Which is the Church Jesus Established?
@AlwaysAskingWhy (96)
United States
February 9, 2008 2:10pm CST
I was reading Matthew 16:18, where Jesus said " ...I will build my church and the gates of hell will never prevail against it." Which church is He referring to? There are thousands of churches out there. One church believes in the Trinity, another doesn't. One church believes Jesus is God, another doesn't. This would be analogous to a father who teaches his children when it's appropriate to cross the street. To one child- cross when the light is red. To another child - cross when the light is yellow. To the 3rd child - cross when the light is green. I don't think God would behave so irresponsibly and teach contradictory things to His children. Furthermore, the verse above says the "gates of hell will never prevail against it." So this church ( He also implied He established only one church) must have survived until now, with Jesus' authentic teachings intact, since He cannot lie and is powerful enough to protect this church from being conquered by the "gates of hell." So I'd like to know, which church in existence today, is that one church that Jesus had originally established? And is there a way to prove it, since many churches make this claim of being that one, true church Jesus founded, yet their beliefs are different from each other? Thank you all in advance for your help.
5 people like this
8 responses
@CAMILLERI (373)
• Australia
10 Feb 08
It all depends on one's belief.
I believe that the real church is the Church of Rome.
It is referred to as THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The fact that it is UNIVERSAL leads one to this conclusion.
@delaware65 (19)
• United States
10 Feb 08
I am afraid that you are very mistaken in saying that the Catholic Church is the one true Church. In the first place the Catholic church accepts what most Theologians have called the apocropha(spelling mine) It contains quite a few books that were dated and cannot be part of the Cannon of Scripture.
Next if you will examine it closely enough you will see that it preaches works as a means to salvation. If this were possible there would have been no need for Christ to die for us. After all if we could work our way to Heaven what do we need Him for?
There are many other reason for denying this occult (which is what it actually is if you will study the literal meaning of the word Occult) However there is neither the time or space to list them all here, but please believe me there are many more.
@anotherbirthday (810)
• Malaysia
7 Mar 08
I don't think so... you can count how long Jesus lived, and how far, and where he went. Did he have time to build a church? I don't think so...
regards ;)
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Jesus didn't build a church as far as a building goes. If you know and love Him you know that the church He built is in our hearts. Christians get to carry the church within them. We are to look to him for teaching and no one else.
True Christianity is a feeling, not a building a denomination or a collection plate.
Jesus lived about 31 years, Everyplace He traveled was documented, He built "churches" among people wherever He went.
Also every relative He had has been documented all the way to Adam and Eve.
Can you say as much for Prophet Mohammad?
@s_bala (75)
• India
15 Feb 08
Jesus Christ didn't establish any church. He said where 2 or 3 gathers in my name I am there in their midst.John 4:23 says true worshipers will worship Me in truth and in spirit. So Jesus never mention any particular name. Where ever a few number of people gather to worship Jesus Christ that place is called Church.
@bente63 (49)
• Denmark
7 Mar 08
I belive that Jesus refered to our self, He also said that they would break down the temple and He would raise it again in 3 days. The tempel/church is the place where the Holly spirit is and that is within us self, so be true to your self and all will be best for you. But ofcaure He advise us to read and hear Gods words to keep it in our hearths and memori and to get christian fellowship becaurse there are more power in prayer from more people together.
@delaware65 (19)
• United States
10 Feb 08
If you are going to accept the scripture you have mentioned then you must accept it all. Thus to select a church; you need to first know what they believe and what they stand for in comparison to the entire Bible. I believe that if you will study the entire book of Acts you can see certain guidelines the Apostles used in the operation of this church.Certainly we must first accept that Jesus is the Son of God and is all that he claims to be throughout the New Testament.
However if you will also read the Gospel of John who show Jesus as Deity you can better understand just who this man Jesus really was and is. If you cannot take time to read the entire Gospel, then at least read the third chapter in, along with the first six verses of chapter four.
May God bless you in your search for the truth and lead you closer to Him through His Holy Word. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to let me know.
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
18 Feb 08
Jesus also said: YOu can identify the true church if there is love around and they are not part of the world..the term world is symbolical...it means all the wrong doings of the people in the world can not be found inside the church... Could any one know who they are? please think who are they?
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
9 Feb 08
Jesus didn't establish the different denominations that we see today. There is only one church and that is the people that follow him and all of his commandments. As you have stated most churches have ether chosen a few verses to follow or have changed the meaning of various verses. I believe that he has his church in many denominations. The people that are following him as closes as they can.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
10 Feb 08
Sadly, I don't think there is one Church.I have a feeling that Jesus wouldn't recognize any of the religions. Being that He was Jewish when he came the last time but Judaism has changed too.I don't think it is G-d's fault, I think it is the people who have changed and adapted the religions to fit their lives.It doesn't make them wrong or less sacred. It just isn't the original version that Matthew was writing about.But then again, society has changed too.Jesus walked everywhere, the people He preached to were most farmers.These days we drive cars and most of us aren't farmers.Today He would have to do things differently.So I guess the Church would look differently too.
