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Tract Number 65
Audio download at the bottom of page
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HAVE YOU FOUND THE TRUE CHURCH?
Because people of religious inclinations are divided into different organized bodies, cliques, or clans called churches, it is necessary to give Bible proof of the true way, of the Church of the living God.
It is not heavenly wisdom to try to satisfy honest inquirers by human reasoning, as all such attempts would utterly fail; they must have, and are entitled to the sound truth of God’s Word. “Let every mouth be stopped and the whole world become silent before God.” Let Him who established the true church answer.
Peter said to Jesus, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus responded to this truth by saying, “Upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against IT.” Notice the “IT,” just one church, not a plurality. Thus Christ is the Church foundation, as we also read in Ephesians 2:20, “Built upon the foundation of the apostles, and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” Read the prophecy in Psalms 118:22, and again in Isaiah 28:16. The apostle Paul teaches that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it. (Ephesians 5:25). We also learn from Col. 1:18 that He is head of the Church. Jesus Himself says in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” According to this truth, all members of this church are saved persons—”lively stones, built up a spiritual house.” 1st Peter 2:5. The people of this body are called the “family of God” and include all saved persons in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 3:14, 15. The name of this Church, the family of God, is: The Church of God. It is mentioned nine times in the New Testament: 1st Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:13; 1st Timothy 3:5, etc. The benefits of the Church may be enjoyed by any individual person who accepts Christ, the atonement, is born again and continues to be led by His Spirit. Romans 8:14; John 3:1-3.
Knowledge of the above truth through the Holy Spirit effects unity, while membership in a humanly-organized, religious body causes separation, even though the members claim to be Christians. No Christian desires to see God’s children divided by denominationalism. Division (sectism) is from the evil one, or the enemy of all righteousness. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.” Rom. 16:17. “Wherefore, come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you.” (2nd Corinthians 6:17; also Revelation 18:4).
F. P.
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