Very many denominations with differing doctrines describing the state of Christendom 20 years into the 3rd millennium after our Lord Jesus Christ, Christians need to know how to discern the true body of believers. 1 Corinthians 11:18-32 old KJV. Cautioned wolves in sheep’s clothing would come in amongst us, Matthew 7:15, and Acts 20:29 old KJV, we must understand not everyone that calls Jesus Lord will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 7:21 old KJV. Certain men creeping in unawares have done much to exploit Christians financially, and divide believers with confusing doctrines. Isaiah 56:10-12 old KJV. Scripture however, provides twelve clear pointers to Christ’s true Church. If these twelve first principles or precepts are not all manifestly seen to be operating in your Christian fellowship, then it is possible you may be worshipping among the deceived!
1. The Corner Stone of Christian faith
We believe Jesus Christ crucified, and raised from the dead on the third day, is the promised Messiah who came to redeem Israel first, and though not received by His own, (the Jews), this Jesus fulfilled all prophecy concerning Messiah. We believe this Jesus is King of the Jews, King of kings, and Lord of lords, that He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, and that this Jesus, is God the Son, being One with God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:22-36 old KJV.
2. The Word of God
We believe this Jesus is The Word of God that was made flesh, John 1:1-14, that God sacrificed His only begotten Son for the sins of the world, John 3:16, and that this Jesus taught, “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:4. We believe this means the entire Bible is important to our Christian studies, that not a single word may be disregarded, omitted, or added, and this particularly in respect of the early Wycliffe, and the Old King James scripts. Revelation 22:18 and 19.
3. Repentance
We believe the true church teaches the doctrine of repentance from sin as the primary precept for living a true, and victorious Christian life. Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38, and Acts 17:30. We believe we are called to seek first the Kingdom of God in our personal lives, Matthew 6:33, that this embraces a search for the truth with all our heart, 1 Samuel 12:24, and that we are called to live out our lives as obedient servants of the living God. 1 Peter 1:13-16.
4. The Doctrine of Baptisms
We believe the true church teaches the doctrine of both the adult baptism by full immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Matthew 3:16, Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:10, and Acts 8:38 and 39, and the baptism of The Holy Spirit by The Lord Jesus Himself. Matthew 3:11. We believe the baptism in water is a public demonstration that one has decided to repent of one’s sins, and be washed in the blood of Jesus. We believe by accepting the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior, we receive the gift of God’s salvation by grace, and commit ourselves to obey the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:17 We believe the baptism in The Holy Spirit, means to be filled with the Spirit of God, even the Spirit of Truth. 1 John 5:6.
5. Obedience
Our Lord Jesus taught “if a man loves me, he will keep my commandments. John 14:15. We believe all ten commandments are to be obeyed, James 2:10, including the 4th commandment to keep the Sabbath Day Holy. Exodus 20:8-11. We believe the Sabbath Day is the 7th day of the week, that the 6th day of the week is Friday, that we prepare on a Friday to keep the Sabbath day holy, John 19:31,(set apart from all other days in the week), and that we are to rest on The Sabbath Day.
6. This Gospel of the Kingdom of God
We believe our Lord Jesus Christ’s Church is The Body, and Bride of Christ, commissioned by Lord Jesus to preach “This” Gospel of the Kingdom in all the world before the end of the age. Matthew 24:14 and 28:19. We believe we are to take the kingdom, to possess it forever! Daniel 7:18.
7. The millennial reign of Christ
We believe “this” Gospel of the Kingdom of God is the everlasting Gospel, that was, is, and is evermore, Revelation 14:6, that we shall reign with Christ on earth 1000 years, Revelation 5:10, and 20:6, after the end of the age, Matthew 24:29, and before the end of the world, 2 Peter 3:8-13, that we patiently await the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ in the great tribulation, Zechariah 14:4, to then go forth as Christ’s Bride to rule, and reign with Christ in the age of the Kingdom of God on earth. Joel 2:16, Luke 13:32, and 2 Peter 3:8. We believe we occupy till He comes! Luke 19:13.
8. A more sure word of prophecy
We believe true Christians remain in the world, Isaiah 66:22-24 old KJV, and go through the great tribulation, Matthew 24:21-22, even the mightiest earthquake that will ever strike Earth. We believe all other end time teaching is false doctrine. 2 Peter 1:19-21, and 2 Peter 2:1. We believe that all prophecy appears in scripture, Amos 3:7 and 8, and if a man think himself to be a prophet, he will acknowledge scripture as the commandments of God. 1 Corinthians 14:37.
9. Judgment
We believe Christ’s Church to be the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Timothy 3:15, that it is our function on earth to seek the truth with all our heart, to expose evil, speak against corruption, Ephesians 5:13, and that we are to do justice and judgment, Isaiah 56:1, serving Almighty God in spirit, and in truth. John 4:23. We believe it is our Christian duty to execute the judgment written, Psalm 149:9, that it is not man that can or should judge, but that The Word of God judges all men.
10. Charity
We believe we came into the world naked, and that we shall depart this world naked. We own nothing, take nothing when we die, and believe we are to “put on charity as the bond of perfection”, Colossians 3:14, that the primary principle by which we live out our Christian lives, is to love one another. John 13:34.
11. Unity
We believe we are to be of one mind, of one faith, and single minded about all doctrine. Phillipians 1:27 and 2:2, 1 Peter 3:8 and Ephesians 4:4. We accept no doubtful disputations, Romans 14:1, nor any doctrine that cannot be fully upheld or substantiated in scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16. We believe in unity, “for there The Lord commanded the blessing”, Psalm 133, “even life for evermore”.
12. Everlasting life
We believe The Lord Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. John 11:25. We believe we need to eat the body, and drink the blood of The Lord Jesus Christ to have the life of God within us. John 6:48-52, We believe in life hereafter, that when we die, our spirit leaves our earthly body, and returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7. We believe our Lord Jesus spoke the truth when He said, “in my Father’s house are many mansions, and if it were not so, He would have told us. John 14:2. We believe our Lord Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life. John 6:68.
By Lester Oliver Thomas Flock © 2020