Seventeen Points of the True Church



  1. Christ organized his Church.
    Ephesians 4:11-14
  2. The True Church must bear the name of Jesus Christ.
    Ephesians 5:23 Isaiah 43:6-7 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
  3. The True Church must have a foundation of Apostles and Prophets.
    Ephesians 2:19-20
  4. The Church must claim divine authority.
    Hebrews 5:4-10
  5. The True Church must have no paid ministry.
    Isaiah 45:13
  6. The True Church must baptize by immersion.
    Matthew 3:14-15
  7. The True Church must bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
    Acts 8:16-17
  8. The True Church must practice healing.
    Mark 3:14-15
  9. The True Church must teach that God and Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and bones.
    Luke 24:36-39, Acts 1:9-11
  10. The True Church must teach that God and Jesus Christ are separate and distinct individuals.
    John 1:12-18, 17:11
  11. The officers must be called of God.
    Hebrews 5:4, Exodus 28:1, 40:13-16
  12. The True Church must claim revelation from God.
    Amos 3:7
  13. The True Church must be a missionary Church.
    Matthew 28:19-20
  14. The True Church must be a restored Church.
    Acts 3:19-21
  15. The True Church must practice baptism for the dead.
    1 Corinthians 15:19
  16. By their fruits ye shall know them.
    Matthew 7:20

Ephesians 5:23

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

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Isaiah 43:6-7

6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

7 [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

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1 Corinthians 1:10-13

10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

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Ephesians 2:19-20

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];

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Ephesians 4:11-14

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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Hebrews 5:4-10

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 ¶ Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

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Isaiah 45:13

13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

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Matthew 3:14-15

14 But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

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Acts 8:16-17

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

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Mark 3:14-15

14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

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Luke 24:36-39

36 ¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

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Acts 1:9-11

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

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John 1:12-18, 17:11

John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 ¶ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

John 17:11
11 ¶ And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are].

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Hebrews 5:4

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.

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Exodus 28:1, 40:13-16

Exodus 28:1
1 ¶ AND take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, [even] Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

Exodus 40:13-16
13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16 ¶ Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

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Amos 3:7

7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

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Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

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Acts 3:19-21

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

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1 Corinthians 15:19

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

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Matthew 7:20

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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