The One True Church: Biblical Insights and Catholic Claims

The One True Church

What does the Bible say about how many people born will accept the Lord and be in heaven? Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7 13 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. II Peter 3 9

How many denominations are there worldwide? Estimated 45,000

What about Christianity in America? There wonderful impact of Christianity in America. It has been said that those who came to South America came in search of gold, while those who came to North America came is search of God. is something about the

Yes, the Catholic Church claims to be the one true Church, the sole Church of Christ founded by Jesus and entrusted to the apostles. This belief is rooted in the concept of apostolic succession, where the Church believes that the Pope is the direct successor of Simon Peter, and all bishops are successors of the apostles, inheriting the fullness of Christ's teaching and authority. This claim is often supported by the Four Marks of the Church (one, holy, catholic, and apostolic), which the Catholic Church asserts define the one true Church.

The One True Church Is the Body of Christ [Jesus] feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1 22 And He [the Father] put all things in subjection under His in one hope of your calling. Ephesians 4.4 There is one body (church) and one Spirit, just as also you were called

The church is not a building or even a denomination, it is comprised of all born again believers from Pentecost (A.D. 31-33?) in Acts 2 to the rapture (TBD) of the church in I Thessalonians 4.13-18. Please enjoy this photo as a sampling.

The true Church is not an organization of a single group of professing believers who either claim that God has declared that they alone are His chosen church or for that matter one of His chosen churches. Rather the true church is the aggerate of all true believers in Christ who have been Spirit baptized into the body (synonymous with the true church) though faith in Christ as declared in I Corinthians 12.13. There is no pope of the Christian Church, but there is a head being Christ alone as stated in Colossians 1.18.

The Church

Seven word pictures the Bible uses to describe the church 1. The Church 2. The Temple

[Usefilm Photo #139217] 4. The Flock 3. Bride of Christ 6. The Household of Faith 5. Vine and Branches

Pauls metaphor when describing God s people in the New Testament favorite 7. The Body of Christ

MAY HIS BLOOD BE ON US AND OUR CHILDREN MATTHEW 27.25 BIRTH OF THE CHURCH ACTS 2 1 When the day of Pentecost But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Romans 11 17 had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2

Major Scriptural Pockets on the One True Church Matthew 16.17-19 John 17.13-20 Matthew 26.26-29 Acts 2:41-43 Ephesians 4.4-6 I Corinthians 10.16-17 I Corinthians 12

And Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Matthew 16 17

But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word. John 17 13

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father s kingdom. Matthew 26 26

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. Acts 2 41 Apostles teaching Fellowship Breaking of Bread Prayer

Jesus is the head of the body (church) Ephesians 1.22-23 The oneness and unity of God Ephesians 4.4-6 The church and body of Christ is formed out of Christ s death, burial and resurrection and seen in the Eucharist I Corinthians 10.16-17 Spiritual gift(s) for building up the body II Corinthians 12.1-12 The salvational baptism of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ I Corinthians 12.13 Your supreme importance to body of Christ I Corinthians 12.14-31

And He put all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1 22 the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. Ephesians 2 16 And might reconcile them both in one body to God through members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, Ephesians 3 6 To be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow in one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; Ephesians 4 12 together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is 30 because we are members of His body. Ephesians 5

One body (Church) There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4 4 One Spirit One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God One Father of all, over all, through all, and in all

16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. I Corinthians 10

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common 4 5 6 distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. I Corinthians 12 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things,

There is not one drop of water in the following passage were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. I Corinthians 12 13 For by one Spirit we

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you ; or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, I Corinthians 14 18