The Church
Revealed Truths
There is only one true church.
The true church worships in spirit and in truth.
The true church puts their faith solely in Jesus.
Out of love for Jesus, the true church keeps the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments include keeping the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) holy.
God commands His people to come out of the false church system.
God expects His people to worship and work together in His church.
We are to give tithes and offerings to support the work of the church.
The people of God's church are His temple.
Some key verses:
Jn 10:16, Jn 4:23,24, Col 1:18, Jn 14:15,21, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12, Rev 18:1-4, Heb 10:25, Mal 3:8-10, 1Co 3:16,17
Exposed Falsehoods
It is false to assume that the majority view must be right.
It is false to accept teachings that are not grounded in the Bible.
It is false to place preemince on any person or group other than Jesus.
It is false to think that the Ten Commandments are obsolete.
It is false to think that a union of church and state is from God.
Some key verses:
Mt 7:13,14, Rev 13:3,4, Jn 17:17, Eph 1:22,23, Heb 8:10, 1Sa 8:6,7, Mt 22:21
The True Church
The Bible reveals that God has only one true church. (Jn 10:16, Jn 17:20-22, 1Co 12:13, Eph 4:4, 1Jn 2:19)
The true church worships in spirit and in truth. (Jn 4:23,24)
Since the spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Ro 8:9), Jesus is preeminent in the true church. (Eph 1:22,23, Php 2:10, Col 1:18, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12)
Since the Bible is truth (Jn 17:17), the Bible is also preeminent in the true church. (Ps 119:105, Ps 138:2, Isa 55:9-11, Mt 22:29, Lk 24:27,32, Jn 5:39, Ac 17:2, Ac 17:11, Ac 18:28, Ro 15:4, 2Ti 3:16, Heb 4:12)
The true church keeps the commandments of God. (Jn 14:15,21, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12, Rev 22:14)
This includes keeping the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) holy. (Ex 20:8-11, Ex 31:16,17)
The True Church is Depicted as a Pure Woman
The true church is depicted as a pure woman. (Rev 12:1)
In Bible prophecy a woman represents a church. (Jer 4:31, Jer 6:2, Zec 9:9, 2Co 11:2, Eph 5:25,26,31,32)
The true church is clothed with the Sun - Righteousness of Jesus (compare Mal 4:2)
The true church is standing on the moon - Righteousness by faith
The moon reflects the light of the Sun (Jesus).
The true church wears a crown - Gift of eternal life (Jas 1:12, Rev 2:10)
Twelve - Represents God's people spanning both the old and new testaments (Ge 49:28, Lk 6:12-16, Rev 7:4-8, Rev 21:12-14)
Stars - Represent sources (messengers) of light (Mt 5:16, Jn 12:46, Rev 1:20)
The False Church is Depicted as a Great Whore
The false church is depicted as a great whore. (Rev 17:1-6)
The false church commits fornication with the kings of the earth.
The false church is an unholy unification of church and state.
The false church makes the inhabitants of the earth drunk.
The false church deceives them with false doctrines. (Rev 13:14) (see also 2Ti 3:1-5, 2Ti 4:2-4)
The false church persecutes and kills God's people. (Rev 13:15-17)
The false church is arrayed in purple, scarlet, and gold.
Note that God's high priest wore purple, scarlet, gold, and blue. (Ex 28:4,5)
The close resemblance of colors indicates that the false church tries to impersonate the true church.
This counterfeit church is recognized by its absence of the color blue.
The color blue is symbolic of the Ten Commandments. (Ex 24:10-12 sapphire is blue, Nu 15:37-40)
Note on Nu 15:39: God says that going astray from the Ten Commandments is "to go a whoring".
In certain ways, the false church ("the great whore") does not keep the Ten Commandments. (Da 7:25, 2Th 2:3)
Note on 2Th 2:3: For "man of sin", understand that sin is the transgression of God's law. (1Jn 3:4)
God Commands His People to Come out of the False Church System
God commands His people to come out of the false church system. (Isa 8:20, 2Co 6:14-18, Rev 18:1-4)
It is false to assume that the majority view must be right. (Mt 7:13,14, Rev 13:3,4)
Church Membership
We must work together in order to fulfill the great commission. (Mt 24:14, Mt 28:18-20, Ac 1:8, Rev 14:6)
We must be baptized into the church. (1Co 12:13,14,27,28,)
Church membership and participation is not optional. (1Co 12:15-21, Heb 10:25, 1Pe 2:5,9)
Church Organization
Jesus is the head of the church. (Eph 4:15, Eph 5:23)
The church is to be a place of peace and order. (1Co 14:33,40)
Church leadership involves a council of elders who seek and follow God's will. (Ex 18:13-26, Ac 14:23, Ac 15:2)
No individual is to possess sole control. (1Sa 8:1-7, Pr 11:14, Pr 15:22)
Elders (1Ti 3:1-7)
The titles "elder", "overseer", and "bishop" all refer to the same office. (Ac 20:17,28, Tit 1:5-9)
The title "pastor" is used only once in the New Testament. (Eph 4:11)
Pastor is used in the old testament for someone who instructs. (Jer 3:15)
The pastors of the old testament were rebuked. (Jer 10:21, Jer 12:10, Jer 23:2)
Deacons (Mk 9:35, Ac 6:1-8, 1Ti 3:8-13)
Deacon [Gr. diakoneo (dee-ak-on-eh'-o)] - "to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or teacher; ... serve" (Strong's Dictionary)
Deaconesses (Ro 16:1)
Deaconess [Gr. diakonia (dee-ak-on-ee'-ah)] - "attendance (as a servant)" (Strong's Dictionary)
Church members are to be organized according to their spiritual gifts.
Apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healing, helping, administration, tongues (1Co 12:28-31)
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph 4:11-13)
Church Support
We are to trust God for our support. (Dt 8:18, Ps 24:1, Mt 6:26-30)
We are blessed through giving. (Lk 6:38, 2Co 9:6,7)
We should not store up treasures on earth. (Mt 6:19-21, Lk 12:15-21, Lk 12:32-34)
We are to give tithes and offerings to support the work of the church. (Mal 3:8-10)
Tithes (Ge 28:20-22, Lev 27:30,32, Nu 18:21,26, Pr 3:9,10, Hag 1:3-9, Mt 23:23)
Offerings (Ex 36:2-7, Dt 16:16,17, Lk 21:1-4, Ac 10:1-4, 2Co 8:1-4,12-14)
Love and obedience are better than offerings. (1Sa 15:22, Isa 1:11-17, Hos 6:6, Jn 14:15, 1Co 13:3, Heb 10:6,7)
Church and State
In demanding a king, Israel rejected God. (1Sa 8:4-9)
We are to submit to God-ordained, civil authorities. (Jer 27:4-15, Mt 22:15-22, Ro 13:1-7, Tit 3:1, Heb 13:17, 1Pe 2:13,14)
Nonetheless, our highest authority is God. (Da 3:14-18, Da 6:7-10, Mt 22:21, Ac 4:18-20, Ac 5:27-29,42)
Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth. (Rev 1:5, Rev 11:15, Rev 19:16)
Our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. (Heb 11:16, Heb 12:22,23, Heb 13:14, Rev 3:12, Rev 21:1-3)
The Church is the Bride of Christ
The church is the bride of Christ. (Mt 9:15, Mt 25:1-13, Eph 5:25-27,31,32, Rev 21:2,9,10)
The marriage involves a relationship of oneness of character referred to as "knowing". (compare Ge 2:24 and Ge 4:25) (Mt 7:21-23, Jn 17:3, Jn 17:20,21)
The church is to be a faithful wife. (Jer 13:27, 2Co 6:17, Tit 2:13,14, 1Jn 3:2,3, Rev 14:1-5, Rev 19:7,8)
As the fruit of a physical marriage is children, the fruit of our spiritual marriage is to be children of God. (Jn 1:12,13, Jn 15:26, Ac 1:8, Ro 10:13-15, 2Co 5:20)
The People of God's Church are His Temple
The people of God's church are His temple. (1Co 3:16,17, Eph 2:19-21, 1Pe 2:5)
The purpose of God's temple is for God to dwell with us. (Ex 25:8, Ex 29:44-46)
God lives in us. (1Jn 4:13-15)
The Holy Spirit lives in us. (Jn 14:15-17)
Jesus lives in us. (Jn 17:22,23, Ro 8:9-11, Col 1:27, Col 3:9-11)
God's law is in our mind and heart. (compare Heb 9:1-4) (2Co 3:3, Heb 8:10, Heb 10:16)
The Church is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth
The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. (1Ti 3:15)