WHAT IS THE TRUE CHURCH?

The true church transcends any identifiable denomination or religious institution; instead, it comprises individual believers who genuinely believe in Christ, engaging in daily worship of God in "spirit and truth" (John 4:24, Acts 2:46). According to biblical teachings, these true believers can be discovered across diverse churches, denominations, and religions worldwide, with only God having knowledge of their true identity (2 Tim. 2:19).

These individuals are recognized as "the church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" (Heb. 12:23). The true church is constituted by people whose salvation is guaranteed, for their names were recorded in the "book of life" before the beginning of the world (Apoc. 3:5; 17:8). God, by His grace and foreknowledge, has chosen them based on their faith in Christ. The true church has already experienced salvation and justification from God due to their faith in the gospel or in Christ (Romans 10:17) before affiliating with any religious denomination or local church for their spiritual development (Acts 2:46, 47). The true church is distinguishable not by adherence to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs or participation in Daniel and Revelation Seminars but solely by the gospel about Christ and His redemptive sacrifice on the cross, freeing us from the bondage of sin (John 14:6; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-5). This gospel is proclaimed as "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).

The “Visible” and the “Invisible” Church

An Adventist friend asked me about the true Church. He wanted to know where exactly can we find it today. Here is the sequence of his questions and my response.

1. Is the invisible church built by Christ in the 1st century different from the visible church?

2. Which of the two did the apostles belong to?

3. Which of these two is the true church of Christ?

4. Which of these two should we look out to join as members?

To begin, let's elucidate the concepts of the "visible church" and the "invisible church." These terms are eloquently and simply explained in the book Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know.

"The invisible Yet Visible Church"

Because we cannot see the spiritual condition of people’s hearts, the true church, in its spiritual reality as the fellowship of all genuine believers, is invisible. Only God can see the condition of people’s hearts. As Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are his.” Therefore, the “invisible church” is the church as God sees it.

But the church is also visible. While the invisible church is the church as God sees it, the “visible church” is the church as Christians on earth see it. Therefore, the visible church will contain genuine believers as well as others who do not truly believe or follow the claims of Jesus. But in making this distinction, we should not become overly suspicious regarding the status of those who appear to be true believers. Instead, with benevolent judgment, we should consider all to be members of the universal church who appear to be believers from their confession of faith and their pattern of life."

Hence, genuine believers are referred to as the "invisible church," chosen by the grace of God (Romans 11:5-6). This constitutes the authentic "true church," comprising only of "genuine believers," free from any pretense among its members. They are termed "invisible" because only God can discern their true identity, as He alone can discern the human heart and distinguish between the authentic and the insincere.

In contrast, the local churches we witness in various locations where believers gather for worship are labeled as "visible churches." These visible or local churches cannot be considered the "true church" as a collective entity since they consist of a mix of sincere and insincere believers. Even if all church buildings worldwide were to be destroyed, the faithful followers of Christ would remain devoted wherever they are, embodying the essence of the "church" (Greek: ekklesia, meaning "called-out ones"). The "visible church" represents an imperfect expression or manifestation of the "true church," which is the flawless "invisible church."

Certainly, when we attend any church, it's important to recognize that individuals belonging to the "invisible church" are not physically invisible. Rather, they are described as "invisible" because we cannot definitively determine who truly are sincere believers; only God possesses that knowledge.

Adventists acknowledge the two dimensions of the church, namely the "visible" and "invisible" church, as outlined in their SDA 28 Fundamental Beliefs book on page 171:

“2. The invisible church. The invisible church, also called the church universal, is composed of all of God’s people throughout the world. It includes the believers within the visible church and many who, though they do not belong to a church organization, have followed all the light Christ has given them (John 1:9). This latter group includes those who have never had the opportunity to learn the truth about Jesus Christ but who have responded to the Holy Spirit and “by nature do the things contained in the law” of God (Rom. 2:14).

The existence of the invisible church reveals that worship of God is, in the highest sense, spiritual. "The true worshipers," Jesus said, "will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him" (John 4:23). Because of the spiritual nature of true worship, human beings cannot calculate precisely who is and who is not a part of God's church.”

Now that we have a clear understanding of the concepts of the "invisible" and "visible" church, let's revisit the inquiries posed by my Adventist friend.

Is the invisible church built by Christ in the 1st century different from the visible church?

The clarification is that these are not distinct or separate churches; rather, it is one unified church. This unity is emphasized by the singular head of the church, as stated in Colossians 1:18. While the terms "visible" and "invisible" church may not be explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the concept stems from a sound comprehension of the Church doctrine. An illustrative instance can be found in the Bible, specifically in John chapter 4, where Jesus engages in a conversation with a Samaritan woman.

In John 4:20, the woman told Jesus,

John 4:20 (ESV) “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

The Samaritan woman is discussing the "visible church" located in Jerusalem, where the Jews worship God. In response, Jesus asserts that the "true church" or genuine worshipers of God are not confined to Jerusalem. At this juncture, Jesus is alluding to the concept of the "invisible church":

John 4:23 (ESV) “But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Among the 12 apostles of Jesus, both the "visible" and "invisible" aspects of the church are evident. The "visible church" comprises all 12 apostles, but in the "invisible church," only 11 apostles truly believe in Jesus, as Jesus foresaw Judas' betrayal (John 6:64, 70-71).

Which of the two did the apostles belong to?

As previously discussed, if every member of the 12 apostles were authentic believers, betrayal of the Lord would not occur. Those who genuinely belong to the "invisible church," recognized by the Lord, are individuals about whom "Jesus knew from the beginning who does not believe" (John 6:64). To reiterate, 11 out of the 12 apostles are part of the "invisible church," while Judas, despite being part of the "visible church" as one of the 12 apostles, is not deemed a true believer according to Jesus himself.

Matthias took the place of Judas, as documented in Acts 1:25-26, thereby restoring the complete roster of the 12 apostles. Matthias is listed among the "twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" upon which the foundation of the New Jerusalem is established (Revelation 21:14).

Which of these two is the true church of Christ?

Indeed, both the "visible church" and the "invisible church" constitute the "true church" as part of the "one body of Christ." The distinction lies in the two aspects of the church, but they are inseparable, and neither is inherently right or wrong. Membership in the "visible church" does not inherently confer membership in the "invisible church." On the other hand, if one is called by God to be part of the "invisible church," it often, though not universally, aligns with belonging to the "visible church." Consequently, the "visible" and "invisible" church represent two facets of the same body of Christ.

Which of these two should we look out to join as members?

Now, we have grasped the connection and distinction between the "visible" and "invisible" church. The invisible church comprises genuine believers who are saved by grace through faith in Christ, with their names already inscribed in the book of life (Revelation 3:5). On the contrary, the "visible church" includes both believers and unbelievers, and not all members of this visible assembly are listed in the "book of life from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 17:8).

In response to the question, "to which of the two should we belong?" it becomes evident that, through God's grace, our inclusion should be in the "invisible church," established by God through our justification by faith. Simultaneously, we should also be part of the "visible church," established by God for the purposes of sanctification and spiritual growth.

The emergence of the "invisible church" or the "true church" is not contingent on mastering the SDA's 28 Fundamental Beliefs or adhering to a specific set of creeds or doctrines of any religion. Instead, it stems from God's calling, achieved through hearing and believing in the gospel of Christ (Romans 10:13-17).