows us that Jesus established one and only one Church. Scripture further shows us that Church can’t be abstract or invisible. It is a visible church. Scripture also shows us that it cannot be a church where doctrine is irrelevant, or have conflicting and contradicting doctrines exist side by side. It must be a concrete, visible and tangible church. A church which like its founder has both body and soul. It must be a church that holds to the doctrines of Christ that were taught to the apostles that apostles taught to their successors. Since we have seen that Jesus only established one church and that that church is a visible church with consistent doctrine. So that only leaves the third proposition.
3.) Jesus established one church, this church is a visible church, it’s a church in which doctrine matters, and in which there can be no conflicting doctrine. This church would have to contain the fullness of truth as revealed by God and all the other churches at BEST have partial truth.
(This church Must have the FULLNESS of Truth)
Ephesians 1:22-23- And God placed all things under his feet (Jesus) and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
(The church is the fullness of Jesus Christ). This church has unity in doctrine, unity in faith, unity in morals.
Acts 4:32- All the believers were one in heart and mind
1 Corinthians 1:10- I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Romans 16:17- I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the doctrines you have learned. Keep away from them.
Philippians 1:27- whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
(It didn’t say for the faiths of the gospel, but THE FAITH of the gospel)
John 17:22-23- I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me?
(Jesus prays that we his followers will be perfectly one, just as Jesus and the Father are one.)
Do you think that Jesus and the Father disagree on Doctrine? NO, they agree on doctrine, just as we are supposed to agree on doctrine. So now looking back at the beginning of this blog, remember that we are looking for the truth.
This church that holds the fullness of truth, shouldn’t this church be able to trace its church leaders back to Jesus? Doesn’t it make sense that this church was founded by Jesus Christ? Then wouldn’t this church need to be 2,000 years old? This church would have to claim to be infallible on moral issues and faith. This church would have the authority to teach the fullness of truth, meaning that it wouldn’t have pastors who choose what to and what not to believe in; or what doctrines to believe and not to believe in. Wouldn’t this church need to be founded by Jesus and not by a man or a group of men? If this isn’t your church, then I think you have a lot of thinking and praying to do.
So again, where do we go for truth, where can we find the truth that will make us free? The Church, the ONE visible, doctrinally consistent, 2,000 year old church which claims to be the one true church that was founded by Jesus Christ. If your church or denomination doesn’t claim all of these things for itself, then I encourage you to take a hard long prayerful look at my church. Because my church claims all these things and more; and upon close examination, my church can back up all the claims that it makes. Think about it, One Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. God Bless whoever reads this!
This blog was heavily inspired by http://www.biblechristiansociety.com
Some of the following are topics that I’ve focused on lately while studying scripture, which inspired me to write this blog.
1.)What is truth and where can we find it?
2.) Would Jesus want church to change constantly, or would he want us to keep our traditions/doctrines?
3.)What would Jesus think about divisions in the church?
4.)Does Jesus want there to be 25,000 plus different Protestant denominations that each have different beliefs, ways of worship, and/or interpretations of the bible.
5.)Would Jesus change over time?
I’m going to start this blog by talking about truth. What does the bible say about truth?
John 14:6- Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 8:31-32- To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 18:37- for this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.
It seems as if the truth is a hot commodity. We need to know the truth to come to the father. We need to know the truth to be made free. We need to know the truth in order to hear the voice of Jesus Christ. In other wards, we need to know the truth in order to be SAVED, to reach heaven, to have eternal life.
How do we know the truth? Where do we go to find the truth? Where can we look for it? Many will agree that we can find these truths in the bible. So does that mean that anyone can just pick it up and read scripture and be an infallible interpreter? Let me show you where I am going with this.
Romans 2:25- Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. (Seems like a strong recommendation from Paul for circumcision).
Galatians 5:2- Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. (Seems like circumcision isn’t necessary).
So which is it? Circumcision or no circumcision? What does the bible teach?
Romans 3:27-28- Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (So we are justified by faith apart from works, they have nothing to do with our justification…. or do they?)
James 2:17- so faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
James 2:24/26- You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. (so we aren’t justified by faith alone.)
So which is it? Are we justified by faith and works, or faith alone?
What I am doing here is demonstrating that we cannot just pick up the bible and start reading it and expect to come to the knowledge of the truth that is necessary to our salvation. Nowhere in the bible does it say that we are supposed to be infallible interpreters of scripture. You might be wondering now, what does the bible say about individual’s interpretations?
2 Peter 3:16- speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. (Peter is telling us some things in Paul’s letters are hard to understand, and that the ignorant and the unstable twist)
He didn’t say that the evil twist these letters, he didn’t say the non-believers twist the letters. We all are ignorant, how many of us can translate Greek and Hebrew? How many of us can understand the first century idioms used in the bible? How many of us have PHD in scripture? If we did, would that bring us closer to the truth? There are all sorts of opinions of what that passage or that passage means. Well some of you might be wondering, how can an ordinary person find the truth. So can we read scripture and not be ignorant. No one who reads scripture thinks that they are ignorant. Many people are ignorant of being ignorant on interpreting scripture for themselves. The truth is that people reading scripture and deciding for themselves what is and is not truth, and what is and what isn’t correct doctrine isn’t scriptural at all. This should cause some serious reflection, especially this day in age.
2 Peter 1:20- Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.
Acts 8:27-31- So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the Prophet. The spirit told Phillip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.†Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet, “Do you understand what you are reading?†Phillip asked. How can I, “he said, “unless someone explains it to me?†So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The bible is clear, we need truth to be saved, but the bible is also very clear that we can’t just get this truth by picking up the bible and reading on our own. Not that you shouldn’t pick up the bible and read it, because you should. And I’m not saying that you can’t come to some knowledge of the truth from reading it, but some things in scripture are hard to understand. Like in Acts 8:27-31, we need a guide who can guide us to the truth, but who can guide us?
Well the early Christians had the apostles to guide them. They helped guide them not just on interpreting scripture, but also on how to live the Christian life. So where can we find those people today? In 1 Cor. 12:28, we learn that “God has appointed in the CHURCH first apostles, second prophets, and third teachers.†So we see that in the church, God has appointed these people who can guide us to the truth. So our search for truth should be in the church. This is confirmed in 1 Timothy 3:15, that the CHURCH is the “pillar and foundation of truth.â€Â
1 Timothy 3:15- if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
So right here, Paul is saying that the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth!
Most people would say that the bible is the pillar and foundation of truth. But the bible is telling us that THE CHURCH is the pillar and foundation of truth.
What does a pillar do? It holds things up. What does a foundation do? It provides protection or defense. So Paul is telling us that the CHURCH upholds and protects/defends the TRUTH! So now we know where to find the truth, the truth we need to be saved, the truth we need to come to the father, the truth that we need in order to be made free, the truth we need in order to hear the voice of our Lord and Savior. So what do we do, what church do we go to?
Well let’s consult our local yellow pages, because after all church is where we need to be for the truth. But what happens when we go to the yellow pages and look up church? There are several pages of churches there. Which church do I go to? Are they all the same? Is one better than the other? Which church? Well if you look in any phone book you can see all the different type churches. Here are some examples in the County I live in Yellow pages, there are:
Advent Christian Churches, African Methodist Episcopal, Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Baptist American Association, Free will Baptist, Independent Fundamental Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Southern Baptist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Church of God, Christian Independent, Church of God in Christ, Church of God of Prophesy, Christian Science, Episcopal, Evangelical, Greek Orthodox, Interdenominational, Jehovah’s witness, Latter Day Saints, Lutheran, Lutheran ELCA, Lutheran- Missouri Synod, Methodist, United Methodist, Nazarene, Non-denominational (Eastgate/ Faith Family Christian/ Northstar), Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Presbyterian USA, Primitive Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Unitarian, United Pentecostal, and Unity.
How can we know the truth, if we don’t know where to find the truth? So how confusing is this? What are we suppose to do now, if we aren’t sure which type of church holds the truth. When we look at Christianity this day in age, what do we see? Well we see the Catholic Church, we see about 10 to 12 different types of Orthodox churches, we some 25,000-30,000 different protestant denominations worldwide. Did Jesus Christ want Christianity to be divided into 25,000 different churches and denominations? What is the meaning of all these churches and denominations? With the situation we have today with Christianity, one of three things must be true.
1.) Jesus established more than one church.
2.) Jesus established one church, but this church is an abstract invisible spiritual church, that everyone belongs to no matter what denomination. In this invisible church. Two things must be true.
A.) Doctrine does not matter.
B.) It’s acceptable to have conflicting doctrines.
3.) Jesus established one church, this church is a visible church, it’s a church in which doctrine matters, and in which there can be no conflicting doctrine. This church would have to contain the fullness of truth as revealed by God and all the other churches at BEST have partial truth.
Now lets examine each of these possibilities. Remember, the purpose of this examination is to find truth.
1.) Did Jesus establish more than one church? NO WAY!
Mathew 16:18- And I tell you, Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
(Notice that Jesus tells Peter that on this rock he will build his CHURCH, not churches).
John 10:17- (Jesus says) So there shall be ONE flock, ONE shepherd.
(Not 10 flocks, Not 100 flocks, and definitely NOT 25,000 different flocks)
Also we know that the church is the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 1:22-23- and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Colossians 1:18- He is the head of the body, the Church…
So how many bodies of Christ are there? One
Ephesians 2:16- and that he (Jesus) might reconcile us both to God in ONE body through the cross.
Ephesians 4:4- There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
One Body, scripture never mentions the bodies of Christ. Since the CHURCH is the body of Christ, we must conclude from scripture that there is ONE CHURCH and only one church that was established by Jesus Christ.
2.) Many Protestants believe that no matter what denomination you are that we “Christians†all belong to this abstract invisible church that is spiritual in nature. Lets examine this into detail. Did Jesus establish this invisible Church? As we see in scripture the answer to that question is NO.
John 17:21- that they may all be ONE; even as you, Father are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
(So Jesus is praying for this Unity as One, so that the world may SEE and believe that God sent him)
Can the world look and see that we are all One as Christians, that we all agree on beliefs, worship, and interpretations of the bible? I wish that that was true, but its not. There is constant arguing (protestant against protestant, Catholic against protestant, Orthodox against Catholic and so forth). The world can’t see an invisible unity, because when the world looks at Christianity it sees 25,000 plus divisions.
John 17:23- …that they may become perfectly ONE, so that the world may know that you have sent me…
(Obviously this unity Jesus is talking about isn’t an abstract invisible church. It has to be a unity that the world can see). Some might say, well he is only talking about the unity of the apostles, well lets look at that.
John 17:20- I do not pray these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word.
(Jesus is clearly saying that unity of those who believe in him “Christians†will be seen throughout the world so the world may believe he was sent by the Father.)
Mathew 5:14- You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
(This Church cannot be hidden.)
Mathew 18:15-17- "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
(If the Church is invisible, where does one go to fulfill this scripture passage?) This also raises some other questions, what Church? It’s obvious through scripture that there is one church that is visible and has the fullness of the truth. There are so many different churches that have different beliefs on many issues.
If there is no visible church, then who decides what is and what is not the truth? Who decides what is good and bad doctrines? Who decides what is moral and not moral? Who speaks of the church in 1 Timothy 3:15 that is the pillar and bulwark of truth? Who speaks for the church? How does the church function as the pillar and foundation of truth? This day in age its as if we have thousands upon thousands of church pastors who each act as a pope of their flock, deciding what’s right for his flock and what is good or bad doctrine for his flock. What makes more sense, that God would establish one Church or thousands of different types of churches? Why are there 25,000 different denominations of Protestantism? It’s because they all believe something different.
With each new so-called correct interpretation of scripture that one comes up with, a new denomination forms. On average 5 new denominations form worldwide each week. Sometimes these differences are small, and other times they are large. They each believe at least one thing differently from other denominations. So if you define the church and say that it is an invisible church that is made up of a few entities, including believers of all denominations. Believing that we are all the true church no matter how different doctrines are means; that doctrines don’t matter, or it’s ok to have conflicting or contradicting doctrines. For Example:
Baptist- believes that baptizing babies is absolutely unacceptable.
Presbyterian- believes that it is ok to baptize babies, but it’s merely symbolic.
Episcopalian- believes in baptizing babies and that infant baptism washes away original sin.
Those were just some examples; there is a plethora of differences in doctrines between different denominations. If they are all the true church and each accepts Jesus as their personal lord and savior, then doctrine must not matter. What does the bible say about doctrine? Is doctrine important?
1 Timothy 1:3- remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach different doctrine.
(Doctrine looks pretty important here)
1 Timothy 4:1- Now the spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.
(You can depart from the faith, from believing in the WRONG Doctrines)
Ephesians 4:14- so that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine
(Paul's talking about those who want to be bishop in this letter to Titus)
Titus 1:9- He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Doctrines and dogmas are nothing more than the truths revealed to us by Jesus Christ. They are almost like lamppost that lights the path to Jesus Christ. It should be made apparent that doctrines are essentially important. Some Protestants will say that they know there are differences from their denomination and another. They will then say things like, well we agree on essential doctrines, but there are some non-essential doctrines in which we differ. Well that sounds good at first, but lets examine that closely. They agree on the essentials and disagree on the non-essentials, but NOWHERE in the bible does it say that about doctrines, or where is the table in which it shows me where which doctrines are essential and which ones are non-essential. Does the bible give us a clue to whether there are essential or non-essential doctrines?
Mathew 4:4- Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
(Doctrines are words from God. I don’t see some words are essential and some are not)
Mathew 5:18-19- I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(Seems like every part of the law/ doctrine is important. Do you still think that we can divide doctrines into essential or non-essential doctrines?)
Malachi 3:6- I the LORD do not change.
Hebrews 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
If the Lord does not change, then there can’t be any conflicting doctrines. If the apostles were guided in all truth (John 14:26), then there can’t be contradictions in doctrine. If the Holy Spirit brought and led them to remember all things (John 16:13), then there can’t be conflict in doctrine. Lets go back to a verse from earlier.
John 8:32- You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
(If there is conflicting and contradicting doctrine, how can one know the truth?) If you don’t know the truth, how can you be set free?
Scripture shows us that Jesus established one and only one Church. Scripture further shows us that Church can’t be abstract or invisible. It is a visible church. Scripture also shows us that it cannot be a church where doctrine is irrelevant, or have conflicting and contradicting doctrines exist side by side. It must be a concrete, visible and tangible church. A church which like its founder has both body and soul. It must be a church that holds to the doctrines of Christ that were taught to the apostles that apostles taught to their successors. Since we have seen that Jesus only established one church and that that church is a visible church with consistent doctrine. So that only leaves the third proposition.
3.) Jesus established one church, this church is a visible church, it’s a church in which doctrine matters, and in which there can be no conflicting doctrine. This church would have to contain the fullness of truth as revealed by God and all the other churches at BEST have partial truth.
(This church Must have the FULLNESS of Truth)
Ephesians 1:22-23- And God placed all things under his feet (Jesus) and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
(The church is the fullness of Jesus Christ). This church has unity in doctrine, unity in faith, unity in morals.
Acts 4:32- All the believers were one in heart and mind
1 Corinthians 1:10- I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Romans 16:17- I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the doctrines you have learned. Keep away from them.
Philippians 1:27- whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
(It didn’t say for the faiths of the gospel, but THE FAITH of the gospel)
John 17:22-23- I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me?
(Jesus prays that we his followers will be perfectly one, just as Jesus and the Father are one.)
Do you think that Jesus and the Father disagree on Doctrine? NO, they agree on doctrine, just as we are supposed to agree on doctrine. So now looking back at the beginning of this blog, remember that we are looking for the truth.
This church that holds the fullness of truth, shouldn’t this church be able to trace its church leaders back to Jesus? Doesn’t it make sense that this church was founded by Jesus Christ? Then wouldn’t this church need to be 2,000 years old? This church would have to claim to be infallible on moral issues and faith. This church would have the authority to teach the fullness of truth, meaning that it wouldn’t have pastors who choose what to and what not to believe in; or what doctrines to believe and not to believe in. Wouldn’t this church need to be founded by Jesus and not by a man or a group of men? If this isn’t your church, then I think you have a lot of thinking and praying to do.
So again, where do we go for truth, where can we find the truth that will make us free? The Church, the ONE visible, doctrinally consistent, 2,000 year old church which claims to be the one true church that was founded by Jesus Christ. If your church or denomination doesn’t claim all of these things for itself, then I encourage you to take a hard long prayerful look at my church. Because my church claims all these things and more; and upon close examination, my church can back up all the claims that it makes. Think about it, One Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. God Bless whoever reads this!
This blog was heavily inspired by http://www.biblechristiansociety.com
