Assessing the Health of the Church After 2,000 Years (Part Two)

Grace Thoughts

Assessing the Health of the Church after 2,000 Years (Part Two)

We are looking at where the true Church of Jesus Christ stands in this world after 2,000 years of growth. In the last part of our series [LINK] we wrote that many historians believe Jesus probably started His earthly ministry about 26 AD. If true, that would mean next year (2026) would be the 2,000th anniversary of the beginning of His earthly preaching and teaching ministry. If that’s true, then this Easter Sunday would be about five years from the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

That’s an historical marker for Christians around the world. It’s an opportunity for each of us to focus on what Jesus did for us and glorify His holy Name so that all nations would know He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Church or church?

Jesus said He would build His “Church” (big C). He has been doing that for almost 2,000 years and is still doing it today. However, many people look at churches (little c) and think Jesus is failing because of how bad things look to them on the outside. They see thousands of denominations filled with all types of bad behavior and heretical teachings. However, Jesus cannot fail because He is God. So, what is it that people see?

The Church that Jesus is building is His Body – not “bodies.” Many people who claim to be in the Body of Christ are not members of it. Jesus did not say He would build “denominations.” He said He would build His Church. That Church is His Body. Nowhere in the New Testament do we read that Christians in Heaven will be identified denominationally. They will be identified as being members of One Body.

Here are some examples of what I mean.

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. Ephesians 3:1-7

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:23

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church. Colossians 1:24

It’s clear from what Jesus said and Paul wrote that the Church that Jesus is building is one Body – not many bodies. That means unity of message and purpose.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:1-6

One Body
One Spirit
One Hope of your Calling
One Lord
One Faith
One Baptism
One God and Father of all

There is ONE Body, not several bodies – not thousands of bodies – just One Body of Christ. Because of that fact, God wants us to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Christians have not done a good job with that through the centuries, but that doesn’t change what God wants from us.

There is “one Gospel,” not “many gospels.” Any gospel that is not THE Gospel is a false gospel. Notice that the Apostle Paul called that a perversion of the Gospel message and that anyone involved in perverting the true Gospel will be “accursed.”

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9

Warning! Warning!

The fact that individual churches and denominations are preaching false gospels is no surprise to a careful Bible student. Jesus and His apostles warned that this would happen.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:15-16

And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:10-12

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. Mark 13:21-23

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts 20:28-31

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. 2 Timothy 3:1-9

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus ^[b]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3

Christians in Bad Churches

While it should be easy for a true Christian believer to recognize false teaching, many fail to see it and are part of churches and denominations that do not preach the true Gospel. Millions of people who self identify as Christians do not believe that Jesus is eternal and God. They believe God created Jesus to create the world – that there was a time when Jesus “was not.” That’s an ancient heresy that is still rearing its ugly head. Millions of people who self identify as Christians do not believe Jesus rose from the dead. What?Have they not read 1 Corinthians 15? Millions of people who self identify as Christians believe salvation is based on performing good works – working your way to Heaven – rather than depending on God’s grace? Have they not read Romans? Galatians? Ephesians? Something is terribly wrong in today’s churches.

I highly recommend every Christian, or anyone who thinks they are a Christian, study Revelation chapters two and three. That’s because those chapters contain letters that Jesus Christ personally dictated to the leaders of seven churches in Asia Minor. While those were actual churches at the time Jesus dictated the letters, aspects of each church can still be seen somewhere in the world today.

We looked at one of those churches last time – the dead church of Sardis.

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Revelation 3:1

Even though Jesus called the church at Sardis “dead,” He acknowledged that some members of the dead church were spiritually alive.

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. Revelation 3:4

I believe that’s still true today. There are some people in dead churches and denominations whose names are written in the Book of Life who Jesus will confess before His Father and His angels (verse 5).

Some churches are like the one in Ephesus where the people left their “first love” (Revelation 2:4).

Some churches are like the one in Pergamos where the people compromised on the truth and held to false doctrines and heresies – “which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:15).

Some churches are like the one in Thyatira where the people were corrupt and allowed “that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20). Jesus did not mince words about what He would do to that type of church:

And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelation 2:21-23

Some churches are like the one in Laodicea where the people were spiritually lukewarm.

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:16-17

There is some good news in all of this. Jesus loves His children, even those who have strayed from the truth and participated in bad churches (and denominations). However, the good news comes with discipline and the call to repent.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:19

If you find yourself in a church and/or denomination as described above, do what Jesus tells you to do. That may mean leaving the church or denomination depending on the circumstances of whether leadership will listen to what Christ commands. If do leave, be careful not to fall into another type of church that is as bad or worse. Listen to what the Spirit says. Read and study God’s Word. Learn what makes a good local church.

If you aren’t sure what kind of church or denomination you’re in, please read through other studies we’ve written about false preachers and teachers, church leaders leaving the faith and dragging followers away with them, the drift of churches and denominations away from the preaching of the pure Gospel of Christ, and doing what Jesus told churches to do.

Christians in Good Churches

It’s nice to know that there are good churches around the world. Interestingly enough, however, they are often the ones suffering persecution for believing in Jesus Christ and persevering through it. Two of the seven churches Jesus addressed in Revelation received high marks from the Lord. Here’s what He dictated to John the Apostle:

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ‘I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but area synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’ Revelation 2:8-11

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens’: ‘I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Let that last sentence soak into your mind, heart, and soul. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Jesus dictated those words to the seven churches at the end of the 1st century AD. That’s a long time ago, but truth is truth. Those of us living in the 21st century AD have been admonished by the King who is building His Church. We need to get on board what He is building.

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.’ Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’ And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:12-17

Easter is Coming!

This Sunday is Easter 2025. The 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s earthly ministry, including His death and resurrection, is coming closer. As we consider the words Jesus spoke to churches several decades after the first Easter, we can see clearly that churches and denominations that claim to be Christian need to repent and do what the Lord commands. We need to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

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Assessing the Health of the Church After 2,000 Years (Part Two)