Faith & Reason Nexus

The right church is the one that aligns with the teachings and principles established by Jesus Christ and His apostles. Below are key characteristics of the right church according to Scripture:

1. The One That Jesus Built is the Right Church

• Matthew 16:18 – “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
  • The church that Jesus built, beginning in AD 30, is the one that remains true to His teachings.

2. The One Jesus Started is the Right Church

• Acts 2:41-47 – The early church that Jesus established in the book of Acts is the model for all Christian congregations.
  • The church started on the Day of Pentecost is the one we should follow.

3. The One That Has Jesus as Its Foundation is the Right Church

• 1 Corinthians 3:11 – “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
• Ephesians 2:20 – “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
  • The foundation of the church must be Christ, the cornerstone, and His apostles’ teachings.

4. The One That Jesus Died For is the Right Church

• Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
  • Jesus gave His life for the church, demonstrating the great value of the true church.

5. The One That Jesus Purchased is the Right Church

• Acts 20:28 – “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
  • The church purchased by Jesus’ blood is the true church.

6. The One That Bears His Name is the Right Church

• Romans 16:16 – “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”
• 1 Corinthians 11:16 – “If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.”
  • The church that bears the name of Christ is the true church, not a denomination based on man-made traditions.

7. The One That Worships in Spirit and Truth is the Right Church

• John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
  • Worshiping in spirit and truth, according to God’s will, is essential for the right church.

8. The One That Practices What the Apostles Preached is the Right Church

• 1 Corinthians 11:6 – “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”
• 1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints…”
• 1 Corinthians 16:1 – “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.”
• Colossians 4:16 – “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:27 – “I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:14 – “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”
  • The true church follows the teachings and practices of the apostles as revealed in the New Testament.

9. The One That Has Jesus as Its Head is the Right Church

• Ephesians 5:23 – “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.”
  • The church that recognizes Christ as the head is the right church, under His leadership.

10. The One That Honors God’s Word and Does Not Add or Subtract from It is the Right Church

• Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32 – “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.”
• Proverbs 30:6 – “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.”
• Revelation 22:18-19 – “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
  • The true church will not deviate from the Word of God but will uphold it in its entirety without alteration.

Conclusion:

The right church is one that adheres strictly to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the practices of the apostles, and the principles outlined in the New Testament. It is a church that bears His name, follows His Word, and remains faithful to His commandments. The right church worships in spirit and truth, practices the teachings of the apostles, and recognizes Jesus as its head. Anything outside of these characteristics deviates from the true church established by Christ.