Jesus' Church

"I will build My church." The founding of Jesus' church was prophesied by Christ Himself nearly 2,000 years ago in Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
See All.... He also declared that His Church would never die out, promising that "the gates of Hades [the grave] shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
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What happened to Jesus' church today?

He assured His disciples that He would guide and preserve His Church until His return, promising them, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

What Compromises Jesus' Church

The Church is comprised of disciples or students of Jesus Christ who convene to receive God's instruction. The Bible is the textbook for these students of Christ. Paul explains that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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The teachers are the duly appointed elders of Jesus Christ who preach God's Word (Romans 10:14-15 [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

See All...; 2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
See All...). God holds them accountable for "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
See All...) and for "being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
See All...; 1 Timothy 3:2-7 [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
[3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
[4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
[5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
[6] Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
[7] Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

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The Church, however, is far more than just a spiritual assembly of students who gather to be instructed for their own benefit. Jesus' Church is to be a people special to God, called and chosen by Him to receive salvation (eternal life) as the children of God.

Christians are special to God in the sense that they are cherished for their faith and obedience (Ephesians 5:24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
See All..., 29)—not because God regards them as inherently more worthy than others (Romans 2:11For there is no respect of persons with God.For there is no respect of persons with God.
See All...; 3:23).

Jesus' Church Today

What happened to Jesus' church? An eyewitness tells us that, immediately after Christ ascended into heaven after His resurrection, His apostles "went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs" (Mark 16:20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
See All...). The Church had a powerful beginning. Yet today, it is largely divided and mixed with nonbiblical practices.

Jesus said: "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:20-21 [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

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How can you locate God's special people in the midst of the splintered and fractured faith that we know as Christianity? What distinguishes them from those to whom Jesus Christ said, "I never knew you"? (Matthew 7:23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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The Church Jesus built is a truly converted, humble body of people who have repented of their disregard for God's laws. They have been transformed by baptism and the receiving of God's Spirit. They rely, in faith, on Jesus Christ to help them live by every word of God.

Jesus' Church today is the vehicle Jesus Christ uses to proclaim the truth about the coming Kingdom of God to the world (Matthew 24:14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
See All...). It is the family God is building—His own children—who will receive eternal life at Christ's return (1 John 3:1-2 [1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

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As children of God, Jesus' Church anticipates a "new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
See All...). Its members eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ so they can assist Him in bringing true repentance and salvation to the world (Luke 11:2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
See All...; Revelation 3:21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
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To fulfill their mission and maintain the closeness and unity that Christ expects of them, the members of His Church regularly assemble together as commanded in the Scriptures (Exodus 20:8-11 [8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
[11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

See All...). They take seriously the admonition: "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25 [24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

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The Church assembles together on the seventh-day Sabbath, as was the custom of Jesus Christ and the apostles (Luke 4:16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
See All..., 31-32; Acts 13:14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
See All..., 42, 44). Its members strive to follow the example of Jesus and the apostles in all things (1 John 2:6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 11:1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
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The members of United Church of God are dedicated to preserving and proclaiming "the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 1:3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
See All..., NRSV).

Congregations of the United Church of God, an International Association , are striving to do their part in fulfilling the mission Christ gave to His Church.

We meet in major cities around the world. We are zealously committed to obeying God, loving one another and completing the Church's mission of spreading the true gospel of the Kingdom of God. All who desire to learn the truth, to obey God and fellowship with others of like mind and spirit are always welcome.