which_church

Breaking Free Ministries USA

Which Christian Church to Attend? (What To Do After Salvation?)

After becoming a Christian, you were probably told to find a church to attend where you can study and
grow in the knowledge of God's Word (II Peter 3:18), worship God (Philippians 3:3), and have Christian
fellowship (Colossians 3:16). In this 20th century there are many different Christian churches, each with
their own teachings and doctrines, sometimes contradicting one another. These differences have divided the
body of Christ - the Church. Are they all correct?
Christ never intended for His church to become divided into so many different denominations. The
denominations that exist today (in the 20th century) are the result of division after division. Each division is
primarily a result a difference of opinion or interpretation of scripture.

FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIANS DOCTRINES

Even though there are many different Christian denominations, with different teachings and doctrines, God
accepts all of them as being part of the Body of Christ, the true churches of God, if they accept and teach
the basic fundamental doctrines of Christianity:

1. Bible is the inerrant Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit (Psalms 12:6,7; 138:2; II Timothy 3:16; I
Corinthians 2:12.13).
2. Deity of Christ (John 1:1,14; 5:58; I John 5:20; Ephesians 3:9).
3. Virgin birth of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 7:14 fulfilled in Matthew 1:23).
4. Historic creation of man (Genesis 2:7). Mankind did not evolve through evolution.
5. Deprivation of man - separated from God by birth because of sin (Romans 5:12). The solution: be
born-again.
6. Substitutionary death of Jesus Christ who was made sin for us and knew no sin (II Corinthians 5:21;
Colossians 1:14).
7. Bodily resurrection of Christ from the grave (I Corinthians 15:3-4).
8. Literal return of Christ to the earth (Zechariah 14:1,4; Matthew 24:29-42).
9. Resurrection to eternal life, heaven or hell (John 3:36).
10. Trinity: God the Farther, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are One (Matthew 28:19; John
14:16,17,26; I John 5:7).
11. One-Way to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ the Messiah (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 1:3; 2:6;
Colossians 3:1-3; John 10:9; 14:6).
12. Salvation is by grace through faith not by works; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:9,9).

You should never attend any church fellowship that does not believe and teach these fundamental doctrines.
Of those churches that do, it's a personal decision of which church is best for you depending upon many
circumstances, including your personality and other doctrinal beliefs you feel are acceptable or
non-acceptable.

There are differences in other minor Christian doctrines; however, they are not essential doctrines that
should divide the Body of Christ. "Doctrines are as numerous as there are individual Christians! The belief
that [all] Christians ought to have a common creed on these matters is impractical and impossible. And such
an assumption violates the scriptural teaching that we ought to be growing in the grace and knowledge of
God (II Peter 3:18)."1 Every Christian denomination is still growing in grace and knowledge of God!
Complete agreement among Christians in regards to doctrines will not happen until we all reach
glorification, but until then, we should learn to respect with love each other's viewpoints.

SALVATION IS NOT CONDITIONAL
Has any minister or any Christian said to you, "You are saved by grace," and then adds, "If you do
not___(you fill in the blank), that you aren't saved/a Christian? "If you commit______(you fill in the blank),
you will lose your salvation? Adding works/conditions to maintain your salvation makes salvation
conditional. Works don't determine whether you are saved. But some works are done as an act of obedience
to demonstrate your faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:10). Works also determine your heavenly rewards: "...will
receive his rewards according to his own labor" (I Corinthians 3:8). The Greek word MISTHOS, translated
'reward' means 'wages.' is payment for works or services. This looks back to the parable of the laborers
(Matthews 20:1-16) and to the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The only condition to salvation is
accepting by faith that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He died for your sins (Romans 10:9,13; I Corinthians
15:3,4). Stay away from churches that add "works" to maintaining your salvation.

DO THEY PRACTICE LOVE?
Another key thing to look for in a church is whether the church congregation practices the commandment of
love. God commands members of the Body of Christ to serve and love one another: "...For all the law is
fulfilled in one word...You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:13,14) New King James
Version.

WALKING IN THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
"The real factor in [church] fellowship involve walking in the fruits of the Holy Spirit!"2 Many cults serve
and love those in their fellowship, but totally disregard some fundamental Christian doctrines.

WHAT DO I DO AFTER SALVATION?
You should also find a church/fellowship which has a good teaching program. It will be a place where you
can grow in the knowledge of the Lord, which obeys II Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto
God, a workman need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God" [King James Version]. "Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth" [New Kings James Version]. If you can not find one, you have to study on your owns
without one. God wants you to learn to be dependence on Him, not on any church or man.

CONCLUSION
GOD DOESN'T JUST HAVE ONE DENOMINATION AS HIS TRUE CHURCH. THE TRUE CHURCH OF
GOD TEACH AND BELIEVES IN THE "FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY."
SALVATION IS BASED UPON FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST, NOT ON
"WORKS."

Footnotes:
1 Ernest Martin. The Abuse of Fellowship. Foundation for Biblical Research, p. 4

2 Ibid, p. 6