The one true church?
Why do some churches/denominations make the claim that they are the “one true church,” that all other churches/denominations are false, and that anyone who attends any other church/denomination is unsaved? Is such a claim of “exclusive salvation” the mark of a cult, or just tragic deception?
22 Comments »
1. Comment by Roland C.
One church that comes to mind that has been making this bogus claim is the Catholic Church. they use the false assumption the since catholic means “universal” that they are they “universal church”. What they fail to understand is that, yes, everyone who confesses Christ as Savior is part of the catholic/universal church, however, the Catholic religion is not the universal church. Catholicism is not far from cult teaching. IE, salvation by works, idol worship, papal infallibility, etc. The Catholic church then goes on to say that anyone who questions these practices is deemed a heretic. I am a pastor who was a former Catholic now saved by the grace of Christ.
2. Comment by John Mark Harris
It’s just ignorance of the Scriptures and the language with which it was written
3. Comment by devon
There is only one ekklesia. The word church is legally not in the bible except for one place in the plural in the book of acts which refers to pagan temples.
Only ONE body of Christ. All the divisions are what the word condemned.’Let there be no divisions among you’. All who have been ‘born from above’[born again], make up this body. I’ll take one more fighty words step. There is only ONE HEAD over the body…Jesus.
All ‘pastors’, ‘reverands’, etc., etc. are not scriptural. ‘Lord it not OVER My heritage’. One body, ONE HEAD. When will the body recognize and demand this truth?
4. Comment by Hank McClenning
As hard as the self-deceptive deominations try they can not find any
person or scripture that is the grounds for any denomination in the
Word of God. As a minister of the Word there is are no grounds for
division and denominationalism, that is the work of Satan. I claim
only to be a Bible Christian and not assodiated with any denomination.
Good answers so far. Hank
5. Comment by Debbie
I would have to agree with Hank’s statement. As far as I have studied and seen, most denonminations are based on some sort of cultic practice or legalism. Nobody can claim who is saved and who is not. The work of condemnation is God’s alone. Judging each others actions is condoned among Christians (not unbeliever’s actions) but judging the brethren’s motives is not condoned.
I believe in the body of Christ, but that there are local church ministries documented in Scripture and that they are necessary for the “edification of the saints.” Although I believe that Christ is the head of every church body, Scripture clearly states there are those who are called to pastor and teach and that there are requirements for these men in 1TIM 3 and TITUS 1. I do believe there is authority in the church body just as in any military unit engaged in warfare; pastor with sheep, husbands with wives, parents with children. “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.” (HEB 13:7)
MARANATHA
6. Comment by 'Guerite ~ BoldLion
There isn’t going to be a perfect church on this earth until we meet Jesus at His Feet. That will be a True Church.
Hungry to eat His Word,
‘Guerite ~ BoldLion
7. Comment by matthew, mark, luke or john?
The catholic garbage is essential to Gods end motive. All system crucifixions of Christians rely on two things, muslims and catholics rising up with the lie to declare Christians insane and not of Faith!
There is nothing like catholism for anyone to recover from and find their way back to the God that is. It is worse than aethism!
We are way too tolerant when we say it is that they mislead or have been decieved by such Churches – it is the outright nature of a cult!
WE must hate religions and love our Father through Jesus Christ our Saviour and learn who our Father is, not what some preacher on a pulpit tells us who our Father is and how we get to know him! God has no denomination, this was the downfall and lesson learned from where our salvation comes from in the first place – BEFORE ABRAHAM – I AM!
The one True Church is the Body of our Brother, the perfect Bridegroom, the perfect architect, who build all rooms for us to roam in and enter into to know our Father in full. No man or no religion can surplant that – and religions seek to close our Fathers open doors.
I have a Church i am at home in now – the closest to scripture i can find and filled with congregation with indwelling spirit, but they know and i know, i am never that at home with them i will ever bear their denominational name, but our Family, they most Truly are – and i love them all the more for that.
There are many Churches i would never attend again, but its not the Church we attend that counts, but what we take in with us and leave with that counts! If we walk in off and with the spirit, that is what we will walk out with again, if we walk in without that, we are vulnerable pray to becoming yet another lost to a cult – and i have been lost to many a cult in my time from the beginning, and dragged many more out of them (by power of spirit not my own steam) and we cant knock this question down to denomination at all!
We are all born into a cult! There is only ONE cult. That cult comes with a myriad of labels, the family of sin, the false religions, religion itself, aethism, agnostic, satanism, you name it, they are all one and the same and the devil uses these confusing labels so neatly to fool the myriads into thinking they have so many choices bar God and Christianity itself.
Anything and everthing that disputes we are not saved by Salvation alone, through Christ IS a cult! Religion cannot save us, only Christ as God the Father spells out so clearly in the only book that can save our lives! The Word was first! Our Brother the Word that takes us home to our Father – no middle man required! All middlemen to be excluded!
Let us remember though that God intentionally blinds these people – and he does so, so the Truth shall always win out and none of his own will be shamed or suffer more than Christ – and he applies that, succinctly!
8. Comment by Anonymous
I am Catholic and the Lord personsally lead me to my faith. But I love all of my sisters & brothers of faith and I care not to judge or divide. satan wants seperation among those that believe, it weakens the body of Christ. I look for those things we have in common. My journey has had very trying moments. I was Jewish, became Born Again and that isn’t where I suffered my persecution, it is when I became Catholic, that I have suffered. But that is what the Lord showed me and that is what I have chosen to obey. I am back home and the Lord is here with me as He is with you where ever you find HIM. God Bless and may his mercy and compassion be a guide to all of your ways.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen.
9. Comment by Mimi
Comment #8 was written by me (Mimi), I did not realize my name was not entered.
10. Comment by Mimi
Gareth & Rachael,
Thank you for your examples a few Blogs Back. I really was honored to have had an opportunity to of learned from the both of you. Gareth, I hope you make sure to comment here whenever you can, you showed me how to calmly address others with compassion and how to do it with wonderful usage of the English Language. I want to be like you. Rachael, I look forward to the times you can write.
Ceseeley, I miss you!
Thanks to all of you.
11. Comment by Anonymous
Mimi I personally do not agree with Catholic theology but I know that many, many, many Catholics are truly saved. I know many a Catholic person who is truly in love with the Lord and who know His grace. Being Catholic does not make one a Christian, just like being in church does not make one a Christian. In the same sense, being Protestant does not make one a Christian, either. Being saved by the Grace of God and living wholely for Christ is what makes one a Christian. And you are one of the most godly Christians that I know. I’m blessed to have you in my life.
Leslie G
12. Comment by Leslie G
By the way, nice to see you back Shona, aka M, M, L, or J. Hope things are going well for you 
13. Comment by ron
I think the following describes exactly what is needed by myself or any other person searching for the true
church. The true Church holds to the core beliefs of Christianity without subtracting or adding to them. Christ is the eternal God come in the flesh, there is one God and 3 distinct identities (persons) who exist simultaneously as the One God. The virgin conception, the sinfulness of man and the need of a savior, the new birth, the Gospel which is the death burial and physical resurrection, the 2nd coming, baptism, eternal mediator and priesthood of Christ, the priesthood of all believers, the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture, judgment and rewards to the believers. These are the essentials that are clarified in the Scriptures.
If the Church one attends does not hold to these essential beliefs, they are not Christ’s Church no matter what name they have on their outside or on paper. This is not my opinion, but the Bibles explanation what the apostles taught through the Gospels, the book of Acts, and in the Epistles.
That’s it for me, when it comes to a true Church. Those who claim you must join their group or Church to be right with God, only prove they do not understand what the word Church or body of Christ means. It is not exclusive but inclusive, as it is found in the heart of all those who have accepted the true Jesus, and have come to God the way He has provided (through His son on the cross), and hold to the essentials of the faith. Whether one is Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Charismatic, or Pentecostal, etc. The Church transcends denominational barriers, it exists within denominations, as well as outside of them. This is the Universal Church that has continued from the beginning of Pentecost. While denominations may have differences on peripheral issues, they do hold to the core beliefs that make them all part of the body of Christ, the Chruch. Ron
14. Comment by matthew, mark, luke or john?
Mimi,
What a wonderful story of your conversion to Christianity! Please take another read of my post. It is saying nothing against ‘catholics’ but speaks out against ‘catholism’ – there is a big difference between the two:-)
I certainly love catholics like others, and id hope so too, my partner and 3 of my children are catholics:-) It was my children helped to wake me up on this count. I was not catholic, but it was the Church id attended when younger for some time, and almost became catholic. Then my children at 4, and 6 years old started constantly coming home from, school complaining about what they were being told and questioning me and saying to me, but mum, all they say is opposite of scripture. The mouthes of babes, knowing Truth! They were right – and they were voicing heavily they did not want to be part of this brand of ‘faith’ or practising it.
Over several years, I had to root out of myself how deeply these false beliefs were instilled in me. Every bit of catholism that had entered into me was keeping me separated from knowing God and Christianity. I’m glad my children spoke out with rebuke and opened my eyes. I also repented for allowing my children to be initially, made vulnerable to false teachings, and myself for having believed much of it too.
God Bless & Take Care
15. Comment by Douglas Summers
Hi,
Before the Church was formed, Christ had already warned us that there would be many wolves….in sheep’s clothing among us. So there is nothing new about a mixed multitude in the Church.
I will say this with assurance of the Scripture’s…..there will be no Catholic’s, Baptist, LDS, SDA’s or any other denominational priders in Heaven. Only the body of Christ will stand!
Ever since God has had a people of His own upon this earth, they have been sorely troubled by the presence of those who professed to be….but were not, of them. Beginning at the very gate of Eden, this state of things will continue until, “the Son of man shall send forth His angles, and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity……Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father”. (Matt.13:41-43)
Matthew Chapter 13 is not about the growth of the Church and the Gospel….but it is about the corruption that enters the Church as it grows wild and is puffed up….Readers understand!
It is not us who have found God…It is God who has found us, We were lost….Not God. He has been looking and calling His lost for a long time…some people just will not listen or hearken to His calling.
In Christ
Doug
16. Comment by matthew, mark, luke or john?
Amen Doug!
17. Comment by Alex Hernandez
My Church believes that all that follow the will of God are tru
18. Comment by matthew, mark, luke or john?
Hi Alex,
What is Gods Will?
19. Comment by Debbie
Doctrine of the Will of God
1. There are three types; directive will: the sovereign choice of God. God’s plan for me. The permissive will: man’s negative volition is allowed to operate negative to the directive will. God’s justice demands that God discipline a believer in this course. The overruling will: this supercedes the directive and persmissive will. He will frustrate Satan to make things work for His purposes. (ROM 8:28)
Directive Will of God; 2COR 6:14; 1JOHN 3:23; EPH 5:17-18;
a. Guidance of Will through ACTS 11:1-16
1. ACTS 11:1-5: prayer [see HEB 4:16]
2. ACTS 11:6: mentality, our focus on the Lord
3. ACTS 11:7-10: word of God
4. ACTS 11:11: through circumstances
5. ACTS 11:12: through the Holy Spirit
6. ACTS 11:13-15: through our frame of reference
7. ACTS 11:16: through memory of Scripture
Elements of Divine Will
a. Operational element: what does God want me to do? Be filled with the Spirit and build maturity in my soul
b. Viewpoint element in relation to the will of God: What does God want me to think? Divine viewpoint of Bible doctrine
c. Geographical element: Where does God want me to go? There is a specific area on the earth in which God wants me to grow spiritually
It is God’s will for the believer that his/her natural human viewpoint be replaced by God’s divine viewpoint
a. The knowledge of the recorded Will of God. In order to live in the perfect Will of God, we must know what that is. (ROM 12:2)
b. It is in the directive Will of God that every human being should come into the possession of eternal life. (2PET 3:9; 1JOHN 2:17; 3:23)
c. It is in the directive Will of God that all believers are to be sanctified. (1THESS 4:3)
d. It is in the directive Will of God that every Christian should be filled with the Holy Spirit, under the control of the Spirit. (EPH 5:18)
e. Christians should give thanks. (1THESS 5:18; ROM 8:28)
f. Believers should suffer for well-doing only. (1PET 3:17; 4:19)
g. Christians should trust in the Lord (PROV 3:5-6)
h. All believers should be productive of divine good works (1PET 2:15)
i. Quality of yieldedness (ROM 6:13; 12:1)
j. Growth in spiritual maturity. (2PET 3:18
MARANATHA
20. Comment by matthew, mark, luke or john?
Oh, i just used peter 3.18 myself today as it happens debbie helping another, but i wasnt asking for a vacant scripture quote session devoid of spirit and filled with religiosity as ever, but asking the poster, Alex, what they felt was God’s will. I hope they still respond. God Bless.
21. Comment by Debbie
Whoa! Since when is God’s Scripture vacant and devoid of Spirit? These are all examples in Scripture of God’s Will. There is absolutely nothing edifying in your post. I do not profess allegience to any religion but the Word of God, so your assessment of my relationship to the creator and savior is incorrect. I “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Obviously you have a personal problem with me and it is evident from your post. Better get over it because we are going to spend an eternity together. Alex, you go ahead and answer the lady…sorry God’s Word was so offensive to you. I was recently warned by a bulletin board for posting HOSEA 4:6, so it will take more than your opinion to stop me. God bless? Yes, I do have spiritual prosperity and I am
thankful for it.
MARANATHA
22. Comment by windyblue
Oh, has this gone on for years. The mine church is better than your church. What your church teaches is wrong and mine is right.
It sounds like a broken record. As long as the Church is teaching the word of God according to The Lords word, and teaches about God, Jesus, and the Holy spirit. The way to heaven is by accepting Jesus as Lord and savior its right. Yes there are cults, in the world, and its sad.
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