Identify the True Church
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.‘
It is inevitable that any thinking religious person will, at some point in his churchgoing experience, consider the question of whether or not he comprehensively knows the truth and has correctly identified that establishment that represents the truth.
Then again, there is that contingent of worshipper who accepts what they were told from childhood, never bothering to consider the all-important questions. After all, aren’t all religions tools to bring all people to the same end result?
This booklet is intended to acquaint sincere believers with information not usually discussed in established church denominations. Most worshippers are content to ‘leave it to the professionals’ under the presumption that their denomination’s scholars, who profess to understand theological matters, are adequately informed and are able to accurately represent the full Truth of God’s Word on all things. Most take the position that we need not attempt to investigate incongruities ourselves, assuming their esteemed theologians’ conclusions are all well founded. It’s easier to just rest comfortably, taking a more lais-sez faire approach. Why do otherwise?
Typically, worshippers rest comfortably simply identifying with their own chosen or inherited denomination. Others, not satisfied with that approach see need to identify with one particular prominent leader, in lieu of taking a ‘scripture only’ approach that so many claim too represent. But unfortunately, all too few ever make the effort to “study to show themselves approved unto God, as 2nd Timothy 2:15 admonishes, and in doing so, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
But are all denominations or independent ministries, large or small, as unbiased and as accurate as they all claim to be with respect to representing the True Words of God? We would like to think they are, but the wide doctrinal divergences among them would suggest otherwise, and with it, present a caution to all who seek their fellowship.
Being called of God is no small matter. History is replete with accounts of those who have ‘made shipwreck’, as Paul explained in 1st Timothy 1:19. “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” This speaks to the situation where the believer correctly HAD the Truth, and lost awareness of it for whatever reason: either through neglect or deception. But what of those who haven’t done due diligence pursuing it in the first place? What of those who are benignly ignorant of what the Bible actually says on a number of key teachings?
It is these that this booklet seeks to motivate. Rich Traver
View or download this 12 chapter book
