5 Signs Identifying the True Church of God That Jesus Built
What did Jesus Christ mean by “on this rock I will build My church” in Matthew 16:18? Where is Jesus’ church? Learn this Bible verse’s meaning and five points to identify the church Jesus built—and said would prevail. Learn more about the true Gospel of God in our Free Book, “Do You Believe the True Gospel?” https://bit.ly/3kY1Y7B Why is this free? We are determined to follow Jesus’ command to “freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Browse our full library of resources at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org Learn more about our church, the Living Church of God, at https://www.lcg.org View our full sermon library @mylcgtv 00:00 Would Jesus Choose Your Church? 02:12 Sign 1: Jesus Is the Rock (not Peter) 07:40 Sign 2: The Church of God Preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom of God 10:47 Sign 3: “Who keep the commandments of God” | Revelation 12:17 13:35 Sign 4: The True Church Teaches Repentance of Sin 15:53 Sign 5: An Organized Church Assembly If Jesus came back today, which church would He choose? A mega-church with thousands of members who meet in a majestic building? A small, country church? More importantly, would Jesus choose your church? I hope such a personal question doesn’t offend you, because we will all do well to ask ourselves this question. How would He make that choice? We can find the answer, and it’s not as complicated as it first appears. Here are five signs to look for in locating the Church Christ is building. After all, He did say that He would build His church and the gates of the grave will not prevail against it. Do you, dear friends, believe that? If Jesus failed to do so, then He is a liar and cannot be the Savior of the world! It’s just that simple. But if He is building His Church, and it continues to this day, wouldn’t you want to know for sure where it is? Many think that all churches who profess that Jesus is the Christ are His and all we must do is “go to the church of our choice.” But is His Church, as these people think, found in believers scattered through contradicting denominations and doctrines? Think about that! Not all churches even remotely believe the same things. Use these five signs—and many more are found in Scripture—to identify the church Christ is building. #1: Jesus said He would build His Church on a symbolic Rock. Who or what IS that Rock? One large denomination alleges that their first leader was that rock. Let’s look at Matthew 16 for proof and see if they are correct. Jesus asked His disciple who they thought He was, and Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Jesus explained that it was the Father in heaven who revealed this answer to Peter. Then Jesus said, "I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). This passage has been used for centuries to validate the Roman church, but did Jesus say He would build His Church on Peter? The New Testament scriptures were originally written in Greek, and there is a play on two Greek words found in this passage. Both mean rock, but they are not the same. Let’s read verse 18 again: And I also say to you that you are Peter [Petros], and on this Rock [Petra] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades [that is, the grave] shall not prevail against it. Why two different words? What difference does that make? “Petros” is the masculine form of the word and means a small rock, or “a piece of rock.” It is translated into the English word Peter 161 times in the New Testament. Only once is Peter translated from a different word, and it has no relationship whatsoever to the word rock. “Petra” is the feminine form and refers to a larger rock, “a mass of rock.” You may have heard of the great rock outcropping in Jordan known as Petra. In effect, Jesus was telling Peter, that he was a small rock, or a piece of rock, but He would build His Church on a massive Rock—Himself! When petros is used for a person, it is translated Peter (161 times in the N.T. as already mentioned). But petra, when referring to a person, refers only to Christ. Notice this example in Romans 9:33: As it is written: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STUMBLING STONE AND ROCK [that is, petra] OF OFFENSE, AND WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM [that is, Christ] WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” Another passage, written by Peter himself, shows that Peter knew who the real Rock was. Referring to Christ, he wrote in 1 Peter 2:7–8: Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” and “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK [that is, petra] OF OFFENSE.” Both Paul and Peter used the same word when referring to Christ. And, in 1 Corinthians 10:1–4, Paul leaves no doubt who the Rock is that worked with Israel when they came out of Egypt: #tomorrowsworld #truegospel #truechurch
