Video 1, Part 1: Finding the True Church
In a world filled with thousands of Christian denominations—
each claiming to follow Jesus—
how can we possibly know...
which one is actually grounded in the truth?
That’s the driving question behind this series.
This is:
Finding the True Church: A Historical and Biblical Guide to Identifying the
Church Jesus Built.
But this isn’t just a title...
It’s a mission.
We’re not interested in tradition for tradition’s sake.
We’re not satisfied with popular opinion or surface-level unity.
We want to go deeper.
In this series, we’ll trace the history of the Christian
Church—
from the time of Christ to the present.
We’ll test every development, every doctrine, and every
division—
against the unchanging standard of Scripture.
Our goal?
To identify the core traits of the Church that Jesus founded...
and to distinguish them from the counterfeits that have appeared throughout
history.
If you care about truth...
If you care about Christ...
If you care about His Church...
Then this journey is for you.
Hi. My name is Bruce Hays.
And as of April first, twenty twenty-five...
I am sixty years old.
I’m the youngest son of a Southern Baptist preacher.
I was baptized at eight years old, in a Southern Baptist
church—
and chose, at eighteen, to follow in my father’s footsteps...
and become a Southern Baptist preacher.
Throughout my life—
from childhood through seminary, into marriage at twenty-three,
and now, after twenty-two years of pastoring the same church where I was
married—
I have lived and breathed the Southern Baptist tradition.
So why am I compiling this video series, called Finding the True Church?
I mean... as a Southern Baptist, wouldn’t it seem logical
that I would believe
any Southern Baptist church to represent the True Church?
And you’d probably expect that, if you asked me what church
to attend,
I’d point you to a Southern Baptist church in your community.
Easy-peezy... lemon-squeezy.
Right?
But here’s the truth.
While I believe my denomination has been faithful to
Scripture in many ways,
I’ve recently been stirred by some deeper questions.
And those questions have grown out of three realities in my life.
First—I’ve noticed a renewed interest in Christianity
around the world,
especially here in the United States.
But with that interest...
has come widespread confusion.
Millions of people are searching online, asking questions like:
“How do I find a Bible-based church?”
“Which denomination is right?”
“What is the true church, according to the Bible?”
These aren’t just intellectual questions.
They reflect a deep, heartfelt longing—
a longing to find God’s Church.
Second—even as someone deeply embedded in my
denomination...
I’ve found myself asking:
Am I in the right church?
Am I in the right denomination?
Not because I’ve had some major change of beliefs—
but because of a growing desire in me...
for a deeper faith and a clearer sense of spiritual direction.
The church where I pastor is aging.
Our numbers are declining.
And though our members are faithful...
it feels like something is missing.
Third—I’ve developed a new passion for church history.
Where I once found history classes dry and dull,
I’ve come to see that the events, controversies, and debates of the past...
hold vital clues for understanding the divisions we face today.
I’ve become fascinated by one question:
How did we end up with all these denominations in the first place?
This book—and this video series—are the fruit of those three motivations:
A hunger for truth.
A season of personal reflection.
And a growing historical curiosity.
So if you’re someone who’s seeking a church that is truly
rooted in Scripture...
and grounded in historical fidelity...
these videos are for you.
Whether you’re brand new to faith, a lifelong churchgoer,
or somewhere in between—
I invite you to join me on this journey.
Joining you in the quest,
I’m Pastor Bruce Hays.
Voices from the Past and Present
To whet our appetite...
Let’s listen to what believers across the centuries have said about the True
Church.
From the Early Church Fathers:
“The Church, though dispersed throughout the whole world,
even to the ends of the earth...
has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith—
having only one soul and one heart, and preaching, teaching,
and handing on these things in perfect harmony.”
— Irenaeus of Lyons, around the year one-thirty A.D., Against
Heresies, Book One, Chapter Ten
“We must hold fast to the Christian faith as it has been
delivered—
not according to our own opinions,
but according to the teaching of the universal Church.”
— Athanasius of Alexandria, around the year three-hundred, paraphrased
from Letters to Serapion
From the Reformers:
“The true church is to be recognized by her doctrine—
not by her outward appearance.”
— John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard,
and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution...
there, without a doubt, a church of God exists.”
— John Calvin, Book Four, Chapter One
“The church is not defined by its name, its size, or its
fame—
but by its fidelity to Christ and His Word.”
— Martin Luther, paraphrased from Table Talk and The
Babylonian Captivity of the Church
“The head of all believers is Christ.
He is the only one to whom we are to listen.
No one has the power to command the faith of another—
for faith is the free gift of God through His Word.”
— Ulrich Zwingli, On the Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God,
fifteen twenty-two
“The Church is not where men’s traditions, ceremonies, or
human inventions reign...
but where the voice of the eternal God is heard,
and His Word obeyed.”
— John Knox, History of the Reformation in Scotland, Book One
From the Puritans and Early Evangelicals:
“Take heed, therefore, what you hear—
and where you hear—
and how you hear.
False doctrine will poison you.
But true doctrine—truly heard and obeyed—
will save your soul.”
— Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor
“No man can walk as he ought to the glory of God in covenant
obedience...
unless he joins himself to some church-society wherein to walk.
And the reason is this—
because it is the way God has chosen and appointed...
for that obedience to be lived out.
In one church-society or another...
so long as it is sound in the faith, and walking in the truth.”
— John Owen, from his collected sermons
“The measure of any church is one thing:
Is it bringing glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ?
Is it lifting up the truth in love?
Is it pointing people to God?”
— Robert Murray M’Cheyne, A Full Life
From Modern Evangelical and Reformed Leaders:
“If you’re in a church where the gospel is not preached—
you are not in a true church.
You may be in a building...
but you are not in Christ’s church.”
— John MacArthur, sermon on Galatians chapter one
“The true church is where the true gospel is preached.
Period.”
— R. C. Sproul, from What Is the Church?
“Doctrine divides?
Of course it does.
That’s the whole point.
Truth matters.
Eternity matters.
And so, the church must teach and believe the right things.”
— Alistair Begg, Truth for Life
“You don’t go to church to feel good.
You go to church...
to be grounded in the truth.”
— Voddie Baucham, conference message on church and culture
Let’s keep going.
Because this journey—has only just begun.
Now, as we go on this quest...
I want to do more than just give you the truth—
I want to equip you... to find it for yourself.
And the first principle in any honest quest for truth is
this:
We start with the Bible.
We’ll explore that more deeply when we define the Church in
greater detail.
But for now—remember this:
Truth begins... with Scripture.
I use several tools for Bible study.
But there are two that have proven to be especially helpful—
and user-friendly.
First, for comparing Scripture across multiple translations:
Bible Gateway.
Second, for studying original languages and exploring mainline Protestant interpretations—verse by verse:
Bible Hub.
You can find links to both resources below this video.
But I also want to be upfront with you...
about another tool I used in my search:
ChatGPT.
Now... I know that using artificial intelligence is controversial.
Some might see it as cheating.
Others might think it lacks spiritual discernment.
And I understand those concerns.
But let me explain—why I chose to use it.
When people look for a church today,
many begin the same way they shop for a car...
They type something into an internet search engine like:
“Churches near me”
“Bible-believing churches”
Or... “True Church.”
But here’s the problem:
Search results are often based on popularity, digital
marketing, or web traffic—
not on theological soundness.
Just like googling “best car in twenty twenty-five” might
return the flashiest website—
or the most SEO-savvy dealership—
searching for a church online...
might elevate the churches with the biggest budget or best branding.
That doesn’t mean... they teach the truth.
That’s where I’ve found ChatGPT to be helpful—if... used wisely.
But—and this is critical—
you must ask very specific questions.
If you type in:
“Churches in Wichita, Kansas,”
you’ll get a generic list across many traditions.
But if you ask:
“Bible-believing churches in Wichita, Kansas,”
you’ll narrow it down to churches that self-identify that way.
Want to evaluate what a church teaches?
Try asking:
“What do Southern Baptists believe?”
or...
“What Scriptures do Presbyterians use to support infant baptism?”
These kinds of focused questions...
yield much more useful results.
Now—let’s be clear—
even with good questions, AI has limits.
So, I asked ChatGPT directly:
“What are the limitations of using ChatGPT to find a church that teaches the truth according to Scripture?”
Here’s the answer I received:
“That’s an excellent and discerning question. While ChatGPT can help you explore churches and doctrines, there are important limitations to relying on it—or any AI—for finding a church that teaches the truth according to Scripture. Here are some key ones:
Number One:
AI cannot spiritually discern truth.
Scripture is spiritually discerned.
As First Corinthians chapter two, verse fourteen says:
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God... for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
While ChatGPT can summarize doctrines...
it lacks the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—
who leads believers into all truth, as Jesus said in John sixteen, verse
thirteen.
Number Two:
Limited insight into a church’s heart... and fruit.
A church’s website or doctrinal statement might sound
biblical—
but only real-life interaction reveals the maturity, holiness, and faithfulness
of its people and leaders.
Jesus said in Matthew seven, verses sixteen to twenty:
“You will recognize them by their fruits.”
Number Three:
Doctrinal bias in available sources.
ChatGPT relies on publicly available information.
And some of those sources... may misrepresent or oversimplify what a church
actually believes.
Number Four:
AI cannot replace prayer, Scripture, or spiritual discernment.
God calls us to:
AI can help you gather facts...
but it cannot apply spiritual wisdom.
Number Five:
Cultural and contextual blind spots.
ChatGPT doesn’t know your heart.
It doesn’t understand your spiritual journey...
or your local church dynamics.
It can’t measure love, unity, or truth in action.
As Paul wrote in Ephesians four, verse fifteen:
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head—Christ.”
So, in summary—
if you’re going to use ChatGPT, use it as a tool—
not a shepherd.
Think of it as a map...
Not the compass.
And definitely not the destination.
It can:
But only God’s Word,
prayer,
the Holy Spirit,
and the fellowship of a faithful Christian community...
can lead you to the truth.
That was a pretty remarkable answer... from a bot.
So, if you choose to use ChatGPT in your search, use it thoughtfully.
Don’t ask:
“Did Jesus rise from the dead?”
That question will return a mix of theological, historical, and skeptical views.
Instead, ask:
“What arguments do Christian apologists use to support the resurrection as a historical event?”
And you’ll get a well-organized summary—
complete with sources.
You can even ask for more detail, add follow-up questions, or request citations and counterpoints.
In short:
Let’s Move Forward
So...
Where do we begin in the search for the True Church?
We begin—by defining our quest.
The True Church.
Let’s begin with how Jesus Himself defined it.
Jesus only used the term church a couple of times in His three years of ministry.
And the most significant moment was in Matthew chapter sixteen, verse eighteen.
Jesus said:
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Greek word Jesus used—ekklesia—means “assembly.”
A gathered community.
But Jesus wasn’t referring to just any gathering.
He meant His gathering.
His church.
Founded on the belief and confession that He is the Christ—
the Son of the Living God.
Here’s how ChatGPT summarized it:
“The church is the community of people who recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and live under His lordship. It is His creation, His possession, and His mission in the world.”
And on that... many denominations agree.
Roman Catholics.
Eastern Orthodox.
Protestants.
Pentecostals.
They all agree—the Church was Jesus’ creation.
But they also all claim to be the church Jesus founded.
And they can’t all be right—
because the collective teachings of these groups... contradict each other.
For example:
So how do we figure it out?
How do we determine which church is really the True Church?
Well—step one is to establish a doctrinal baseline.
Originally, I planned to include everything the Gospels,
Epistles, and Revelation say
about the True Church.
But that was overwhelming.
The New Testament is rich in teaching.
It contains twenty-seven books:
That’s about one hundred thirty-eight thousand Greek
words—
and they outline dozens of doctrines that form the foundation of the Church
Jesus built.
Some doctrines are more central than others.
But trying to cover them all in one video?
Not a reasonable starting point.
So here’s what I did instead.
I asked a focused question:
“What are the doctrines that most mainline Christian denominations agree on?”
And ChatGPT gave this answer:
“Despite many differences in worship style, governance, and secondary theology, the mainline Christian denominations share a substantial core of common doctrine—especially on matters related to the nature of God, Christ, salvation, Scripture, and the Church.”
Here are nine essential doctrines widely affirmed by mainline Christian churches:
That’s a solid list.
And let me say—
if you can find a church that really believes those things,
as we’re going to describe them...
you’ll have come a long way toward finding the Church Jesus built.
So, these nine core doctrines will serve as our doctrinal compass.
They are the essentials that historically define
Christianity—
truths rooted in Scripture,
preserved by the early Church,
and affirmed by faithful believers...
across centuries and continents.
While denominations may differ in worship and secondary
theology,
they share these foundational beliefs.
And these form the theological “non-negotiables” that help us answer the question:
Is this church built on the true gospel of Jesus Christ...
or something else entirely?
These modern churches believe these doctrines... because they were believed by the first True Church—and are clearly taught in the Bible.
Now, I’m not going to assume that you already understand all these doctrines. So let me briefly explain them.
1. The Trinity
All mainline Christian denominations affirm the biblical doctrine of the Trinity.
This doctrine teaches that there is one God who exists eternally as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let’s break that down.
A. There Is One God
Christianity is a monotheistic faith. Scripture states this clearly, again and
again.
Deuteronomy chapter six, verse four:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
First Corinthians chapter eight, verse four:
“There is no God but one.”
Only one God.
And yet—Scripture also states that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...
are God.
So how can that be?
The early church wrestled with this... and came to a conclusion that Christians have affirmed ever since:
B. God Exists as Three Persons
John chapter six, verse twenty-seven: “The Father, God.”
Romans chapter one, verse seven: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
John chapter one, verse one: “In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Verse fourteen continues: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Colossians chapter two, verse nine:
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
Titus chapter two, verse thirteen calls Jesus: “Our great God and Savior.”
Acts chapter five, verses three and four:
Peter says, “You have lied to the Holy Spirit...” and then says, “You have not
lied to men, but to God.”
Second Corinthians chapter three, verse seventeen:
“Now the Lord is that Spirit.”
The Spirit is described as Creator, Eternal, and All-Knowing.
And in Matthew chapter twenty-eight, verse nineteen, Jesus commands:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
All three—on equal ground.
So, churches that remain faithful to God’s Word continue to affirm the Trinity.
They don’t claim to fully explain it—but they believe it, because Scripture teaches it.
God is one in essence and three in person.
Not three gods.
Not one person playing three roles.
That’s the first doctrine mainline churches agree on.
2. The Deity and Humanity of Jesus Christ
True Christianity affirms that Jesus is both fully God and fully man—two natures in one person.
So what does that mean?
A. Jesus Is Fully God
John chapter one, verse one again:
“The Word was God.”
Colossians two, verse nine:
“In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
John chapter twenty, verses twenty-six to twenty-eight:
Thomas sees the risen Christ and says, “My Lord and my God.”
Jesus accepts that title. He is fully divine.
B. Jesus Is Fully Human
John one, verse fourteen:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Philippians chapter two, verses five through seven:
Jesus, “being in the form of God... made Himself nothing... taking the form of
a servant.”
Hebrews chapter two, verse seventeen:
“He had to be made like His brothers in every way.”
Hebrews chapter four, verse fifteen:
“He was tempted in every way, yet without sin.”
C. Two Natures in One Person
This doctrine is called the hypostatic union.
Jesus is one person... with two natures: divine and human.
Why does that matter?
Romans chapter five, verse nineteen:
“As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience
many will be made righteous.”
Hebrews chapter two, verses fourteen to seventeen:
“He took on flesh and blood... to destroy death... and to become a merciful and
faithful high priest.”
3. The Death and Resurrection of Christ
All mainline churches affirm the historical, sacrificial, and redemptive death of Jesus—and His physical resurrection.
A. His Death Was Real and Historical
First Corinthians fifteen, verse three:
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”
B. His Death Was Sacrificial and Redemptive
Isaiah fifty-three, verse five:
“He was wounded for our transgressions... by His stripes we are healed.”
Mark ten, verse forty-five:
“The Son of Man came... to give His life as a ransom for many.”
John one, verse twenty-nine:
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Romans three, verse twenty-five:
“Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood.”
Hebrews nine, verse twenty-eight:
“Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
C. His Resurrection Was Bodily and Physical
First Corinthians fifteen, verse four:
“He was buried, and rose again the third day.”
D. His Resurrection Is Our Hope
First Corinthians fifteen, verse seventeen:
“If Christ is not raised, your faith is in vain.”
First Peter one, verse three:
“Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
John fourteen, verse nineteen:
“Because I live, you also will live.”
4. Salvation through Jesus Christ
The Bible teaches that every person will one day stand before God in judgment.
We will either receive eternal life—or eternal separation.
Salvation is how we are made right with God.
And salvation is only possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A. Salvation Is Only through Christ
Acts chapter four, verse twelve:
“There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
John chapter fourteen, verse six:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.”
B. God Initiates Salvation by Grace
Ephesians chapter two, verses eight and nine:
“By grace you have been saved through faith... it is the gift of God.”
C. Human Response of Faith and Repentance
Acts sixteen, verse thirty-one:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
Romans ten, verse nine:
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Acts two, verse thirty-eight:
“Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins.”
D. Salvation Results in a Transformed Life
Second Corinthians five, verse seventeen:
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
So far, the doctrines of the True Church speak to:
Who God is...
Who Jesus is...
And how we can be saved.
But where do these beliefs come from?
Are they man-made?
No. That’s what religions do.
True Christianity is built on something else:
God revealing Himself.
And He did that through His Word.
5. The Authority of Scripture
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
It consists of sixty-six books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament, and twenty-seven in the New Testament.
It was written by human authors, under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit.
And it is the final rule for faith and practice.
A. The Bible Is God-Breathed
Second Timothy three, verse sixteen:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
Second Peter one, verse twenty-one:
“Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
B. Scripture Is the Final Authority
Psalm one nineteen, verse one-oh-five:
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Matthew four, verse four:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God.”
James one, verse twenty-two:
“Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.”
C. It Reveals God’s Will and Salvation
John five, verse thirty-nine:
“Search the Scriptures... they testify of Me.”
Second Timothy three, verse fifteen:
“The Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation.”
John seventeen, verse seventeen:
“Sanctify them by Your truth; Your Word is truth.”
D. Written by Men, Inspired by the Spirit
Jeremiah one, verse four:
“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying...”
Mark twelve, verse thirty-six:
“David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared...”
Second Peter three, verses fifteen to sixteen:
Peter refers to Paul’s letters as part of the Scriptures.
E. The Bible Is for All Believers
Revelation chapter one, verse three:
“Blessed is the one who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy.”
So far, we’ve covered five foundational doctrines of the True Church—doctrines that are still affirmed by a great number of mainline Christian denominations today.
Each one has dealt with core beliefs about God, about Jesus, about salvation, or about the Word of God.
But there’s something else we need to explore: What should we believe about the Church itself?
6. The Second Coming of Christ
Christ will return—personally and gloriously—to judge the living and the dead. There will be a final resurrection and a new creation.
He Will Return Personally
Acts chapter one, verse eleven:
“This same Jesus... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven.”
First Thessalonians chapter four, verse sixteen:
“The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in
Christ shall rise first.”
He Will Return Gloriously
Matthew twenty-four, verses twenty-seven and thirty:
“As the lightning comes from the east and shines to the west... so will be the
coming of the Son of Man... coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory.”
There Will Be a Resurrection
John chapter five, verses twenty-eight and twenty-nine:
“All that are in the graves shall hear His voice... some to the resurrection of
life, others to the resurrection of damnation.”
Revelation chapter twenty, verses twelve to thirteen:
“The dead were judged according to their works... and every man was judged
according to their deeds.”
And after this judgment, Christ will remake the heavens and the earth.
7. The Holy Spirit at Work in the Church
The Holy Spirit is fully God.
He inspired Scripture, sanctifies believers, and empowers the Church.
He Inspired Scripture
Second Peter chapter one, verse twenty-one:
“Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
He Sanctifies Believers
Galatians chapter five, verses twenty-two to twenty-three:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faith, gentleness, and self-control.”
First Peter chapter one, verse two:
“Through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience.”
He Empowers the Church
Acts chapter one, verse eight:
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”
First Corinthians twelve, verse seven:
“The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the common good.”
Acts chapter thirteen, verse two:
“The Holy Ghost said, Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them.”
8. The Church is the Body of Christ
The Church is one body with many members, united in Christ to worship God, proclaim the gospel, and serve the world.
One Body
Romans chapter twelve, verses four and five:
“We, being many, are one body in Christ, and members of one another.”
Christ is the Head
Colossians chapter one, verse eighteen:
“He is the head of the body, the Church.”
Worship
John chapter four, verses twenty-three and twenty-four:
“True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”
Acts chapter two, verse forty-two:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of
bread, and prayers.”
Witness
Matthew twenty-eight, verses nineteen and twenty:
“Go therefore and make disciples... teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you.”
Service
Matthew twenty-five, verses thirty-five to forty:
“I was hungry, and you gave me food... inasmuch as you did it unto one of the
least of these, you did it unto Me.”
Galatians chapter six, verse ten:
“As we have opportunity, let us do good to all—especially to those of the
household of faith.”
9. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
These ordinances were instituted by Christ, practiced by the early Church, and symbolize essential spiritual truths.
Commanded by Christ
Matthew twenty-eight, verse nineteen:
“Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
Luke chapter twenty-two, verses nineteen and twenty:
“This is My body, given for you... do this in remembrance of Me.”
Observed by the Early Church
Acts chapter two, verses forty-one and forty-two:
“They were baptized... they continued in the apostles' teaching, fellowship,
breaking of bread, and prayers.”
First Corinthians chapter eleven, verse twenty-six:
“As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s
death until He comes.”
Baptism Symbolizes New Life
Romans chapter six, verses three and four:
“Buried with Him by baptism... raised to walk in newness of life.”
Galatians chapter three, verse twenty-seven:
“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
The Lord’s Supper Represents Fellowship
First Corinthians chapter ten, verse sixteen:
“The cup of blessing... is it not participation in the blood of Christ?”
First Corinthians chapter eleven, verses twenty-four and
twenty-five:
“This is My body, broken for you... this cup is the new covenant in My blood.”
So these are the nine foundational doctrines of the True Church. They have been affirmed across denominations—from the time of Christ to today.
That’s a strong place to begin in our search for the True Church.
And it should be clear by now... if a church or denomination does not affirm these foundational doctrines— Doctrines that are laid out clearly in Scripture, and affirmed for 2,000 years of church history— Then that group is not part of the True Church.
As we went through each doctrine, you may have noticed some areas where certain denominations have begun to drift. We’ll address those differences as this series continues.
But keep in mind: this list was compiled using ChatGPT, drawing from official denominational sources. Yes, there may be movements or fringe groups that depart from these core doctrines. But the official teaching of many denominations has not yet changed.
There are some churches that call
themselves Baptist, yet deny the Trinity.
But most Baptist churches affirm it.
Roman Catholics still believe the
Bible is inspired...
Though they add tradition as an equal authority.
So having said that—we can begin to narrow things down. We can use these nine doctrines to immediately rule out some so-called "Christian" groups... as not being part of the True Church.
And that’s exactly what we’ve done.
We’ve included a table that lists groups who do not affirm these essential doctrines.
I won’t go over the whole list right now. You can view it through the link. Or, if you want to hear how each denomination departs from these nine basic tenets, continue listening all the way to the end of this video.
But here’s an example:
Jehovah’s Witnesses:
Deny the Trinity... deny the full deity of Christ...
deny the bodily resurrection... teach salvation by faith plus works... reject
the authority of Scripture in favor of Watchtower interpretations... deny
eternal punishment... alter the Second Coming... and deny the personhood of the
Holy Spirit.
These beliefs are outside the bounds of historic, biblical Christianity.
And so, they are not part of the True Church.
Let me list the names of the remaining denominations who do not qualify:
In each of these cases, these groups deviate significantly from the doctrinal core laid out in Scripture.
Their foundations are built on sand... not on the Rock of Christ.
And Jesus Himself said, in Matthew chapter seven, verses twenty-four to twenty-seven:
“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came, the floods rose, the winds blew and beat against that house—and it fell. And great was the fall of it.”
This chapter has laid out a clear and Scripturally grounded baseline for identifying the True Church.
These nine foundational doctrines represent the faithful consensus of historic Christianity.
If a group does not affirm these, they are outside the bounds of biblical orthodoxy.
But this... is only the beginning.
In the chapters ahead, we’ll trace the story of the Church through history.
We’ll begin with the early Church in Acts chapter two, verse forty-two:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”
And we’ll examine where different groups have stayed faithful... or veered off course.
Our journey continues—with Scripture
in hand,
Guided by the truths we’ve now established as our
compass.
Let’s follow in the footsteps of the
faithful,
As we continue the search...
For the True Church.
Now, as I promised earlier, I will give you the names of the denominations who deny the some or all of the nine baseline beliefs.
Let’s take a careful look at several groups that significantly depart from the foundational teachings of Scripture and the historic Christian faith.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the Trinity and reject the
full deity of Jesus Christ. They also deny His bodily resurrection. Salvation,
according to their teachings, is not by grace through faith alone, but by a
combination of faith and works. They reject the traditional authority of
Scripture, relying instead on interpretations from the Watchtower organization.
They also deny the personhood of the Holy Spirit, reject the doctrine of
eternal conscious punishment, and hold to an altered understanding of the
Second Coming.
Unitarian Universalists
Unitarian Universalists reject the Trinity and deny
that Jesus is divine. They often dismiss the literal resurrection, and they
reject the idea of salvation exclusively through Christ. Biblical authority is
set aside in favor of individual interpretation or pluralism. Many also deny or
spiritualize the Second Coming, hold unclear or symbolic views of the Holy
Spirit, and reject the biblical teaching on the Church and its sacraments.
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints—also known as Mormons
Latter-day Saints teach a polytheistic view that denies
the historic doctrine of the Trinity. Jesus is seen as a spirit-child of God,
not eternally God Himself. They deny the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement and
place extra-biblical scriptures—like the Book of Mormon—on equal or even
greater footing than the Bible. Their understanding of the end times diverges
from Scripture, and the Holy Spirit is not regarded as God, but as a separate spiritual
influence.
Oneness Pentecostals
Oneness Pentecostals reject the Trinity, teaching
instead that God is one person who appears in different modes. This leads to
confusion between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Some even
misinterpret the roles in the resurrection. Many require baptism specifically
“in Jesus’ name” for salvation, adding to the gospel. They also misunderstand
the Holy Spirit, not as a distinct person, but merely as another mode or form
of God.
Christian Science
Christian Science denies both the true deity and the
humanity of Jesus Christ. It also rejects the literal death and bodily
resurrection of Christ. Salvation is believed to come through spiritual
understanding, not through the cross. The Bible is only accepted when
interpreted through the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy. The future bodily
resurrection is denied, and the Holy Spirit is reduced to an impersonal
principle called “divine Science.”
Christadelphians
Christadelphians reject the Trinity and deny both the
deity and eternal preexistence of Christ. They also deny the immortal soul and
even the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Salvation is viewed as a process
involving works and a future resurrection. The Holy Spirit is not seen as a
person, and the sacraments are often minimized or redefined.
Gnostic Groups
Gnostic groups typically deny the Trinity and often
reject the idea that Jesus had a true human body. They deny the physical
resurrection and believe salvation comes through secret or hidden knowledge,
not through the cross. Scripture is often replaced with mystical or esoteric
texts. The Second Coming is dismissed or reinterpreted, the Holy Spirit is seen
as a mysterious force, and they reject both the Church and its sacraments.
Christian Universalists
Christian Universalists may loosely affirm some basic
doctrines, but they deny that salvation is found exclusively through Jesus
Christ. They reject the reality of eternal punishment, which undermines the
seriousness of judgment and the meaning of atonement. Scripture is frequently
reinterpreted to fit their belief in universal salvation.
Some Liberal Protestants
Many liberal Protestant groups affirm the Trinity in
name but deny it in practice. They may question or even deny the deity of
Christ. The bodily resurrection is often spiritualized or rejected altogether.
Salvation is redefined as moral transformation or social inclusivity. Biblical
authority is set aside in favor of human reason and higher criticism. Their
views on eschatology, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the sacraments vary
widely—and often depart from Scripture.
Conservative Quakers
Some Conservative Quakers reject the sacraments
entirely. They may also deny the need for ordained ministers or formal church
structure. Beliefs about the Trinity and the Holy Spirit can vary. Many
emphasize the inner light of personal experience over the authority of
Scripture.
The Unification Church
The Unification Church denies the Trinity and teaches
that Jesus was a failed messiah who did not complete His mission. Sun Myung
Moon, their founder, is viewed as a second Christ figure. Their sacred texts,
written by Moon, are placed above the Bible. They reject biblical eschatology,
portray the Holy Spirit as a feminine force, and redefine both the Church and
its sacraments.
These groups, though diverse, all share one thing in common: they depart from the doctrinal foundation laid by Christ and His apostles.
Jesus warned that many would come in His name, yet lead others astray. That’s why it is so vital to build our understanding on the solid rock of Scripture—so that when the rain comes, and the floods rise, the house of truth will still stand.