The one true church of God
Adapted from a teaching by Paul Lucas
The true Church of God is defined in Scripture as a congregation of believers set apart for God's purposes through their faith in Jesus Christ. This Church transcends denominational labels or physical gatherings and is grounded in God's eternal plan, as stated in 2 Timothy 1:9: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
God's calling is described as holy and purposeful, and those who are part of His Church are sanctified in Jesus Christ. As mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:2, the Church consists of "them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." This sanctification implies that believers are set apart to walk in God's will, fulfilling the divine purpose established before the foundation of the world.
While there are many churches and religious groups globally, not all are part of the true Church of God as described in Scripture. Being part of the true Church requires being in Christ and living according to God's holy calling. Simply joining a physical church does not guarantee membership in this spiritual body. As Romans 8:1 reminds us, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Believers who are in Christ are called to understand and fulfill this divine purpose. Ephesians 4:1 exhorts us, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." It is the duty of every believer to align their lives with God's plan, striving to live in obedience to His calling while growing in their faith and understanding. Only through such a commitment can one truly walk in accordance with the holy calling God has extended to His Church.
Baptised into Christ
In Romans 6:3, the Apostle Paul writes, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" This raises the question: How do we get into Christ? Paul clearly teaches that entry into Christ occurs through baptism, but it is essential to understand the nature of this baptism. Many mistakenly associate baptism solely with water, yet scripture emphasizes a deeper spiritual meaning. As 1 Corinthians 12:13 declares, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." This baptism by the Spirit unites believers into the body of Christ, not through water but through the work of the Holy Spirit.
It is a great deception to equate baptism in Christ exclusively with water baptism. Many churches teach that joining the church requires being sprinkled or immersed in water, leading countless individuals to believe that such rituals alone secure their salvation. However, as Romans 8:9 warns, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." A person may undergo water baptism and yet remain outside of Christ if they do not possess the Spirit of God. True baptism into Christ is accomplished by the Holy Spirit, uniting believers into His body, regardless of their background, whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free.
In Ephesians 4:4-5, Paul further emphasizes the unity in Christ: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism." This "one baptism" is the baptism of the Spirit, which brings believers into unity with Christ and His Church and truly transforms and incorporates individuals into the body of Christ.
Ultimately, the true Church is the body of Christ, formed through the Spirit’s work. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:12, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." This spiritual unity, not achieved through water baptism but by the Spirit, is the foundation of belonging to the true Church of God. Salvation and membership in Christ’s body come only through the Spirit’s baptism, a truth that every believer must understand and embrace.
Becoming a member of the true church of God
The topic of baptism often stirs debate, yet Scripture presents a clear distinction between water baptism and the spiritual baptism that unites believers with Christ. As Paul teaches in Galatians 3:2, "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" This rhetorical question emphasizes that receiving the Spirit occurs not through human efforts, rituals, or ordinances, but through the hearing of faith.
Many people prefer water baptism because it is tangible and visible—a physical act they can witness and experience. However, spiritual baptism is a work of the Holy Spirit, often misunderstood by those focused on external practices. True baptism into Christ occurs through faith, as explained in Galatians 3:26-27: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." This passage links faith in Christ to spiritual baptism, highlighting that it is faith, not physical acts, that unites believers with Christ.
The process is further clarified in Ephesians 1:13: "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." Upon hearing and believing the gospel, the Spirit of God baptizes believers into Jesus Christ and seals them, making them part of His body. This spiritual baptism is the means by which believers are incorporated into Christ and marked as His own.
The spiritual nature of this baptism cannot be replaced or replicated by water. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that transforms and secures believers in Christ, fulfilling God's promise. As believers, it is essential to understand the profound significance of this spiritual baptism and trust in the sufficiency of faith and the work of the Spirit, rather than relying on external rituals for assurance of salvation.
Summary
The Church of God is described in scripture as a people purchased by the blood of Christ. As Acts 20:28 states, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." These individuals are called out by the gospel, baptized by the Spirit into Christ through faith, and sealed by God as His own. According to Ephesians 1:13-14, "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, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession."
This Church is a sanctified people set apart for God's purpose. As 2 Timothy 1:9 affirms, "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." The Church of God was purposed in Jesus Christ long before creation, and those who are called into it have a holy calling to fulfill.
This Church is not an organization or denomination but a spiritual body, a people united in Christ and sealed until the day of redemption. It is through the work of the Spirit and faith in the gospel that believers are brought into this body, baptized into Christ, and given the responsibility to fulfill the purpose God has ordained for them. This eternal purpose is centered on Christ and reveals the richness of God's plan, which He purposed in Himself before the foundation of the world.
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