Can A Denomination Or A Religious Body Ever Claim Theirs Is The True Church

Can A Denomination or a Religious Body Ever Claim Theirs is the True Church? by abuGian [Updated: Dec. 29, 2003; May 21, 2007] You see, the true Church is invisible[*] and universal it is not bounded by walls or by geography (Eph. 1:10, 22-23; 5:23, 27, 32; Col. 1:18). For example, a newly regenerated Christian in New York is supernaturally placed by the Holy Spirit in this universal and invisible body of Christ, but it seems that he belongs to, say, Times Square Church, a local congregation there, or shall we say a visible church[**] where he got born again. Meanwhile in another part of the world, in the Philippines somewhere up North, in Labrador Christian Fellowship, in another visible church, another person is born-again, the Holy Spirit immediately enjoin him to that invisible and universal Body of Christ, although to him it seems he belongs to that local congregation or to that visible church. In the spiritual realm this guy in Pangasinan and this guy in New York are brothers in the Lord, united by one Spirit in one invisible and universal Church, since they are one in Spirit they are one in the essential doctrines of the faith and these are: the

Trinity, salvation by grace through faith, etc. There will be at times disagreement in minor doctrines but when they meet in the presence of God these minor differences disappear. Such is the case for the visible church, The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXV, Of the Church, says: The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error [I Cor. 13:12; Rev. ch. 2-3; Matt. 13:24-30, 47]; and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan[Matt. 23:37-39; Rom. 11:18-22]. Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will.[Matt. 16:18; Psa. 45:16-7; 72:17; Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 15:51-52; I Thess. 4:17] Now going back to Times Square Church in New York, it is a big congregation and there are many attendees. Even unregenerates go there, but though they seem to be part of that local congregation in the spiritual realm they are not part of the invisible and universal Body of Christ for, not being a born-again person, they are not made to drink the same Spirit. They are just enlightened perhaps by the Pastor who speaks so well or the praise and worship that is so dynamic.

The point is there are true churches, we know it by the doctrines they uphold and the Spirit they have with them. No single denomination or any religious body can ever claim theirs alone is the true Church, because that is not how it really is in the spiritual realm. Read more click the link. What are the marks of a Bible-based, Spirit-filled, Christ-centered Church?