Which Is The True Church? - 2

I mentioned previously that the true church has Jesus as its basis as well as its guide and leader. The apostle Paul tells us,

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22.

Notice that Jesus must not only be the foundation of the church but also of our lives. He is the unshakable rock which no storm of this world can remove.

Christ is the foundation of every true church. We have His unalterable promise that His presence and protection will be given to His faithful ones who walk in His counsel. To the end of time Christ is to be first. He is the source of life and strength, of righteousness and holiness. And He is all this to those who wear His yoke and learn of Him how to be meek and lowly. *1

Why can only Jesus Christ be the foundation of the true church? The Bible explains this.

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:1-4.

The Lord Jesus is God. He is the beginning of everything, John refers to him as the Word,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4.

We must also understand that it was Jesus who purchased the church with His blood. In other words, our salvation comes from him. The true church gives complete authority to Christ.

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. Acts 20:28.

There is only one way to salvation and the true church needs to preach that the Lord is the one and  only true path. The apostle Paul said it best,

But we preach Christ crucified. 1 Corinthians 1:23.

Christ is the foundation of every true church. All who are brought to a new faith are to be established on Him. The plain, simple truths of the gospel are to be kept before minds. Christ crucified as the atonement for sin is the great central truth of the gospel, round which all truths cluster. To this great truth all other truths are tributary. * 2

That is why Jesus also is the head of the true church.

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23.

Let the Lord be the foundation of our church and our lives. Let Him guide us to the source of living water that will flow for all eternity.

THE LORD IS COMING, SOON, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9, "with the humility of Christ, Ellen White
2 * Raise Your Eyes, "God's Work, Our Commitment", Elena G. White