The True Church

Kodi mpingo umodzi woona uli kuti? Zili bwanji? Ndi zizindikiro ziti zomwe zimadziwika nazo? Mafunso amenewa ndi ofunika kwa anthu amene akufuna kudziwa ndi kutsatira Yesu. 

Mpingo umodzi woona wapangidwa ndi okhulupirira owona mwa Ambuye Yesu Khristu. Amapangidwa ndi osankhidwa a Mulungu - otembenuka mtima, otsatira owona a Yesu Khristu. mwa amene ife tingathe kuzindikira maitanidwe ndi kusankha kwa Mulungu; kukonkha kwa mwazi wa Mwana Wake; ntchito yoyeretsa ya Mzimu Woyera; mwa munthu wotero tikhoza kuzindikira membala wa mpingo woona wa Khristu. Ndi Mpingo umene tidzaona chipatso cha Mzimu Woyera chikugwira ntchito m'miyoyo ya munthu aliyense chifukwa - "ndi zipatso zawo mudzawadziwa" (Mateyu 7:20).

Awa amabadwanso mwa Mzimu: amasonyeza “kulapa kwa Mulungu, chikhulupiriro mwa Ambuye wathu Yesu Kristu,” ndi chiyero m’maganizo ndi m’makhalidwe. Podana ndi uchimo ndi kukonda chilungamo, amalambira ndi mtima umodzi, akutsogozedwa ndi Mzimu umodzi, akumanga pa maziko amodzi. Onse amakokedwa ku malo amodzi odabwitsa—Ambuye Yesu Kristu, ndipo amapeza chitsogozo ndi chidziŵitso chawo m’buku limodzi lalikulu louziridwa​—Baibulo. Onsewa, nthawi zonse, akhoza kunena ndi mtima umodzi kuti, “Aleluya,” chifukwa ali ndi “maganizo a Khristu” (Afil. 2:5). Mpingo woona umodziwu sudalira atumiki a padziko lapansi, ngakhale kuti amaona kuti ndi ofunika kwambiri kwa iwo amene amalalikira Uthenga Wabwino wa Khristu. 

Moyo wa mamembala ake sudalira umembala wa mpingo ndi zofunika zina. Lili ndi Mutu Waukulu m'modzi - M'busa m'modzi - Bishopu wamkulu m'modzi - ndipo ndiye Ambuye Yesu Khristu. Mulungu yekha, mwa Mzimu Wake, amavomereza mamembala ku Mpingo, ngakhale angagwiritse ntchito ena kuloza kwa Khristu yemwe ali khomo lokha lolowera kwa Atate. Palibe munthu pa dziko lapansi amene angatsegule – angakhale mabishopu, abusa, ansembe kapena masinodi. Munthu ayenera kutchedwa ndi Mulungu.

Munthu akalapadi moona mtima, kuvomereza Yesu kukhala Ambuye ndi Mpulumutsi wake ndi kutenga masitepe a uphuphunzi monga analongosolera Ambuye wathu Yesu Mwiniwake, mwachitsanzo, kudzikana, kunyamula mtanda wake ndi kumutsatira Iye, akhoza kutsimikiziridwa kuti iye alidi . tsopano membala wa Mpingo umodzi woona. Akhoza kuchotsedwa mu mpingo ndi atsogoleri oikidwa ndi anthu, kuchotsedwa ku chiyanjano cha chipembedzo ndi mipingo ina; koma palibe ndipo palibe amene angatseke iye kunja kwa Mpingo woona!

Mpingo woona uli ndi moyo umene sudalira mitundu, miyambo, ma cathedrals, nyumba za matchalitchi, maguwa, mafonti, oweruza, kapena chilichonse chokomera anthu. Wakhalapo kwa zaka mazana ambiri ndipo wapitirizabe pamene zinthu zonsezi zachotsedwa; nthawi zambiri amakankhidwira kumdima wa chipululu, mapanga kapena malo obisika ngakhale ndi iwo amene amatcha dzina la Khristu. Mpingo woona wakhazikika pa maziko amodziwo, amene mtumwi Paulo analankhula mu 1 Akor. 3:11 : “Pakuti palibe munthu akhoza kuika maziko ena, koma amene aikidwa kale, Yesu Kristu.” Sizimadalira kalikonse koma kukhalapo kwa Khristu ndi Mzimu Wake; chotero, Mpingo uwu ndi wosawonongeka, pokhala wodzozedwa ndi Mulungu.

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene uli nawo mayina aulemu amakono ndi mwayi, ndi lonjezo la ulemerero wamtsogolo; ili ndilo thupi la Khristu, gulu la nkhosa la Khristu, banja la chikhulupiriro ndi banja la Mulungu, kachisi wa Mulungu, kachisi wa Mzimu wake; Mpingo wa ana oyamba kubadwa amene maina awo alembedwa kumwamba, ansembe achifumu ndi mbadwo wosankhika, chuma chake chapadera, chogulidwa chake, pokhala pa Mulungu, kuunika kwa dziko lapansi, mchere ndi tirigu wa dziko lapansi. . Umenewu ndi Mpingo umene Yesu analonjeza kuti “zipata za gehena sizidzaulaka uwo,” ndipo kwa iye akuti, “Ine ndili pamodzi ndi inu masiku onse, kufikira chimaliziro cha dziko lapansi.” Uwu ndi Mpingo umene mkwatibwi, mkazi wa Mwanawankhosa adzasankhidwa kulamulira ndi Khristu zaka chikwi. (Onani 1 Akorinto 12:27, Yohane 3:29, Chiv. 21: 9, Luka 12:32, Luka 12:32, 1 Akorinto 12:23; Ahebri 6: 9; 2:9, Aef. 2:22; Mat.

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona wogwirizana. Ziŵalo zake zimagwirizana pa nkhani zazikulu za chikhulupiriro zimene Malemba amanena momvekera bwino, “kuyesayesa kusunga umodzi wa Mzimu mu chomangira cha mtendere. Pali thupi limodzi, mzimu umodzi....chiyembekezo chimodzi cha mayitanidwe anu, Ambuye mmodzi, chikhulupiriro chimodzi, ubatizo umodzi, Mulungu mmodzi ndi Atate wa onse, amene ali pamwamba pa onse ndi mwa onse ndi mwa inu nonse.” ( Aef. 3-5). 

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene uli ndi chiyero chenicheni. Ziwalo zake zonse ndi zoyera mwa Khristu Yesu. Iwo sali oyera mwa kudzinenera, dzina, ndi chiweruzo chachifundo; ali oyera m’machitidwe, m’ntchito, m’chenicheni, m’moyo, ndi m’chowonadi; pakuti onsewa ali munjira yakufanizidwa ndi chifaniziro cha Yesu Khristu mwa Mulungu ( Aroma 8:29 ). Palibe munthu wosayera amene ali wa Mpingo uwu.

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene uli padziko lonse lapansi. Si Mpingo wa fuko limodzi kapena anthu; mamembala ake akupezeka m’mbali zonse za dziko lapansi kumene Uthenga Wabwino umalandiridwa ndi kukhulupirira. Mu Mpingo uwu mulibe kusiyana Myuda kapena Mhelene, kapolo kapena mfulu, mwamuna kapena mkazi; Mamembala ake okhulupirika, a chinenero chilichonse ndi manenedwe onse, adzasonkhanitsidwa kuchokera kumpoto, kum’mwera, kum’maŵa ndi kumadzulo m’tsiku lomaliza, kukakhala ndi Kristu pa kubweranso kwake. ( Agal. 3:28; Mat. 24:31 )

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene udzapirira mpaka mapeto. Palibe chimene chingaugwetse kapena kuuwononga. Ziwalo zake zikhoza kuzunzidwa, kuponderezedwa, kutsekeredwa m’ndende, kudulidwa mitu, kutenthedwa; koma Mpingo woona suzimitsidwa konse; idzukanso ku zowawa zake; umakhalabe moyo kupyolera mu moto ndi kusefukira. Ikaphwanyidwa pamalo ena, imamera kwina, chifukwa chikondi cha Mulungu ndicho maziko a moyo wake, zolinga zake ndi kukhalapo kwake.

Afarao, Herode, Nero, ndi Mariya amwazi agwira ntchito pachabe kuti athetse Mpingo; adapha masauzande awo, kenako iwo eniwo adafa, kulephera kotheratu. Mpingo woona umaposa onsewo. Ndi chivumbi chomwe chathyola nyundo zambiri; ndi chitsamba choyaka nthawi zambiri, koma chosanyeka. Iwo amakhalabe moyo!

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene palibe membala wake adzawonongeka ngati akhala mwa Khristu. Pamene maina awo alembedwa mu Mpingo woona, ali ndi chitsimikizo cha chisamaliro cha tsiku ndi tsiku cha Mulungu pa iwo; kupembedzera kosalekeza kwa Mwana; kukonzanso kosalekeza ndi kuyeretsa mphamvu ya Mzimu Woyera yomwe imawazungulira ndi kuwateteza ngati linga lamphamvu. Palibe mwana wankhosa wokondeka wa Ambuye amene adzazulidwe m'dzanja la Atate.

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene ukugwira ntchito ya Khristu pa dziko lapansi. Mamembala ake ndi gulu laling’ono, losapezeka mu gulu lirilonse, oŵerengeka mu chiŵerengero poyerekezera ndi mamiliyoni amene amadzitcha Dzina Lake. Iwo ndi amene akutembenuza dziko; amene amasintha mwayi wa maufumu ndi “mapemphero awo ogwira mtima, ochokera pansi pa mtima; amene ali antchito achangu m’kufalitsa Mawu oyera a Mulungu kumene ali. ( Machitidwe 17:6; Yakobo 5:16 )

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene udzafike ku mapeto aulemerero. Ogonjetsa okhulupirika mu izi adzaperekedwa opanda banga ku Mpandowachifumu wa Atate ngati Mkwatibwi wa Yesu. Mipando yachifumu, maukulu, ndi maulamuliro pa dziko lapansi zidzathedwa; ulemu, maudindo, ndi mphatso zonse zidzapita; koma Mkwatibwi wa Khristu adzawala monga nyenyezi mu tsiku limenelo ndi kusinthidwa kukhala monga Yesu pamene Iye adzawabwerera iwo. Pamene miyala yamtengo wapatali ya Ambuye idzapangidwa, maonekedwe a ana a Mulungu adzachitika. (Onani Aefeso 5:27; Ahebri 12:26-27; Mateyu 13:43; 1 Yohane 3:2; Malaki 3:17)

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene onse ayenera kukhalamo ngati akufuna kukhala mwa iwo amene adzapanga Mkwatibwi wa Khristu. Palibe gulu lachipembedzo, mpingo kapena chipembedzo chomwe chili Mpingo woona. Ambiri adzati kwa Ambuye tsiku limenelo, “Ambuye, Ambuye, kodi sitinanenera mawu m’dzina lanu, kutulutsa ziwanda m’dzina lanu, ndi kuchita zodabwitsa zambiri m’dzina lanu? 'Ndipo pamenepo ndidzawawuza iwo, УSindinakudziweni konse (monga Mkwatibwi Wanga); chokani kwa Ine, inu akuchita kusayeruzika”’” ( Mt. 7:22-23 ).

Uwu ndi Mpingo woona umene wasiyidwa ku chifuniro cha Atate wawo monga Yesu analiri ndipo ali ndi ubale weniweni ndi Ambuye wawo. Cholinga chawo chimodzi ndi kukhala okondweretsa Iye nthawi zonse ndikukhala ndi moyo wopereka ulemerero ndi matamando kwa Iye chifukwa cha Yemwe Iye ali ndi zonse zomwe Iye wawachitira, akuchita, ndi zomwe adzawachitira mtsogolo. Mamembala ampingowu adadulidwa mitima yawo ndipo apatsidwa mtima watsopano ndi Mulungu. Iwo tsopano ali “zolengedwa zatsopano mwa Kristu Yesu... zinthu zakale zapita, zonse zakhala zatsopano! ( 2 Akorinto 5:17 ) ndipo chisangalalo cha kulamulira monga Mkwatibwi wa Kristu chagona pamaso pawo.

Where is the one true Church? What is it like? What are the marks by which it is known? These questions are important to those who are seeking to know and follow Jesus. 

The one true Church is composed of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is made up of God’s elect - those converted, true followers of Jesus Christ. In whomever we can discern the calling and election of God; the sprinkling of the blood of His Son; the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit; in such a person we can recognize a member of Christ’s true Church. It is a Church in which we will see the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of each individual for - “by their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:20).

These are born again of the Spirit: they exhibit “repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,” and holiness in thought and conduct. Hating sin and loving righteousness, they worship with one heart, being led by one Spirit, building upon the one foundation. They are all drawn to the one wonderful center - the Lord Jesus Christ, and they draw their guidance and knowledge from one great inspired book - the Bible. These all, at all times, can say with one heart, “Hallelujah,” because they possess the “mind of Christ” (Phil. 2:5). This one true Church is not dependent on earthly ministers, however much they value those who preach the Gospel of Christ. 

The life of its members does not hang upon church membership and other requirements. It has only one Great Head - one Shepherd - one Chief Bishop - and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. God alone, by His Spirit, admits the members to the Church, though He may use others to point to Christ which is the only door of access to the Father. No man on earth can open it - be they bishops, presbyters, priests or synods. One must be called of God.

Once a man truly repents, accepting Jesus as his Sovereign Lord and Savior and taking the steps of discipleship as outlined by our Lord Jesus Himself, i.e., the denial of self, taking up of his ross and following Him, he may be assured he is now a member of the one true Church. He may be excommunicated by man-ordained leaders, cut off from religious fellowship from other churches; but nothing and no one can shut him out of the true Church!

The true Church has an existence which does not depend on forms, ceremonies, cathedrals, church buildings, pulpits, fonts, magistrates or any act of favor whatever from the hand of man. It has lived on for centuries and has continued when all these things have been removed; often she has been driven into the obscurity of the wilderness, caves or secret places even by those who professed the name of Christ. The true Church is based upon that one foundation, spoken of by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 3:11: “for no one can lay any other foundation than that which is already laid, Jesus Christ.” It depends on nothing but the indwelling presence of Christ and His Spirit; thus, this Church is indestructible, being God-ordained.

This is the true Church to which the Scriptural titles of present honor and privilege, and the promise of future glory belong; this is the body of Christ, the flock of Christ, the household of faith and family of God, the temple of God, temple of His Spirit; the Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven, the royal priesthood and chosen generation, His peculiar (special) treasure, His purchased possession, the habitation of God, the light of the world, the salt and wheat of the earth. This is the Church to which Jesus promises “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” and to which He says, “I am with you always, even unto to the end of the world.” This is the Church from which the bride, the Lamb’s wife will be chosen to reign with Christ a thousand years. (See 1 Cor. 12:27, John 3:29, Rev. 21:9, Luke 12:32, Gal. 3:26; 6:10, 1 Cor. 6:19; Heb. 12:23, 1 Pet. 2:9, Eph. 1:14; 2:22, Matt. 5:13-14, Lk. 3:17, Matt. 16:18 & 28:20)

This is the true Church truly unified. Its members are in harmony on the fundamental matters of faith which the Scriptures clearly state, “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, one Spirit....one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all” (Eph. 4:3-5). 

This is the true Church which possesses true sanctity. Its members are all holy in Christ Jesus. They are not holy merely by profession, name, and judgment of charity; they are holy in act, in deed, in reality, in life, and in truth; for these are all in the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ by God (Rom. 8:29). No unholy person belongs to this Church.

This is the true Church which is world-wide. It is not the Church of any one nation or people; its members are to be found in every part of the world where the Gospel is received and believed. In this Church there is no difference between Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or female; Its faithful members, of every language and tongue, will be gathered from the north, the south, the east and the west in the last day, to be with Christ at His return. (Gal. 3:28, Matt. 24:31)

This is the true Church which will endure to the end. Nothing can overthrow or destroy it. Its members may be persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned, beheaded, burned; but the true Church is never totally extinguished; it rises up again from its afflictions; it lives on through fire and flood. When crushed in one place, it springs up in another, for God’s love is the center of its life, motives and existence.

The Pharaohs, Herods, Neros, and Bloody Marys have labored in vain to stamp out the Church; they slew their thousands, and then they themselves passed away, utter failures. The true Church outlives them all. It is an anvil that has broken many hammers; it is a bush which is often burning, yet not consumed. It ever lives on!

This is the true Church of which no member will perish if they abide in Christ. Once their names are enrolled in this true Church, they have the assurance of God’s daily watch-care over them; the continual intercession of the Son; the constant renewing and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit which surrounds and protects them as a mighty fortress. Not one of the Lord’s dear lambs shall be plucked out of the Father’s Hand.

This is the true Church which does the work of Christ on earth. Its members are a little flock, not found in any one group, few in number compared to the millions who profess His Name. They are those who turn the world upside-down; which change the fortunes of kingdoms by their “effectual, earnest prayers;” who are zealous workers in spreading the pure Word of God where they are. (Acts 17:6, James 5:16)

This is the true Church which shall come to a glorious end. The faithful overcomers in this will be presented without spot before the Father’s Throne as Jesus’ Bride. Thrones, principalities, and powers upon earth shall come to nothing; dignities, offices, and endowments shall all pass away; but the Bride of Christ shall shine as the stars in that day and be changed to be like Jesus when He returns for them. When the Lord’s jewels are made up, the manifestation of the sons of God will take place. (See Ephesians 5:27, Hebrews 12:26-27, Matthew 13:43, 1 John 3:2, Malachi 3:17)

This is the true Church to which all must belong if they desire to be of those who will comprise the Bride of Christ. No religious body, church or denomination is the true Church. Many will say to the Lord in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? ‘And then I will declare to them, ”I never knew you (as My Bride); depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”’” (Mt. 7:22-23).

This is the true Church which is abandoned to the will of their Father just as Jesus was and who have a personal and intimate relationship with their Lord. Their one goal is to be always pleasing to Him and have their lives render glory and praise to Him for Who He is and all He has done, is doing, and will do for them in the future. The members of this church have undergone a circumcision of their hearts and have been given a new heart by God. They are now “new creatures in Christ Jesus...old things have passed away -- all things have become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the joy of reigning as the Bride of Christ lies before them.