The True Church of God

By Andy Byler

May 1, 2024

“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever” (Psalm 125:1).

I would like to write about the true church of God. The Bible defines the church in two different ways. One way is the physical, as we see it. If someone speaks of an Amish Church, we immediately think of all the members of that church and where it is located. Or, if one speaks of the Baptist Church in town, we envision its building and what street it is on. And that’s the same for the Methodists, Catholics, and so on. Being a devout member of one of these physical churches will not make you a child of God.

But the Bible also defines the true church of God. “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,” (this is the key to entering the true church of God. ‘Jesus.’) “called to be saints,” (called to be what we are not) “with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Cor 1:2).

The true church consists only of those who are in Christ by faith. If you really are one of His, you will know it. And if Christ comes to call His church, I’m afraid you will see only a small percentage of the physical going to meet Him in the air. The salt is losing its savor. Few people look forward to meeting the Saviour. The Bible says perfect love casts out fear. Are you truly a member of the Lord’s body, “His” church, or are you just hoping to be?

“And He” (Jesus) “is the head of the body, the church… And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself… And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled…” (Notice that it is Him who reconciled you. It’s not something you do except to believe it.) “If ye continue in the faith,” (Continue believing Christ and his provision. Having faith in his blood, the cross, and resurrection. Pledging allegiance and staying loyal to a particular denomination is not continuing in faith. Many devoted church members do not have faith in Christ and his provision with all their heart, but are lost) “grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” (Col 1:18-23). That is how you stay in the faith!

The true church of God is singular. It is the body of Christ. It consists of many different races of people. They are sprinkled throughout many different denominations. And they are all one in Christ Jesus. But they are few in number. No denominational walls can separate them, for the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts and toward each other. They all have a singular goal of someday living with their Redeemer, and they also have a hunger and calling to give the gospel to the lost while there is yet time, hoping that more will turn to Jesus Christ (repent) and be saved. “…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (baptism into Jesus Christ, that is. Read 1 Cor. 12:13), “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4:4-6).

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Cor 6:17)

“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Cor 10:17).

“…for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).

“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” (Eph 1:13).

“…for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Eph 2:15).

“For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb 10:14).

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles” (or Amish, or Mennonites, or Baptist, or Methodists), “whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13).

Christ is not divided. Read 1 Corinthians 1:12-13.

The point that I am trying to make is this. Just because you are a water-baptized, devout member of a certain denominational church, zealous of good works, this does not make you a member of the true church of God, which is the body of Christ. Don’t get me wrong. All of this is well and good to do. It just won’t get your sins forgiven, nor will it get you into heaven in any way. The only way to know if we are members of the true body of Christ is if His Spirit dwells in us. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

A person who tries to argue this point and cannot get past the “good-works-to-go-to-heaven” doctrine has never honestly compared his good works with the Word of God because he would have forsaken them by now as a means to get right with God. He has never experienced the washing of his sins in the blood of the Lamb of God, once and for all, nor has he experienced the entry of God’s Spirit coming to dwell with his spirit and walking in the Spirit of God. “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom 8:9).

To receive His Spirit and become part of His family, you must seek Him at heart level, just as you are, without first trying to reform yourself. If you seek Christ, you will receive a kind of divine hunger. And don’t give up searching until you know that He knows you and you know Him, and your life is joined with His in a one Spirit union. Then you will “…be found in him not having” (your) “own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Phil 3:9).

Growing in faith is different than the new birth. You can’t grow in faith until you’ve been born again, and you won’t be born again until you believe that what Christ has done for you is enough.

I know that all my stories somehow always turn out to be a gospel message, but it just breaks my heart to see so many caught in the same religious net of trying to “get right with God” that I used to be in. And it is so hard to see the Light while in this net. And the ones who see it know how close it was that the Light had just passed them by without being seen or understood, and they would have been forever lost, which is going to be the fate of so many. So often, I write with a sense of panic, looking out over the vast river of people drowning in their self-made destruction and trying to save themselves. Then someone throws out the life preserver named Jesus, and most refuse to reach out and grab it, thinking that God will be more pleased if they struggle to shore in their own way, and it won’t work. They will drown because on the far side of the river, close to shore, is a powerful undertow called “the righteousness of the law.” No one has ever made it through alive because they were “judged according to their works.”

It is so painful to see someone close to us struggling to “get right with God,” and they really do want the right thing. But if you mention that Jesus is the only way and that He can deliver us from the guilt and power of sin, they will ridicule you and tell you that is not enough. (Please try to imagine yourself saying that in the presence of Jesus.) It is so hard to think of the terrible end many will face if they reject the gift of eternal life provided by Jesus Christ and Him alone.

This is why God will have to wipe away so many of the believers' tears when they get to heaven. It is for all the friends and family that perished. But then, eventually, the former things will be remembered no more, for God’s glory shall be revealed in us. Oh, what a great and wonderful Saviour we have. This is called hope.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph 1:10).

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7).

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.