Question: Why are there so many different types of Christian churches? Is there one denomination that is the true one?
Answer: Christians are followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to earth to live as a man, die to take the penalty for mankind’s sins, and to be resurrected from the dead. Christian churches, then, by definition, should adhere to the teachings of Christ and the men God inspired to document His instruction, as chronicled in the Holy Bible. This is the test of a true church, to recognize Jesus as the only Savior of the world and to know His Word in the Bible is as the only source of truth from God, reliable and without error, as He is.
Consider this: Which one does God approve of? One that testifies of Jesus and instruction given by the prophets inspired by God to accurately carry His Biblical message to mankind!
There are many churches that stay true to teaching God’s revelation of His purposes for us and His timeless guidelines for living. Tragically, there are many churches that do not remain faithful in conveying Bible truths; they lead people astray by mixing together their own ideas, man-made traditions, and phony scriptural “updates” from God. The reason this is tragic is because God assures us that those aren’t from Him but are deception to lead His creation away from Him and into hell after death! Even kind, well-meaning pastors can present wrong information if they don’t study and understand God’s word, the Bible.
The Bible warns that many false teachers will mislead people, and we should always compare what we are hearing taught with what the scriptures really say. The apostle Paul warned of times like today, when people “would not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
The Holy Spirit of God preserves the teachings of God and impresses upon our hearts and minds when erroneous information is being presented as His truth. It’s vital to recognize that all scripture points to the mission of Jesus since the world began, which was to save the world from sin and make people right with God again. The world searches for the truth about God, creation, life, and death. Even Pilate, the Roman governor who arrested and later turned Jesus over to the Jews to be crucified, questioned Jesus about was real truth was.
“’Then you are a king!’ Pilate said. ‘You say that I am a king,’ Jesus answered. ‘For this reason, I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.’ Pilate asked, ‘What is truth?’” John 18:37-38
Jesus had already taught His followers that He was the embodiment of truth, in these verses often quoted:
“To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you are free, indeed.’” John 8:31-36
“Jesus said to Him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6
You can see that the Bible SHOULD be the foundation of each church’s instruction; the scriptural record is reliable because God is reliable! He is unchanging in His love for us and desire for us to come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only pathway to knowing God and being accepted by Him. There is no other way that someone can please God or earn His way into heaven except through Jesus, the one who saved mankind by dying on a cross to pay the penalty of their sins. Being saved from hell, or salvation, is granted one way – by putting your faith in Jesus and asking Him to lead you through life.
You may be thinking, could it already be too late for me to follow Jesus?
God’s answer – ABSOLUTELY NOT! It is never too late…until you die.
Don’t turn away from God because of shame over your past life. You have not sinned too much, made too many mistakes, or waited too long – until the very moment you die, when your spirit departs your physical body for one of two destinations, eternal heaven or eternal hell. At that point, your future is decided.
“Just as man is destined that men will die only once, and after that to face judgment, so also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly and patiently wait for Him.” Hebrews 9:28-29
Don’t put off this decision any longer to ask Jesus to come into your life and lead you!
He loves you and proved it by suffering and dying for you!
Once you die, it WILL be too late. Your destiny will be set and cannot be changed.
Say or pray this:
Jesus,
I have thought about this for years and wondered if it’s possible that you really do love me and are willing to allow me to live in heaven after I die. I haven’t been sure until now that I want to spend eternity with you and with all those through the ages who have loved you. I have decided, right now, that I do want to be counted as part of your family, and I ask you to accept me. I receive your free gift you are giving me of forgiveness for all of my many, many sins. I am sorry for living only for myself and not caring what you think of me. I understand that I have not earned the reward of heaven by good deeds but that you have given this to me. Thank you so much for dying on a cross so that I can live forever as clean in your sight. Thank you for wiping my dirty record of sin clean so that I can begin a new life! I look to you to show me a new way to live and please you by my thoughts and actions. Amen.
“Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord taught of the power of Jesus’ payment or atonement for sin. ‘Come, let’s talk this over!’ says the Lord; ‘no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take them out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!’” Isaiah 1:18
