One True Church-3 quotes

An individual becomes part of Christ's one true church by joining Christ Himself. The only way for you to become connected to Christ is by recognizing that you have broken God's law, that you are a sinner deserving death and that you need a Saviour (1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20, 6:23). Then you need to accept Christ as your personal Saviour, confess and repent of your sins, and Christ will then cover you with His precious blood, forgive your confessed sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7, 9).

Jesus freely justifies you from all your past sinful life through His precious merits (Romans 3:23-28), clothes you with His own precious robe of righteousness--these blessed garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10), and gives you His grace and strength (Romans 5:1-2; Galatians 5:1). You then can stand before the Father perfect and completely righteous as if you had never sinned at all! You become a son or daughter of God (Romans 8:16; Galatians 3:26), being a child of the light and of the day (1 Thessalonians 5:5), being a peculiar and holy person (1 Peter 2:9)--and thus a part of God's one true tabernacle, temple, church or house (see Revelation 21:3; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 3:6)!

The Bible refers to this amazing miracle of transformation as being "born again" (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23); becoming a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15); a "new lump" (1 Corinthians 5:7); a "new man" (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10); a "new bottle" (Mark 2:21-22; Matthew 9:16-17; Luke 5:36-39). In this justified righteous position, being in a "yoke" together with Christ (Matthew 11:29-30), you have "put on" Christ (Romans 13:14), you are "in" Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1; 1 Peter 5:14), and are "servants to God" and "of Christ" (Romans 6:22; Ephesians 6:6)--being servants "of righteousness" (Romans 6:18-19). As long as you remain in this justified righteous condition being "in" Christ, and do not choose to separate yourself from Him, you remain perfect and complete in Him, being doers of His will (Romans 2:13; James 1:22), and your salvation is assured (1 John 5:11-12). As long as you remain in Christ, you continue to remain part of His one true church.

But if you should choose to separate yourself away from Christ then you are no longer "in" Christ, but are outside of Him. What would cause you to be separated from Christ? Choosing to break God's law of 10 commandments and thereby commiting sin (1 John 3:4). In doing this you instantly are separated away from God and Christ (see Isaiah 59:1). By choosing no longer to crucify self (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-3), but to give life again to the flesh of the "old man" (Romans 6:6), choosing to be guided by your "carnal mind" (Romans 8:6-7), then you no longer stand justified, righteous or perfect before God because you have now chosen to sin and are now defiled by it. You are no longer a new creature, or new man. In this unrighteous condition you are no longer in a "yoke" with Christ, but are now yoked together with the Devil; you no longer have "put on" Christ, but now have put on the Devil; you no longer are "in" Christ, but are now in the Devil, and you are no longer a servant of God, or of Christ in righteousness, but are now a servant of Satan in sin and unrighteousness (Romans 6:12-13, 19-21)! Thus you are no longer part of the one true church of God, and you have no more assurance of salvation because you are no longer connected with Christ!

2) Some believe that once they accepted Christ as their personal Saviour, they were justified forever, they were saved at that moment, and so it doesn't matter what good or evil actions they may do after that point because they will remain Christ's servants forever! But the Bible does not teach this:

If, after you have accepted Christ you should then choose to commit sin, you would no longer be justified in Christ, you would no longer have salvation in Christ, you would no longer be the servant of, or have any part in Christ, because you would have now become the servant of Satan.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”. Romans 3:24-25.

This inspired passage clearly reveals that justification cannot be applied to any sins not yet committed, but only to those sins in the past. If you sin today, your past justification cannot cover it! This means that by sinning you are now in a lost condition and need to repent of these new sins and become justified again by Christ. No one has a blank check to cover their continued sinning!

The Bible reveals that when you accept Christ as your Saviour, you have just begun to walk in a saving relationship with Him. At that time you have the hope and assurance of salvation, but not salvation itself (see 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 1:2, 3:7; Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:24). The gift of salvation, the incorruptible crown of eternal life, is only given to you at the end of the trial of your faith if you have endured, not at the beginning of your faith without having endured (see 1 Peter 1:9; Matthew 10:22; James 1:12). Salvation is only given to those who finish the gospel race, not to those who have just started to run (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Salvation is only given to those who hold fast to the true faith, not to those who have just begun in the faith (see Revelation 3:11). And salvation is only given to those who have fought a good fight, who have finished their course, who have kept the faith, not to those who have just entered the fight, or who have just started their course, or who have just embraced the faith (see 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Since none of us are yet saved, then we all should, by patient continuance in doing God's will, "seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7), and if some should not continue, then they "shalt be cut off" (Romans 11:22). This means that no one can continue to sin and yet be saved!

In Christ there is no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 14:30)! In Christ there is no union with the Devil, or with unrighteousness, or with darkness and error (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-15). So if you are truly united with and are in Christ, then you also will have no continued connection with sin, or with the Devil, or with unrighteousness, or with darkness or error either. If you should choose to sin, you plainly show yourself not to be living in, or connected with, Christ, and thereby reveal yourself not to be part of God's one true church! If you are in Christ, you will not and cannot commit sin, because there is no sin in Him. But outside of Christ you will not, and cannot, stop from sinning!

"Whosoever abideth in him (Christ) sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed (Christ--Galatians 3:16) remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God..." 1 John 3:6-10.

If you sin, you show yourself not to be connected with Christ, but are a child of the Devil and part of his synagogue of Babylon! But if, through the strength and grace of Christ (Philippians 4:13, 2:12-13; Mark 9:23, 10:27) you resist sin and do not yield to it (James 4:7-8; Romans 6:11-22), you show yourself to be in union with, and hid in Christ, and thus are a child of God and part of His true church! So it is by your words and actions, or by your fruits, that you are known to be of God or of Satan!

"...every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:17-20.

6) Many individuals and denominations loudly proclaim that they are part of the one true church of God, while their fruits plainly reveal them to be liars and followers of the Devil! (see Revelation 2:9, 3:9; Romans 9:6.) But can God's one true church really be made up of only perfect and righteous people who live without committing sin? The Biblical answers Yes!

The Bible refers to God's one true church as being made up of only those who are saints (1 Corinthians 14:33; Revelation 14:12); those who are sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2; Jude 1); those who are established in the faith and truth (Acts 16:5; 1 Timothy 3:15); those who are subject unto, or who submit self to, Christ (Ephesians 5:24); those who are joined to Christ (Ephesians 5:31-32); and finally those who are in Christ (Galatians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:1). Thus God's true church will be a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27).

7) As God's one true church is only made up of those who are living a perfect righteous life without choosing to sin, then this is why God's true church on earth can be one with the church of the firstborn in heaven, because both groups are made up of perfect sinless beings and thus belong to the same one true church of God! (see Hebrews 12:22-23).

This is also why the remnant people are identified by their character, and not by their profession or name (Revelation 12:17). No denominational name has any virtue to bring you into favor with God, no matter how exalted it may be, because God is concerned with your character! If your character is an image of His Son, then you are a child of God and part of His one true church. But if your character is an image of the Devil, then you are a child of disobedience and part of Satan's synagogue of Babylon – regardless of what name you identify yourself by!

Not by its name, but by its fruit, is the value of a tree determined. So if the fruit is worthless, the name cannot save this tree from destruction. Your standing before God is to be decided by your character and life. Profession alone is worthless. If your life and character are not in harmony with God's law, then you are not His people. It is not by your name, but by your revealed character, that you are known to be of God or of Satan. This proves that you are not part of God's one true church if you choose to sin!

From the beginning of this earth's history, faithful souls have constituted God's one true church on earth. So there is no other true church than the assembly of those who have the word of God, and who are purified by it. Those who keep God's commandments, those who live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, compose the one true church of the living God.

8) There are only two powers today--either of God or of Satan, so there are only two kinds of churches today--either God's one true church or Satan's synagogue of Babylon. There is no neutral position, no third church, no middle fence that you can balance on and still find salvation. This means that lukewarm Laodicea is a mixture of good and evil which makes it Christ-less and in union with the Devil. Christ therefore stands outside of the Laodicean church, but knocks at the door of the heart for entrance--not the heart of the denomination, but the door of the heart of individuals.

9) If you sin you reveal that you are no longer connected with Christ, and are no longer part of His true church, even though you may have accepted Christ as your Saviour, and may have previously been living in His strength for a long period of time without committing sin! God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25; James 2:9; 1 Peter 1:17), and neither is He a respecter of church denominations or religious groups (Matthew 23:37-38; Romans 11:12-22). If any choose to sin, all their past righteous living cannot continue to allow them to remain a part of God's true church with the continued assurance of salvation!

"Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression...neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right...None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live." Ezekiel 33:12-14, 16.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes THE ONE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD, part 3 quotes 1) What Must You Do to Become and Remain a Part of God's True Church Today? An individual becomes part of Christ's one true church by joining Christ Himself. The only way for you to become connected to Christ is by recognizing that you have broken God's law, that you are a sinner deserving death and that you need a Saviour (1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20, 6:23). Then you need to accept Christ as your personal Saviour, confess and repent of your sins, and Christ will then cover you with His precious blood, forgive your confessed sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7, 9). Jesus freely justifies you from all your past sinful life through His precious merits (Romans 3:23-28), clothes you with His own precious robe of righteousness--these blessed garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10), and gives you His grace and strength (Romans 5:1-2; Galatians 5:1). You then can stand before the Father perfect and completely righteous as if you had never sinned at all! You become a son or daughter of God (Romans 8:16; Galatians 3:26), being a child of the light and of the day (1 Thessalonians 5:5), being a peculiar and holy person (1 Peter 2:9)--and thus a part of God's one true tabernacle, temple, church or house (see Revelation 21:3; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 3:6)! The Bible refers to this amazing miracle of transformation as being "born again" (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23); becoming a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15); a "new lump" (1 Corinthians 5:7); a "new man" (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10); a "new bottle" (Mark 2:21-22; Matthew 9:16-17; Luke 5:36-39). In this justified righteous position, being in a "yoke" together with Christ (Matthew 11:29-30), you have "put on" Christ (Romans 13:14), you are "in" Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1; 1 Peter 5:14), and are "servants to God" and "of Christ" (Romans 6:22; Ephesians 6:6)--being servants "of righteousness" (Romans 6:18-19). As long as you remain in this justified righteous condition being "in" Christ, and do not choose to separate yourself from Him, you remain perfect and complete in Him, being doers of His will (Romans 2:13; James 1:22), and your salvation is assured (1 John 5:11-12). As long as you remain in Christ, you continue to remain part of His one true church. But if you should choose to separate yourself away from Christ then you are no longer "in" Christ, but are outside of Him. What would cause you to be separated from Christ? Choosing to break God's law of 10 commandments and thereby commiting sin (1 John 3:4). In doing this you instantly are separated away from God and Christ (see Isaiah 59:1). By choosing no longer to crucify self (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-3), but to give life again to the flesh of the "old man" (Romans 6:6), choosing to be guided by your "carnal mind" (Romans 8:6-7), then you no longer stand justified, righteous or perfect before God because you have now chosen to sin and are now defiled by it. You are no longer a new creature, or new man. In this unrighteous condition you are no longer in a "yoke" with Christ, but are now yoked together with the Devil; you no longer have "put on" Christ, but now have put on the Devil; you no longer are "in" Christ, but are now in the Devil, and you are no longer a servant of God, or of Christ in righteousness, but are now a servant of Satan in sin and unrighteousness (Romans 6:12-13, 19-21)! Thus you are no longer part of the one true church of God, and you have no more assurance of salvation because you are no longer connected with Christ! This is a very straight and narrow road outlined above by God's word, but it is the truth (see Matthew 7:13-14). 2) Some believe that once they accepted Christ as their personal Saviour, they were justified forever, they were saved at that moment, and so it doesn't matter what good or evil actions they may do after that point because they will remain Christ's servants forever! But the Bible does not teach this: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." John 8:34. "...of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19. If, after you have accepted Christ you should then choose to commit sin, you would no longer be justified in Christ, you would no longer have salvation in Christ, you would no longer be the servant of, or have any part in Christ, because you would have now become the servant of Satan. You can only serve one master at a time, not two at the same time! You are either serving Christ, or you are serving Satan. This means that you cannot be Christ's servant while you choose to sin! "No man can serve two masters..." Matthew 6:24. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." 2 John 9. 3) Some believe that once you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, then you are justified in Him forever from past, present and future sins! But this is not what the Bible teaches: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”. Romans 3:24-25. This inspired passage clearly reveals that justification cannot be applied to any sins not yet committed, but only to those sins in the past. If you sin today, your past justification cannot cover it! This means that by sinning you are now in a lost condition and need to repent of these new sins and become justified again by Christ. No one has a blank check to cover their continued sinning! 4) Some also believe that once you have accepted Christ as your personal Saviour, then you are saved at that very moment. But this is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible reveals that when you accept Christ as your Saviour, you have just begun to walk in a saving relationship with Him. At that time you have the hope and assurance of salvation, but not salvation itself (see 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 1:2, 3:7; Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:24). The gift of salvation, the incorruptible crown of eternal life, is only given to you at the end of the trial of your faith if you have endured, not at the beginning of your faith without having endured (see 1 Peter 1:9; Matthew 10:22; James 1:12). Salvation is only given to those who finish the gospel race, not to those who have just started to run (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Salvation is only given to those who hold fast to the true faith, not to those who have just begun in the faith (see Revelation 3:11). And salvation is only given to those who have fought a good fight, who have finished their course, who have kept the faith, not to those who have just entered the fight, or who have just started their course, or who have just embraced the faith (see 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Since none of us are yet saved, then we all should, by patient continuance in doing God's will, "seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7), and if some should not continue, then they "shalt be cut off" (Romans 11:22). This means that no one can continue to sin and yet be saved! 5) Some also believe that once you accept Christ then you remain His servants forever. But the Bible does not teach this. God's word reveals that you are either the servant of Christ, doing His righteous will and not committing sin, or you are the servant of Satan, doing his unrighteous will by committing sin. No one can serve both Christ and Satan at the same time! In Christ there is no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 14:30)! In Christ there is no union with the Devil, or with unrighteousness, or with darkness and error (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-15). So if you are truly united with and are in Christ, then you also will have no continued connection with sin, or with the Devil, or with unrighteousness, or with darkness or error either. If you should choose to sin, you plainly show yourself not to be living in, or connected with, Christ, and thereby reveal yourself not to be part of God's one true church! If you are in Christ, you will not and cannot commit sin, because there is no sin in Him. But outside of Christ you will not, and cannot, stop from sinning! Which will you be--in Christ or outside of Him? You cannot be both at the same time! "Whosoever abideth in him (Christ) sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed (Christ--Galatians 3:16) remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God..." 1 John 3:6-10. If you sin, you show yourself not to be connected with Christ, but are a child of the Devil and part of his synagogue of Babylon! But if, through the strength and grace of Christ (Philippians 4:13, 2:12-13; Mark 9:23, 10:27) you resist sin and do not yield to it (James 4:7-8; Romans 6:11-22), you show yourself to be in union with, and hid in Christ, and thus are a child of God and part of His true church! So it is by your words and actions, or by your fruits, that you are known to be of God or of Satan! "...every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:17-20. 6) Many individuals and denominations loudly proclaim that they are part of the one true church of God, while their fruits plainly reveal them to be liars and followers of the Devil! (see Revelation 2:9, 3:9; Romans 9:6.) But can God's one true church really be made up of only perfect and righteous people who live without committing sin? The Biblical answers Yes! The Bible refers to God's one true church as being made up of only those who are saints (1 Corinthians 14:33; Revelation 14:12); those who are sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2; Jude 1); those who are established in the faith and truth (Acts 16:5; 1 Timothy 3:15); those who are subject unto, or who submit self to, Christ (Ephesians 5:24); those who are joined to Christ (Ephesians 5:31-32); and finally those who are in Christ (Galatians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:1). Thus God's true church will be a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27). 7) As God's one true church is only made up of those who are living a perfect righteous life without choosing to sin, then this is why God's true church on earth can be one with the church of the firstborn in heaven, because both groups are made up of perfect sinless beings and thus belong to the same one true church of God! (see Hebrews 12:22-23). This is also why the remnant people are identified by their character, and not by their profession or name (Revelation 12:17). No denominational name has any virtue to bring you into favor with God, no matter how exalted it may be, because God is concerned with your character! If your character is an image of His Son, then you are a child of God and part of His one true church. But if your character is an image of the Devil, then you are a child of disobedience and part of Satan's synagogue of Babylon – regardless of what name you identify yourself by! Not by its name, but by its fruit, is the value of a tree determined. So if the fruit is worthless, the name cannot save this tree from destruction. Your standing before God is to be decided by your character and life. Profession alone is worthless. If your life and character are not in harmony with God's law, then you are not His people. It is not by your name, but by your revealed character, that you are known to be of God or of Satan. This proves that you are not part of God's one true church if you choose to sin! From the beginning of this earth's history, faithful souls have constituted God's one true church on earth. So there is no other true church than the assembly of those who have the word of God, and who are purified by it. Those who keep God's commandments, those who live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, compose the one true church of the living God. God does indeed have a church on this earth today. But it is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; but it is only the people who love God and keep His commandments. "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20. This verse plainly reveals that where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ's church, because it is only His Divine presence that can constitute His one true church. 8) There are only two powers today--either of God or of Satan, so there are only two kinds of churches today--either God's one true church or Satan's synagogue of Babylon. There is no neutral position, no third church, no middle fence that you can balance on and still find salvation. This means that lukewarm Laodicea is a mixture of good and evil which makes it Christ-less and in union with the Devil. Christ therefore stands outside of the Laodicean church, but knocks at the door of the heart for entrance--not the heart of the denomination, but the door of the heart of individuals. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man [not church] hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20. 9) If you sin you reveal that you are no longer connected with Christ, and are no longer part of His true church, even though you may have accepted Christ as your Saviour, and may have previously been living in His strength for a long period of time without committing sin! God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25; James 2:9; 1 Peter 1:17), and neither is He a respecter of church denominations or religious groups (Matthew 23:37-38; Romans 11:12-22). If any choose to sin, all their past righteous living cannot continue to allow them to remain a part of God's true church with the continued assurance of salvation! "Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression...neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right...None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live." Ezekiel 33:12-14, 16. Your fruits today plainly shows to which church you belong. It is indeed time to choose! "...How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." 1 Kings 18:21. "...choose ye this day whom ye will serve..." Joshua 24:15.