THE TRUE CHURCH

 

The church, whether local assembly or the universal, is made of the regenerated Christians. It is founded on the truth – Christ Himself Jn 14:6. Thus, the congregation is supposed to be consisted of forgiven sinners who, in turn, are to take the gospel of salvation to sinners outside where they are. The membership is to reflect Christ, the truth: As a custodian of the truth, she must stand for the truth and give out the truth to mankind for the total redemption of man from the kingdom of darkness.

 

If therefore, the church is a reflection of Christ, this must be demonstrated in doctrine, principle and practice based on the Bible and in obeying the command of the Lord Jesus. Today, most churches and church organizations have made their own unscriptural rules and regulations and have not accepted the Bible as the all sufficient rule of faith and discipline for the church.

 

A church that becomes self-centred and cares only for local property and keeps all its offerings for itself, is sure to decline spiritually and cannot be said to be a true church. In the early church, the work of mission was commanded – “Go ye therefore …” Mt 25:19-20.  They poured out their money to meet the demands to evangelise the world. Some even sold their property and gave the money to the Apostles to send out preachers to the ends of the earth – Acts 4:36-37. True love for one another is also an ordinance of being true children of God and coming together, are from a true church.

 

Fundamental to a true church are unfeign love and unity. “Let brotherly love continue” – Heb 13:1. Jesus in His prayer for the church, and underscoring the importance of unity and love. He said “I am praying for them: I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are mine all thine are mine; and thus are thine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou has given me, that they may be one, even as we are one” Jn 17:9-11,26.  “I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou has loved me may be in them, and I in them”.

 

One of the emphases of Paul to the Ephesian Church was that “with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forebearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,” Eph 4:2-3. Not less an admonition to the Philippians Church, he said “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” Phil 1:27.

 

The Bible, must remain the final source of authority in answering all questions. We are today faced with difficult issues on local, denominational, and national levels. The issue of true church is a complex doctrinal problem. But the early church showed us a model and an example to follow.

 

In the early church, it was God who set members in the body as it pleased Him. He gave each member his particular place in the body. It was the Holy Spirit that distributed the spiritual gifts to each one according to His wisdom (1 Cor 12). He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some teachers … for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ – Eph 4:11-12.

 

The church governmental positions are clearly described in Romans 12:4-7, Acts 20:28, Eph 4:8-12. It should be noticed that their authority and responsibility were the products of the gifts and qualifications bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Thus, their ministerial calling or appointment, was divine and did not proceed from the general body of believers by a majority vote or a conference appointment, but it came direct as the Holy Spirit directed them! Such an example, we see in Acts 13:2-5 “As they ministered unto the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said: separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid hands on them,, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed and … preached the gospel …” Not only to preach but also to teach them to observe all things commanded by the Lord – Mt 28:20. The governmental positions and the calling of individuals are pivotal and must be bible-based before a church be can said to be true.

 

What then are the marks of a true church? The Reformation produced two marks – the pure preaching of the word and the proper administration of the sacraments. However, other scholars have identified these as one while discipline is another. The practice of discipline, regeneration and a valid profession of faith are required for a church to be true. Therefore, an assembly is a true church when true believers who have a valid profession of faith gather together around the gospel in pursuit of carrying out their mission in holiness and righteousness. The true church will be one where you and I will be true in doctrine, principle and practice serving the Master faithfully.