All Churches Are Of Christ Or Only One True Church?

HOW MANY CHURCH DID CHRIST ESTABLISH?

IF THERE IS a time when people are truly confused about religion, it is indeed our time. Today there are thousands of churches scattered throughout the world. And what makes it more confusing is that each one claims that they are the true Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ. This makes many people conclude that all churches are of Christ because all profess belief for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is it true that all churches belong to Christ? How many Church did the Lord Jesus Christ establish? The verse Matthew 16:18 proves not only that the Lord Jesus established His Church, but also that He established only one Church:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus said “I will build My CURCH.” He did not said “I will build My churches.” Hence, there is only one true Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles of the Lord Jesus also testified that there is only one true Church:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:4-5 NKJV)

Apostle Paul said, “There is one body.” He Himself explained what He meant when He said “There is only one body.” In other writings of Apostle Paul he explained that the “Church” is the “body of Christ”:

 “And He is the head of the body, the church...” (Colossians 1:18 NKJV)

Thus, when Apostle Paul said “There is only one body,” he meant “there is only one Church” having “one hope, one faith and one baptism.” So, if there is only one true Church the Lord Jesus Christ established, why there are thousands of churches existing today? Apostle Paul also answered this question:

“For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.  Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.” (Romans 10:2-3 NIV)

Apostle Paul said. “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God.” However, Apostle Paul also testified that, “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” Thus, there is only one true Church the Lord Jesus Christ established but because men did not submitted to God’s righteousness, they “sought to establish their own.”

Hence, not all churches are of Christ, but there is only one true Church. Which is the one true Church, the Church the Lord Jesus Christ established? Let us read again Matthew 16:18:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will build My church.” This Church is of Christ. He is the founder and owner of this Church. Thus, this Church is called after the name of the founder and owner. Why it is important that the Church is called in the name of Christ? Acts 4:12 reads

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Thus, the Bible explicitly concluded, “there is no salvation in any other.” Being called after the name of Christ is only one of the many ways the Bible teaches on how the Church can be identified. But, if a church is not called in the name of Christ, the Bible explicitly said, “there is no salvation in any other.” How the one true Church called in the name of Christ? I Corinthians 12:12 reads:

 

 “For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.” (I Cor. 12:12, Weymouth)

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