The Founder of the One True Church

For us to determine the founder of the ONE TRUE CHURCH, we need to go to a source with credibility. If we were to seek the founder of a foundation or business, we would go to the courthouses and archives of the land and read official documents telling us who started, built, owned and began that business or town.

In determining the founder of a spiritual organization, we must go to the only official document in that field. The Bible. What we need to determine is the fact that if the Bible shows only one founder of the official and only true church, we must accept the testimony of the Bible. If we learn that the founder of our church is not recorded in the Bible, we must question whether ours is the ONE TRUE CHURCH or not.

Hopefully all will be honest enough to examine these truths taken from God's word and make necessary changes as the teaching warrants.

There are several passages of scripture that we can produce that gives us a clue and a hint as well as an outright statement of who the founder of the ONE TRUE CHURCH actually is.

Matt 16:18"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it"

A study of the context will reveal that Peter is not the rock upon whom the church was to be built, but it was his statement in verse 16 which was the foundation upon which Christ would build His church.

Matt 16:16 "And Simon Peter answered and said 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".

Concerning this foundation, the apostle Paul also made reference to it. Notice in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Paul also talks about this foundation in Ephesians 2:20 when he is talking about our relationship within the household of faith or the church. Notice then, "v19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone."

Peter also mentions the fact that Christians are the living stones that are being built up. 1 Peter 2:4-6 "And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture; Behold I lay in Zion A Choice stone, a precious stone,and he who believes in him shall not be disappointed."

Another passage to consider about Christ being the founder is the fact that Christ bought and paid for the church. Notice Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

The above passage was within the context of Paul giving instructions to the elders of the church at Ephesus. Here he says that Christ purchased the church with His own blood. The value then, of the ONE TRUE CHURCH is beyond human value.

Another right given to Jesus Christ as the founder also states that He (Jesus Christ) is the head of the church. Ephesians 5:23-24 "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything."

We also notice in the passage above that Christ is the Savior of that body. And we also see that the church is subject to Christ. Any spiritual body that does not obey Christ and subject themselves to Christ, are not the ONE TRUE CHURCH.

And finally, we can also reason that Since Christ built the church and since Christ purchased the church with His blood, and since Christ is the head of the church, we can also conclude that Christ is the lawgiver of His church.

Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified."

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