Bible Question: I have been told that the Church of Christ is the only true Church. How do you Know if you are attending the right Church as far as denomination? Please provide text. |
Bible Answer: Part 2: Hi again, (continued) However, not all Christians were corrupted. Jesus himself warned of this very apostasy, but promised that true religion would survive right to the end. (Matthew 13:18-30) How, then, can we locate it today? Jesus gave a rule for recognizing true religion. He said: "Every good tree produces fine fruit." Bad fruitage would identify the false religion, and good fruits would reveal the true.-Matthew 7:15-20. What is the fruitage that the true religion will bring forth? The accompanying box contains a list of some such fruits, as told to us in the Bible. If you compare this list with all the religions you are acquainted with, we are sure you will quickly recognize which does and which does not have the truth. However, you will need to examine the list carefully. For example, you will note that one mark of true religion is 'having genuine love.' Now, most religions say they have such love. But if cheating in business, immorality, or selfishness are widespread among the members of a religion, do they really love one another? And if they are prepared to kill one another in revolutions or wars, how genuine is their love? Similarly, another mark is that "all their beliefs are based on the Bible." Of course, members of most religions in Christendom think that theirs is. But do you know a religion where all members have taken the trouble to open their Bibles to see if this is true of their beliefs? It is, indeed, worth the effort to seek for the true religion. Man instinctively feels the need of a better life than he now enjoys. The true religion can point us toward that life. We naturally ask such questions as these: "Why are we here?" "What is the purpose of life?" True religion can put us in touch with the Source of all life, Jehovah God, who will answer those questions for us. Moreover, sometimes all of us desperately need guidance in solving the problems we face from day to day. True religion can give us that guidance. Yes, there is a true religion, and we can find it. Our doing so will bring eternal benefits, for the Bible promises us: "As for those seeking Jehovah, they will not lack anything good."-Psalm 34:10. IDENTIFYING MARKS OF TRUE RELIGION 1) Those who practice it have genuine love among themselves.-John 13:35. 2) All their beliefs are based on the Bible.-John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. 3) They pray for God to sanctify his name as Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:9.-Psalm 83:18. 4) They proclaim God's kingdom in all the earth.-Matthew 24:14. 5) They keep separate from the world's affairs.-James 1:27; John 17:14. 6) They put God's kingdom and righteousness first in life.-Matthew 6:33. 7) They cultivate the fruitage of God's spirit.-Galatians 5:22, 23. 8) They obey all human laws not contrary to God's law.-Romans 13:1-7. Truthfinder |