Introduction

It may come as a shock to learn that, despite multiple religions and Christian denominations to choose from, there is, in fact, only one single church in this age of grace to whom its members are granted forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven. 

As church membership really is that important, determining whether we spend eternity in heaven or in the torments of hell, then making sure we are in the right church becomes a serious matter; not something to be left to chance or luck.  The question is too important to simply assume that just because church has evolved to what we see in mainstream Christianity, it must be correct in the eyes of God. 

Many people place their trust in the so-called ‘Church fathers’, and in the scholarly efforts of theologians who advocate for and against various ecclesiastical structures and traditions that define today’s so-called established church. But that’s a flawed strategy, which simply won’t suffice. The question is too important to trust the word of any man, or even the collective traditions handed down over centuries.

God has given us his word, so this is where we must look for the gospel of our salvation, to gain confidence and be fully persuaded from the only true source of authority, that we are in the right church, and therefore our eternal future is secure.

Rightly dividing the church

The bible speaks of different churches, national, local, and spiritual.  It describes commands, rituals and practices, many of which are incorporated, in one form or another, across Christian denominations today.  So, what is wrong with adopting these biblical doctrines and commands into Christian belief and practice today?

By failing to apply God’s instruction for bible study, rightly dividing the word of truth, Christian churches wrongly incorporate governance and practices that were not given by God for his church in this age of grace. They incorporate and teach instruction which God gave for another people and another time, mainly to Israel. 

God’s instruction for study of the Bible, is as follows:

• 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The consequences of not rightly dividing the word of truth are very serious indeed, because it results in teaching whereby the simple gospel of our salvation is hid to them that are lost.

• 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This confusion is orchestrated by Satan, the god of this world, who uses his ministers of righteousness to blind people to the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  (15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Teaching people to believe that a right standing with God requires their repentance, confession, or performance of ritual, is to blind them from the simplicity that is in Christ through the gospel of our salvation. It creates what Paul calls “another gospel which is not another”, because it can’t save anyone.

The effectiveness of Satanic deception

Such beguiling deception is so Satanically subtle, that it quickly became the backbone of organized Christian religion, which has persisted for generations until this day.  So powerful is the deception, that to deviate from its teaching is considered heresy and worthy of rebuke and persecution.

Thank God that we have his word, where we are warned about the source of this corrupting influence on the simplicity of the truth of the gospel of Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 KJV  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

For those under the influence of much of mainstream Christianity, the simple gospel of Christ is an offence to them, because they’ve been taught contrary doctrine.  Their minds are typically filled with opposing questions like: 

• Hath God really said that Christ died for ALL your sins, even those committed after being saved?
• If you repent sincerely, and genuinely try not to sin, surely you will not die? 
• Did not God say that the remedy for sin was to confess and ask for forgiveness?  (After all, he is faithful and just to forgive).
• I gave my heart and life to Jesus, surely he’s happy with that?
• This gospel is far too simple, just like the person preaching it.  I’d rather trust the wisdom of the ‘great men of God’.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Traditional church buildings are often very impressive, decked with silver, gold and stained-glass windows; the music is uplifting and the preaching tickles the ear.  However, just like Eve who was lured and enticed by Satan’s deception, the congregants are lead to believe lies, in favour of the word of God. 

As so it has been with false religion since the beginning of mankind. Cain, through unbelief, brought his own offering to God, ignoring what God required, but instead, bringing the work of his own hands. His brother Able was accepted by God because he had faith in the atoning efficacy of the blood of the sacrificed lamb. 

Most churchgoers today don’t trust in the simplicity of the gospel of Christ and the efficacy of his shed blood as payment for all sins. They add to it with the work of their own hands, not required by God, and they think and sing about how satisfied he will be with their worship.  This is the devastating impact of subtle, yet beguiling, deception!!

The gospel of Christ and church membership

We could look into the bible to find the means of salvation for Israel as “the church in the wilderness”, or the little flock of Israel, “the church which was at Jerusalem”, but that would be a study in itself.  This study focuses on the gospel of our salvation today, in this age of grace.

Faith is believing what God has said. Salvation today is entirely by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, in his death, burial and resurrection as payment for sin. No works of the law are required.  In fact, they are excluded.  Yet in times past, faith in God’s word required the keeping of commands and ordinances.

Rightly dividing the word of truth doesn’t have difficulty in accepting what God has written, to whom he has written it.  There is no need to merge the simplicity of the truth of the gospel of Christ, with elements of the law for righteousness.  However, this is exactly what denominational Christianity does; yet to do so creates another gospel, which is not another, because it differs from the one which Christ revealed to Paul for this dispensation of grace. 

• Galatians 1:8-9 KJV  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

It is only by belief in the gospel of Christ, which he revealed directly to the apostle Paul, that man can be saved today. Christ died for our sins, he was buried and raised again the third day, for our justification. That’s it, simply believe it to be true, stand in that truth, lay hold of it and commit your eternal future to Christ, knowing that what he has promised he is also able to perform; and he will raise us up at that last day because we placed our trust in him, having heard and believed the gospel of our salvation.

The church which is Christ’s body

This brings us back to the question of which church should we join, how do you join, and why it is that only members of that church will gain eternal life in heaven, versus eternal torment in hell?

Once again, by rightly dividing the word of truth, confusion is replaced by clarity, as our eyes are opened to accept the truth of what God has written, to whom he has written it.  For example, the bible describes multiple baptisms, yet by the time we get to the book of Ephesians, written to gentiles who had no association with Israel, God says there is just one baptism.

• Ephesians 4:4-5 KJV  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

For the one body described in these verses, the same Apostle Paul states that there is only one baptism.  It is performed by the holy Spirit, who seals each believer into Christ, the moment that they heard and believed the gospel of our salvation.

• Ephesians 1:12-13 KJV  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  (13)  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

There is only one faith, one baptism, and one holy Spirit.  The work of the holy Spirit in sealing all gospel believers into Christ, is synonymous with the baptism in which he places them into the body of Christ. 

• 1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Upon trusting Christ, having heard that he died for our sins, we are baptised by the holy Spirit into one body.  That body is the church, which is Christ’s body, of which he is the head.

• Colossians 1:18 KJV  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

That church, the body of Christ, is the only church which is accepted by God in this age of grace.  It is by being in Christ, the beloved Son of God, that we are accepted with God.  And that is where our redemption and forgiveness of sins comes from; it is through his shed blood as payment for sins, according to the riches of his grace.

• Ephesians 1:6-7 KJV  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  (7)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The church has many members

While all those who have heard and believed the gospel of Christ are baptised by his holy Spirit into one body, that one body has many members.

• 1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Just as our own physical body has many members, such the head, eye, hand, or foot, each needing each other and working together for the benefit of the whole body, so too with the body of Christ.

• 1 Corinthians 12:18-21 KJV  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (19)  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  (20)  But now are they many members, yet but one body.  (21)  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

There should be no separate denominations or schisms in the body of Christ, as each member is part of the same body, and should have care one for another.  They should all be of the same mind and same judgment, nourished up in the word of God and speaking the same thing, as Christ revealed to Paul. 

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  

It is the subject of other studies, to look at how God uses members of the body of Christ to edify one another in love, as we are built up in him, to perform the work that he has called us to. The question at hand here is, to which church should I belong, and how can I ensure I meet the requirements for membership?

Membership requirements for the one true church

What we’ve seen so far, is that there is only one church today whose members are assured of eternal life.  This church is not a denomination, or a physical building. It is the church, the body of Christ, whose membership is not the result of signing some register or committing to support with attendance. 

The true church today is one into which each member is spiritually baptised, not with water but by the holy Spirit of God. Their membership begins from the moment they placed their trust in Christ, having heard and believed the gospel of our salvation, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised again the third day. 

It is by God’s grace alone, through faith in the shed blood of Christ as complete payment for our sins, that we are made a member of the only church accepted by God, the church which is Christ’s body.

Biblical pattern for local churches

We see from scripture that, as part of the same body of Christ, there were local churches in places like Galatia, Macedonia (Thessalonica, Berea, Philippi), Corinth, Rome, Ephesus, Colossae, and Laodicea. Priscilla and Aquila had a church that met in their house in (Rom 16:4; 1 Cor 16:19); Nymphas had a church in his house in Colossae; Apphia, and Archippus had a church in their house.   

It may be that there were times when local churches came together, such as with the Corinthian churches, when they were come together into one place to eat (1 Cor 11:20). However, we see no biblical example for the denominational mega churches that exist today, in which the doctrine taught is contrary to that which Christ delivered to the apostle Paul, for the church which is Christ’s body. 

Given the importance of the local church, and their relationships with other churches who are also part of the body of Christ, it is important to study carefully to understand how we are to support and love one another, as we seek to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.  This should be the subject of prayer and further study – I suggest, as a starting point, to read the Bible study article “Communion in the body and blood of Christ”; other relevant bible study articles may be found at https://www.ktpppublishing.com/bible-studies/.

The assurance of being in the right church

Above all else, wherever you are, be assured that if you’ve fully placed your trust in Christ, having heard and believed that he died for our sins, was buried and raised again for our justification, the holy Spirit has already baptised you into the church which is Christ’s body; in which you are accepted by God, having received forgiveness of sins, his righteousness, and the gift of eternal life.