First identifying sign of the true church

There are seven (7) distinguished signs that distinguish the true church of God from all others and they are as follows:

1. The Church is small in comparison to that of the World

From Jesus’ own words we have been instructed saying; “Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their deeds you shall recognize them.”

Jesus Christ went on to say, “Not everyone who say to Me, “Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name: and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you, away from Me: you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:13-16, 21-22).

Again thus says the Lord; “I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’ “For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18: 19-20).

This does not sound like a big mega establishment, for thus says the Lord again, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” And He warned them saying; “Take heed that no one deceives you, for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Luke 12:32; Matthew 24:5).

 It is to the many and not the few that the Lord said; "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?” The question is what it is that the Lord asked us to do as being Lord and the many are not adhering or submitting to it? What the Lord requires of us for being Lord and the many are not submitting to is the instructions the Lord gave saying; “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30. 26:2).

Jesus also said to His disciples, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27-28).

Observing the Sabbaths therefore, is the first identifying sign of the true church of God, on multiple occasions the Lord made mention of the Sabbaths as being an outward sign to identify Him and His people for this is what the Lord said:

a.       "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.”

b.      Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed" (Exodus 31: 13-14; 16-17).

c.        “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” And, “I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20:12, 19-20)

And to those who would venture to say that this perpetual sign/covenant applies only to the Jews, this is what the scriptures say, “Therefore receive one another (Jews & Gentiles), just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name." And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" (Romans 15: 7-11).

Therefore, without being judgmental and allowing the word of God to be the judge, it is absolutely clear that if we are not rejoicing and glorifying God together with His people in accordance to the perpetual covenant He made with them, then it is without a shadow of doubt that we are not the true church. The root cause of the many disparities, confusions and divisions in the church the body of believers is in the area of worship and failing to take into consideration that Satan`s quest is to be worshiped just as God is worshiped.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph