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THE CHURCH OF GOD- what's the difference in it than any other church, some have asked?

The Church of God is an anti-denominational Body of born again, Spirit filled, Sons of God.

ALL churches, be they Catholic or Protestant were started sometime AFTER Christ built and established His true church. The Church of God was built and established by Jesus Christ, Himself.

Matthew 16:18
I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it

Ephesians 5:25-27
Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The above two scriptures teach us that Christ was going to build a church, and secondly, He is returning for It. The second scripture solidifies the first-the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. When did Christ build His church? When He began to call men and women unto Himself.

However, it did not go forth in its fullness of power until the day of Pentecost.

Luke 24:49-53
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Luke later confirms the disciples honored the instructions of their Blessed Savior.

Acts 1:12
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

Acts 1:14
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. See related article on speaking in tongues

From this day forward, the church began to grow and flourish as Christ so intended.

Acts 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 4:4
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Acts 17:6
These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. As should be expected, the devil was not being idle. The dear saints of God were forewarned of a falling away that was to come upon the church.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

These, as well as many other warnings, were given to the church of certain people trying to usurp themselves upon the Christians of that day.

Acts 20:29-31
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

2 Peter 2:1-2
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 John 1:9-10
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

All of this culminated into what is commonly known as the Roman Catholic Church. For a period of approximately 1260 years, a period known in history as the dark ages, the Roman Church held full civil and religious power. The destroyer of man's soul-- the devil, thought he was surely going to prevail over Christ's church.

There remained a remnant that in their hearts remained Christians in deed! There was a remnant that was in Catholicism, but not of it-- men like John Wyclif, John Huss, and others. Eventually, God was able to use men like William Tyndale, Martin Luther, and others of that time, to once again proclaim the foundational teaching of the scriptures-The Just Shall Live By Faith.

Martin Luther was very instrumental in bringing about reform. In 1517, he posted on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany, his well-known 95 Theses. In 1530, the Augsburg Confession Of Faith was signed which formally began what is commonly known as the Protestant Reformation.

The people of God were once again free to serve God with a genuine experience of Bible salvation. However, there was yet a deeper experience needed and longed for by those who sincerely wanted to serve God in the beauty of holiness. The experience-- entire sanctification!

In the early to mid seventeen hundreds, God began to use certain men to preach a message of entire sanctification-- a heart made pure from the sin received from our forefather, Adam.

Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: It was this sin, that people needed their hearts purified from. See article on sanctification for further thoughts of this subject

John and Charles Wesley were very instrumental in the work of God in proclaiming this much-needed Truth.

Oh, how the people rejoiced to have an abiding Comfort, but there was still a problem-Unity! Why were people born again, Spirit filled, Baptist, Methodist, Nazarenes, etc., etc., etc., etc.. Everyone was claiming to be children of God, and yet they were all teaching different doctrines. IS GOD THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION?

In the late 1800s, there were some consecrated Christians i.e., D. S. Warner, E. E. Byrum, H. M. Riggle, F. G. Smith, J. W. Byers, as well as many others, who desired to have these walls of division torn down. God was then able to complete His restoration work of the church. The church was once again restored to its biblical position, as it was when it went forth on the day of Pentecost. The people were born again, Spirit filled, Sons of God-Period! See article on unity for further thoughts on this subject

God still has a church today. He has a people who are truly saved from all past sin, and are free from the committing of present sin-- people who are sanctified holy, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and are fellowshipping in sweet unity-- a people who are separated from the confusion of spiritual Babylon.

THE CHURCH OF GOD- what's the difference in it than any other church, some have asked? The Church of God is an anti-denominational Body of born again, Spirit filled, Sons of God.