TRUE JESUS CHURCH
Why Called The “True Jesus Church”?
Many who see the name “True Jesus Church” will find it strange for it seems to suggest that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ may be a true or a false church. Furthermore, members of other secular churches may perceive the true church as being arrogant and unfair; for it connotes that their churches’ teachings are false. Not long after the Lord Jesus Christ was born, His parents brought Him to a temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit and said “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against”.
Luke 2:34-35 34Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Similarly, when the name “True Jesus Church” first appeared in the world, it caused many Christian denominations to stumble, despise and reject it. Nevertheless, it also raises many believers who study diligently to know the true church. The name of the True Jesus Church will be spoken against. Many will not understand the reason why it is called the True Jesus Church. Even some of our own church members may not know clearly the reason why it is named as such.
The reasons the true church bears the name the True Jesus Church are as follows:
The Relationship Between “True” and the Lord Jesus Christ
The word “True” before the name of Jesus means “True Jesus”.
When the Lord Jesus Christ was preaching on earth, He proclaimed, “I am the truth” (John 14:6); “I am the true vine”(John 15:1). The Bible refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as “True Light” (John 1:9); “that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42); “true tabernacle” (Heb. 8:2). From these Bible verses, we know that even in the past it was necessary to address the Lord Jesus Christ as “true”. During the Apostolic period, some preached “another Jesus” (2Cor. 11:4). Therefore, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ ought to contain the word “true” in order to distinguish Him from false christs.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
John 4:42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
Heb. 8:2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
2Cor. 11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
The Relationship Between “True” and the Church
False christs already existed during the Apostolic period. Hence, they will also exist in the last days that are full of falsehood. The Lord Jesus Christ prophesied that there will be “false christs” (Matt. 24:5, 23-26) who will deceive many. If we compare the church during the Apostolic period with the thousands of churches today, we will certainly know whether they conform to the true church during the Apostolic period.
Matt. 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
Matt. 24:23-26 23“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand. 26“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
What kind of church is the true church? What are the requisites for the true church?
Requisites For The True Church
1. Must Be Filled With the Holy Spirit
• The church is the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, must be filled with the Spirit of God.
Eph. 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
• The Spirit of Christ testifies that the church belongs to Him.
Rom. 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
• The Holy Spirit confirms that God is with us.
1John 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
• The church must have the Holy Spirit in order to have the power of redemption.
John 20:21-23 21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Matt. 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
• Effectiveness of forgiveness of sins through the power of the Holy Spirit.
1Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
1Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
• Perform holy duties effectively, eg. Holy Communion, laying of hands, etc.
John 20:21-22 21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 6:3, 5(u.p.) 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, ……
John 3:34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
• The church must be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be sanctified, be blameless and be acceptable to God.
Rom. 15:16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
2Thess. 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
A church without the Holy Spirit is merely an organisation set up by the will of man.
2. Must preach in accordance with the Bible
• The church must be built on the foundation and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles and the prophets.
Eph. 2:19-20 19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
• Teaching of a church should not go beyond the Bible and the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2John 9-11 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
1Cor. 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
• Truth is the teaching based on the Bible.
Acts 17:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
2Tim. 3:16-17 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
• Do not add or take away the word of God
Rev. 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Prv. 30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
• Do not teach as doctrines the commandments of men.
Matt. 15:9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
• Anyone who preaches teachings that are not in accordance with the Bible should be accursed.
Gal. 1:6-9 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
• Truth is the path to eternity. Anyone who deviates from it will not be able to enter into heaven.
Matt. 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matt. 23:13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
3. Confirming the Word with signs
• He who is sent by God will be accompanied with signs and wonders as a testimony that he is from God.
John 5:36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
Matt. 11:2-6 2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
John 10:37-38 37If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
• Paul showed that he was an apostle through signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
2Cor. 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
• Confirming the Word with signs and wonders.
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Acts 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Heb. 2:3-4 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
• Signs and wonders must be manifested to convince people to believe in God.
Acts 5:12-16 12And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Rom. 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient
• The true church must have accompanying signs to confirm the working of God.
Mark 16:17-18 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
John 3:1-2 1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
1Cor. 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
4. God’s True church must bear His name
• The true church bears His name; God’s name is “Jesus”
Eph. 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
John 17:11, 26 11Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 26And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
• Relying on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved.
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• God blesses every place where He records His name.
Exo. 20:24 An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you.
Deu. 12:5, 11 5 “But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. 11then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD.
• The true church comes in the name of God.
John 5:43-44 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
• The church is the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, she must bear His (her husband’s) name.
Rev. 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
Heb. 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels
Eph. 5:25, 32-33 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Conclusion
God’s church must possess not just one or two, but all of the above criteria. May you seek the truth diligently and pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order to receive eternal life.
1John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ