ARE YOU IN THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD ?

Did you know that in the United States there are over 200 churches all claiming to be Christian but with a variety of teachings ?  Did you know that worldwide there are over 45000 different churches all claiming to be Christian ?   How in the world would you ever find out which one is the true church ?  According to the scriptures there is only one body of Christ,  Ephesians 4:4  then how do we explain over 45200 different bodies ?  If you decided to spend just one day on each of these churches to study their teachings to determine which one was the true church it would take you about 125 years to complete your investigation.  You wouldn’t live long enough to finish.  You would never be able to identify the true church without examining them all, would you ?

So, the church you happen to be in now, did you choose to join it ?  If you did then I can guarantee you that you that you are not in the true church.  This is because GOD alone adds to HIS church such as should be saved.  Acts 2:47 (last sentence) you see GOD must put you in HIS church, you can’t join it.  It’s as many as the Lord our GOD shall call. Acts 2:39   However, many may be called but few are chosen, Matthew 22:14. You, just like the original disciples, must be chosen because you cannot choose Jesus, he must choose you.  John 15:16  When GOD and Christ choose you the rest of the unconverted world will hate you. John 15:19  Why ?  Because you will know the truth when they can’t even understand it.  You will have a confidence and boldness that the world will think is arrogance, conceit, haughtiness or hubris and falsely accuse you of being of the Devil.  You would no longer fit into this world because Christ did not fit either. John 8:23  You would be just like Jesus in this way,  John 17:14,15,16  Do you understand what Jesus is saying ?  The one and only true church of the living GOD is composed of both former Jews and Gentiles that have been called and chosen by GOD ALMIGHTY and by GODS spirit through HIS son will convert you, give you HIS Holy Spirit and teach you HIS truth.  Jesus said this very thing.  John 6:43,44,45  John 14:26   John 16:13   John 15:26  so did Paul, 1 Corinthians 2:10,11,12,13  and  1 John 2:27  and 1 Peter 1:12

I have given here absolute proof of what I am saying by the scriptures.  It should be obvious to any who is understanding that your current church, your current pastor or minister is a fraud.  Oh yes, they know some buzz words, they call Jesus Lord, Lord, have done many wonderful things in his name and they claim to be men of GOD but are wolves in sheep’s clothing, dark agents of Satan masquerading as ministers of light.  2 Corinthians 11:14,15    They lie to you then charge you for it and you have been paying them !  GODS truth is free because GOD paid the price for it with HIS sons life. 

If you are offended by what I have written here that is the normal and expected response from the unconverted mind.  If you have been enabled by GOD to begin to see the things I have shared with you then there may be hope for you if you continue to diligently seek GOD for the truth and not from men.  

Yes indeed, there is a true church of GOD but spiritually it is not of this world therefore all the churches of this world are not that one true church.  

My brother in the one true faith has an article below this one in which he explains to you the very things I have covered in this article.  He has a different method of delivery than I do but that doesn’t make his words any less powerful.  I encourage all readers to carefully read both articles in the spirit of the Bereans , with an open mind and check out the scriptures we have supplied.  

HOW DO YOU KNOW ?

 

How Do You Know?

SRB 19 Nov 2025​

Matt 7:21–23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

Obviously, Christ Yeshua was talking about someone else. I can be sure it is not about me since the people in my church compliment me on my knowledge of scripture, my generous giving, and the many times I volunteer for committees and projects. So, it cannot be referring to me.

That part about “the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” is proved by all the things I mentioned previously, right?

…. Or maybe I am missing something. Perhaps the evidence of my status with our Father has little to do with my outward contributions to a local church? If so, what else is there?

Jer 9:23–24 YLT Thus said Jehovah: Let not the wise boast himself in his wisdom, Nor let the mighty boast himself in his might, Let not the rich boast himself in his riches, but in this let the boaster boast himself, In understanding and knowing Me, For I am Jehovah, doing kindness, Judgment, and righteousness, in the earth. For in these I have delighted, An affirmation of Jehovah.

(I like the Young’s Literal Translation since it does not remove God’s name found in the oldest manuscripts from the bible (even though he uses Jehovah rather than Yahweh.)

So, we must know Him. That’s easy, right? For those who have spent years at the feet of their preachers and teachers, believing that they know God is automatic. But do they?

We are told that we must believe in someone else, too.

John 6:28–29 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

That is another easy answer for those who choose to believe what man has taught. I rarely meet anyone who questions those things that their church has taught. There are many responses to questions about the major change of American culture that apparently started in the 1950’s that caused young people to be more concerned with “fitting in” with their social environment than to facts and objective thought. In short, we feel the need to be accepted.

Ideas become facts because majority opinion has more power than truth. This runs counter to the Apostle Paul’s remarks about the Berean church searching scripture to see if Paul’s words agreed with the contents of their books and letters.

Rarely do Christians do that, and those who do and find valid questions get pushed away.

So, again with the initial question: how do I know if I am a true follower of the Son of God? I submit it has nothing to do with my contributions to a local church. Instead, it has everything to do with knowing Yahweh and Yeshua and obeying their commands.

Every teaching from Yeshua that appears in our New Testament came from His Father.   John 7:16  If I am looking to see what God’s commands are; I look to the words of Yeshua first.

A final note: we must know the truth given to us by the spirit of God.. Now, this sounds simple while it is in print. It is not so simple if I had not already received the spirit of God.

Yahweh chooses those who He will elect. He calls them to know His Son. Those who know His Son are baptized into the New Covenant and received the spirit of God. Most folks would say “I already know that.” I once thought that I knew that. I once believed that I knew that as well. Until it really happened. The impossible part here is that those who have not learned God’s truth cannot understand what I just wrote. It seems like so much arrogance, and that is probably why those who do understand are reluctant to share this information. The world around us, having had 2000 years to polish their deceptions, have got a firm grip on religion.

In order to understand scripture, one’s desire for truth must become a passion. It is better done in small groups with others who seek truth. Seeking God with all you have and asking Him for truth – and waiting on Him to answer - is important.. I think it must be acknowledged that God will know if you are sincerely seeking Him – frauds need not apply.

I think many will do like the Jews and seek some sign that these words are true. The Jews wanted one from Yeshua as well, and it was not that long before the sign was given.:

Matt 12:38–41 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

So, anticipating a question to all this, I’ll answer what I think will be asked: how do I receive the truth?

Answer: I’m certain that many remember all the warnings that were given in scripture regarding evil people arising and distort the teachings of Yeshua and His Apostles.  Jude 1:3-4 There will be wolves in sheep’s disguise and may deceive even “the elect.” Matthew 24:24

Do you think that these warnings were for only the first century people? Second century? A short internet search should quickly show that this deception has never stopped. It is going on today. Where can you find it? Look around. Search your church’s statements of faith. Look at the doctrines you are being taught with their “proof texts.’

The corruption of scriptures is real. There will be those “authorities” who understand Greek or Hebrew and dismiss all those errors as minor - with no true impact. Friends, those minor errors, those additions, those mistranslated words have hidden the truth from the masses.

So, what do we do to get the truth? First, we believe Yahweh:

Jer 31:30–34a YLT Lo, days are coming, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have made with the house of Israel And with the house of Judah a new covenant, Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers, In the day of My laying hold on their hand, To bring them out of the land of Egypt, In that they made void My covenant, And I ruled over them—an affirmation of Jehovah. For this is the covenant that I make, With the house of Israel, after those days, An affirmation of Jehovah, I have given My law in their inward part, and on their heart I do write it, And I have been to them for God, And they are to me for a people. And they do not teach any more each his neighbor, and each his brother, Saying, Know ye Jehovah, For they all know Me, from their least unto their greatest.

Gal 3:5–7 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, Yahweh and great shall be the peace of your children.

John 6:44–45 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

1 Thess 4:8–9 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

1 John 2:26–27 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

There are those among you who desire that people do not accept these passages literally. I can certainly understand their concern. They are dealing with those who are not the Elect of God. They are Christians according to the customs of their churches only. The huge difference between my understanding and the local church pastor or teacher is that my view includes ONLY those whom God has given His spirit. Your local church leaders think that all of you already have God’s spirit. They do not want anyone to rock their boat.

James 3:1-2 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Jas 1:5–8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways

Finally, I want to close these thoughts with this passage that I hope inspires deeper thought by the readers. It is so important.

Phil 2:12–13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

When God gives you His Truth, it will be unshakeable. You will not fear discussing it with anyone. You will not be timid when questioned. You will not be angry with those who doubt you.

May I say, if your belief is not open for a mature discussion, you probably don’t believe it. If you cannot explain the reason for your belief, then it is not your belief – it came from someone else.

HEARTBROKEN

 In our relationships with people, family or friends, who are not converted we sometimes have situations where a loved one has made choices in their lives that cause us and them heartbreak.  When this happens we must deal with it spiritually by realizing that this situation is temporary and that the pain felt by both parties is going to be resolved through time. GODS saints know that this life is temporary and that what our unconverted loved ones do today will not be counted against them just as our past sins have not been counted against us.  It is only that we were the first fruits in GODS plan to redeem humanity thus implying second fruits later on.  All the heartbreak that is current will be forgiven and they will be converted having the Holy Spirit in the age to come.  Therefore the current heartbreak should not be our focus but rather the future heart healing.  GOD allows the unconverted to do what they want and that is sin.  The saints no longer do what they formerly did but now must kill that old self to become a new creation in Jesus.  We no longer have our own will that led to sin and death but live by the will of GOD who now controls our lives if we submit to HIM.  Remember, not my will but your will be done.  We are to be like Jesus Christ in total submission to his FATHER and then his FATHER becomes our FATHER.  This same opportunity will be presented to those relatives and friends at a future time when GOD will wink at their sins, they will truly repent and be forgiven and receive HIS Holy Spirit.  It will be a repeat of what happened to us but at a time after us.  This should be our focus, our hope for our unconverted loved ones, not the current heartbreak of this age.  We are to be the teachers of the currently unconverted of this current evil age.  Therefore it is extremely important that we strive to make our calling and election sure so that we can be there for them in that future day.  If we truly love, agape, our unconverted friends and loved ones then this should be our focus.  We are unable to help them now other than to love and pray for them but if we are successful in our election then we will be given access to the power of our GOD that just as Jesus lives in us now they will live in Jesus and in us.  This will be the fulfillment of Micah 4  and   Isaiah 30:19,20,21  we will be their Elohim, their teachers.  What GOD and Christ did for us now GOD, Christ and us will do for them.  This requires patience and understanding but it gives hope to all concerned that John 3:16,17 is very true. 

To all of you out there who are faced with heartbreak remember these things.  Psalm 147:3  Isaiah 61:1  Isaiah 57:18,19  2 Corinthians 1:3,4   Psalm 34:18   Jeremiah 33:6  Isaiah 30:26  Hosea 6:1 

GENTILES ARE INDEED WITHOUT THE LAW BUT STILL UNDER IT

1 Corinthians 9:20,21 The word “under”. Strongs G1722  a good rendering is, give self wholly to,  whereas the word “having, follow, outside or without” as in various translations is Strongs G459 it does not mean the gentiles were not under the law but that they just didn’t keep it.  The gentiles did not “wholly give themselves to the law”.  There is only one definition for sin under the law, violating the Ten Commandments.  There isn’t one law for Jews and another for gentiles.  If gentiles were not under the law then they couldn’t sin, but yet…Romans 3:9,19  Romans 4:15  put gentiles under sin just as Jews.  It is ignorance to say that the gentiles are not under the law because this would mean they could not sin. 

When Moses made the covenant of the law with Israel he said, Deuteronomy 29:14,15  “those not with them there that day”, was everyone else in the world. 

Israel was to be a model nation, an example to the world of a people who GOD blessed abundantly and other nations were to see this and desire the same blessings Deuteronomy 28:1,210  Anyone desiring these blessings were required to become an Israelite and were to treated as one born in the land.  Exodus 12:48,49  Isaiah 56:6,7  Leviticus 19:33,34  What GOD was doing with Israel was proselytizing in order to bring the world under HIS law but Israel failed miserably and eventually GOD divorced them. 

Even though Israel failed the record of their experiences is recorded in the scriptures as well as the 613 commandments.  This system of laws has never been changed or altered and is the same today and all unconverted people are condemned to death by them.  The only way to escape this death is Christ.   

The tables of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written contained only the Ten Commandments, the thou shalt nots, but said nothing about if thou did and violated them.  This is where the book of the law of Moses enters as it proscribed the punishment for the violation of the Ten Commandments.  The Ten Commandments were the statutes and the law of Moses contained the judgments.  This is the whole law all 613 Commandments of the Torah.  Anyone that voluntarily puts themselves under the Ten Commandments is under the entire law and Jesus did not abolish one jot or tittle of the law.  Matthew 5:17,18   The unconverted people are all under the law anyway until the come to Christ.  GOD will judge all people either by the law or by faith and grace. The church is being judged today to found worthy because we will not be judged after Jesus returns but before, before the saints are changed.  1 Peter 5:17   Hebrews 12:25  1 Corinthians 11:31,32   2 Thessalonians 1:5  The Laodiceans are neither cold or hot, that is being a church of GOD are obviously not under the law but they have also neglected the covenant of faith and grace and this produces a problem with judgment.  Therefore they must not love their lives unto death and be willing to buy gold tried in the fire of the great tribulation, they must be martyred and those who are will be in the first resurrection with GODS elect saints.  Those who do not will perish in the tribulation.  These people quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit to the breaking point and disqualified themselves for salvation.  

So, I hope the reader can see that everyone is under the law except the church and that law and grace are the two methods GOD uses to judge humanity.

MESSAGE TO GODS SCATTERED ELECT

 Given the harsh reality of the world’s economic system there are a few things that I would strongly recommend my readers to consider.  1.  Keep some cash at home if you can.   2.  Stock up on non perishable foods, dry goods and canned goods like fruits vegetables and meats, flour, coffee, and any medications and personal hygiene products.  3.  If able buy some silver bullion.  1 Troy ounce rounds that you can hold in your hand, not on paper.  

I believe there is a possibility that very hard times may be coming.  If we are watching world events as Jesus said we should do then it should be obvious that the nations have gone into extremely high levels of debt while at the same time debasing their currencies.  The result is high inflation and decreasing amount of goods in the supply chain.  I have been following this situation for many years and know that eventually everything is going to come crashing down.  Will it be tomorrow or next month, I don’t know but the indicators are all bad and we need to prepare as best as we can.  This, when it does happen, is what I call the false tribulation.  There may also be at the same time wars breaking out around the world as currently there are many hotspots that could explode at any time.  

Please do not be overly alarmed or go to excessive measures but be realistic and stay within what you are able to do because I will say that this may be an event that will stretch out over time.  It is very difficult to predict anything when we are not in direct control of events.  It is as they say, better safe than sorry.  Perhaps many of you have already taken steps to do what I have recommended but if not it may not be too late to start.  This is stepping out on faith to believe what the prophets, Jesus and the Apostles wrote about concerning these days.  The list of things I gave is not all inclusive so determine what your needs are and prepare as best as you can remembering to not panic but keep a level head.  We do what we can but look to GOD to do what we can’t.  Above all continue in your walk with Christ, always submit to the power of his GOD to guide you in all things.  

JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW

 

It is extremely important to understand how to count days. The count of days is from one day to the next day, you can’t call the day you begin with as a full day, you start on a day then moving to the next day is a full day.  To calculate when Pentecost falls you begin on the weekly Sabbath and move to the first day of the week, this is one day, then continuing the count for seven weekly sabbaths that will be 49 days and then the next day, Sunday, is the 50th day, Pentecost.  Below are two months that will be used for you to make the proper count. Begin on Saturday the 7th and move to Sunday the 8th and this is one day. Continue counting to month 2 Saturday the 26th, the 7th sabbath . Then one more day to Sunday the 27th which is Pentecost.  You can also do this count backwards because you always have two fixed dates, the weekly Sabbath and Pentecost both of which always fall on their own day of the week.  

Month 1

SUN              MON              TUE             WED       THUR              FRI              SAT

   1          2          3        4         5          6          7

   8          9         10      12       13        14        15

   16       17        18      19       20        21        22

   23       24        25      26       27        28        29

   30       31

Month 2

SUN    MON    TUE    WED    THUR   FRI    SAT

                             1           2           3           4         5

6           7              8           9          10         11       12

13        14            15         16         17         18       19

20        21            22         23         24         25       26

27       28             29        30

Furthermore, if you count 10 days backwards from the 27th you arrive on Thursday the 17th, the day Jesus ascended to heaven.  Also, from the month 1 sabbath, the 7th, count backwards 3 full days and this will be Wednesday the 4th Passover, the day Jesus was murdered. 

The first day of unleavened bread, a high sabbath day, was on the day after the Passover, the 5th, and the last day of unleavened bread was the 13th.  During the days of unleavened bread and after his resurrection, Jesus met two disciples on the road to Emmaus,  Luke 24:13 and when the three of them went into a house then, Luke 24:30  Jesus broke a loaf of leavened bread and blessed it, and this happened on the sabbath that Jesus was resurrected. Remember that days back then began at sunset so it would be a full 12 hours or so before daylight.  Jesus blessed leavened bread during the days of unleavened bread, specifically on the second day of unleavened bread, and as the disciples said, Luke 24:21  the third day from Passover.  The two disciples later told others about how Jesus was MADE KNOWN TO THEM in the breaking of bread. Luke 24:35   So the during this one week period of time Jesus fulfilled the Passover , the weekly Sabbath, the days of unleavened bread and later Pentecost.  Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.   True Christians do not keep any of the old covenant laws, none of them.  We are in the new covenant with the two greatest laws ever that GOD works out in us.  

LOVE GIVING AND GODS WORKS VERSUS HUMAN WORKS AND HUMAN LOVE

Jesus was the only human to ever match GODS level of love because his GOD and FATHER created him this way.  Jesus told us that his FATHER did all the works that the people of his day witnessed him doing . Human love is not the same kind of love as GODS love. In the worlds churches only human level love is practiced. The false churches plan giving events, like feeding the poor.  They plan the entire thing by putting an ad in the local paper announcing the event and church members prepare the food for the appointed day.  Everything they have done was planned by them not by GOD.   True giving is unplanned, it is like what the Good Samaritan did, it comes like a bolt out of the blue and places you in a situation where you are totally reliant on GODS love to be the force, power and motive behind your actions to help those in whatever need they may have.  In this way your works do not enter and are assured to be GODS work in you.  You cannot plan for something that takes you by surprise.  Only in this sense scripture calls these works your works, but it is well known that the true source of the works was GOD.  GOD motivates HIS people with HIS love both to love HIM and their neighbor.  Without this GODLY Love all types or forms of kindness, giving and compassion are operating in human love only.  When true Christians give their left hand doesn’t know what their right hand is doing.  It’s not a physically planned thing.  True Christians operate towards the carnal world under GODS direct motivation but within the true church it is different because it is true Christians giving to other true Christians and under these circumstances the act of giving and the plan to give are both driven and motivated by GOD.  An example of this was Paul’s collection for the saints in distress.  What makes the difference between the church and the world is that Holy Spirit is present in the true church while absent in the false churches.  People in these false churches will not be able to discern the difference and will indeed credit GOD for their giving but in truth it was all their own work based entirely on human love.   Usually these false churches brag about the things they do in their communities and around the world.  You have seen their commercials on TV and their asking for money for some kind of event they have planned.  You have seen the write ups in the local paper, “Church feeds over 100 people”  or something similar.  They have their reward in this world but none with GOD.  

I hope this article has shown the difference In giving between GODLY motivation or human planning.  Paul said, “it is GOD who works in you both to will and to do HIS good pleasure” , so then, in this sense faith is shown by GODS working in us because faith without GODS works in us is dead.  Therefore, the faith of the world’s churches is dead because their works are their own and not GODS.