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"If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a duck." This is a form of deductive reasoning. One may use this same type of reasoning to determine whether a church is the true church or a humanly established denomination.
Who would argue that a duck cannot be identified? Using the identifying marks (characteristics) of the duck, as said above, we can be sure we are not confusing a duck with something similar, but not the same. Can we not do the same with the church?
If we are going to get a definitive answer to our question, we must start with what the Bible says about the church we read about in the New Testament: 1) Was it denominated? 2) Do the Scriptures supply identifying marks? If a church today has those identifying marks, is it not reasonable to conclude that it is the real thing, the church Christ built (Matt.16.18), and not something man invented?
Surely all of us who believe the Bible can admit that God wants unity. This is established by Jesus' prayer (John 17) and the explicit commands written by the apostle Paul to the Corinthian church. 1 Cor. 1:10-13:
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
When there is disunity, as was the case at Corinth, was it not displeasing to God? We can't blame that disunity, which causes confusion and disbelief, on God for He is not the author of it (1 Cor. 14:33), and we can't justify it because Christians are commanded to have no part in it. The church at Corinth had denominated, i.e., they had developed a party spirit wherein groups used various names to reveal their affiliation, but Paul sought to nip this in the bud.
All were not to be condemned. Some were saying they were of Christ. They expressed that they were not governed or associated with some ordinary man or some man-made doctrine. This should be the thinking of all professed Christians today. When we say we are "Christians only" we hope that others want to be the same. We hope that they do not think we are saying we are the best of the denominations and unless they use our name they are on the wrong path.
While it cannot be denied that Christ built only one church (Col. 3:15), that it is His church and that the makeup consists of the saved (Acts 2:43, 47), and that local churches are spoken of by Paul as "churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:15), the church has no formal name. It has numerous descriptive words that define it and show its mission. But "Church of Christ" is no more scriptural than "Church of God," "Church of the Firstborn," or "Christ's Church." The name on the sign or the church bulletin proves nothing about the hearts and souls of the local church members, nor is it proof that sound doctrine is being taught inside and outside the building. While a proper name for a local church is convenient for various reasons, the Lord did not give it a specific name. Yet it is often denominationalized by brethren when they say, "I'm Church of Christ" and by others when they refer to it as the "Church of Christ church."
Just as we can identify a duck by certain marks or characteristics, we can identify a true church by comparing one we question to the one we read about in the New Testament. Marks of the church are not characteristics that the church creates or develops or learns. They are attributes that Jesus Christ shares with His church in the pages of the New Testament.
The following should be helpful as a guide to identify the one true church. Use the same process to identify it as you would a duck and the results will be accurate.
Jesus built only one church (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 3:8-11; 5:23; 1 Cor. 12:20; Rom. 12:5, Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:4; Acts 2:47, Acts 5:11, Acts 8:3)
The one true church has a scriptural name.
The church of God (Acts 20:28, 2 Cor. 1:1)
The church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23)
The church a (specific location) (Rev. 2:1, 2:8)
The churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16)
The one true church has the correct birthplace ¨C Jerusalem (Acts 2:5, 14)
The one true church will have the right birthdate (age) ¨C 33 AD.
The one true church is governed by the proper law ¨C New Testament, for the Old Law to the Jews has been abolished (Eph. 2:15; Heb. 9; Gal. 1:8, 9)
The one true church teaches and practices the correct means of induction
(Acts 2:37-38, 41, 47; Rom. 6:3,4; 17,18; Col 2:11-13; 1 Pet. 3:21; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Acts 22:16; John 3:5)
The one true church is organized according to the pattern.
Elders (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5-9)
Deacons (1 Tim. 3:8-13)
Organization no larger or smaller than the local church (Phi. 1:1; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-2)
Each church was autonomous (self-governing).
Christ is head (Eph. 5:23)
No earthly headquarters
The one true church practices biblical worship (John 4:24)
The observance of the Lord¡¯s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-29)
Giving upon the ¡°first day of the week§ (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
Preaching of the word of God (Acts 2:20:7, 42)
Prayers (Acts 12:5, 12)
Singing (Eph. 5:19; Col 3:16)
Worship may be displeasing to God (Amos 5:22)
The one true church does the work that it is commanded to do.
Edification (Eph. 4:11-16)
Evangelism (1 Thes. 5:8)
Limited benevolence (Acts 4:32-37; 1 Tim. 5:9-16; Rom. 15:25-26; 2 Cor. 8:1-4; 9:1)
The one true church understands the need for obedience and the possibility of apostasy.
(Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9; Gal. 5:4; Rom. 6:17, 18; Rev. chapters 1-3; Heb. 10:25-26)
Only when we resolve to follow this pattern will we see significant progress in reaching the unity for which the Lord prayed, and the apostle Paul commanded.
For further study: https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-true-church.htm
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