The Church of God

There are so many different churches and denominations today but there were no denominations in the early church. There was only one church established by Jesus at that time. However, after Jesus ascended into heaven and the apostles were martyred, numerous churches were established in the world. The way to find the true church established by God is very simple and easy. You just need to find out what church did Jesus establish and the apostles attended. You can find the answer if you look carefully in the Bible.

All those who were saved attended the same church. Firtst, let's look at the case of the Apostle Paul who preached the gospel to many people traveling to various countries and regions in the world.

1Co 1:1~3 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Apostle Paul mentioned the name of the church which he belongs to the "Church of God" at the beginning of his letter to the members in Corinth. What teachings of God did he preach to the members in the Church of God?

1Co 11:23~26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

The Apostle Paul made it clear that what he delivered to the members came from Jesus, saying, "I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you." Then he preached the Passover to them. He emphasized that he was preaching the Passover of the new covenant because he was taught about the truth of the Passover by Jesus, and that we should also celebrate the Passover.

1Co 11:22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!

Paul rebuked those who celebrated th New Covenant Passover which was established by Jesus himself, in an unworthy manner, saying, "Do you despise the church of God?" Judging from this, we can see it was the Church of God that celebrated the Passover and preached it according to God's teaching.

Lk 22:7~15 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."...They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Jesus, who had sent Peter and John to prepare the Passover said, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover." So the church that believes in Jesus must have the truth of the New Covenant Passover. 

Lk 22:19~20 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

In Luke 22 we can find the same words written in 1Corinthians 11. Jesus established the Passover of the new covenant for us through His own flesh and blood. Jesus Christ came to this earth in the flesh and established the Church of God through the New Covenant Passover. Since then, the Church of God has been keeping the Passover which the apostles and the members of the early Church received from Jesus.

Let's examine one more characteristic of the Church of God established by Jesus.

Lk 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

Jesus appointed the Sabbath and kept it as was His custom. The Sabbath that Jesus observed was of the new covenant. So, according to His example the disciples and the members of the early Church also kept the Sabbath.

Ac 17:2~3 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said.

Ac 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 

The Bible shows in several places that Paul kept the Sabbath every week as his custom was according to the teaching of Jesus. Thus, the Church of God established by Jesus had the regulation of the Sabbath as well as the regulations of the Passover.

Jesus promised salvation to the church that the apostles and disciples attended. The church that has the promise of salvation keeps the regulations of the new covenant. What church has all of these characteristics? It is the Church of God.