How Do I Know If a Church Teaches the Truth?
1) Direct Answer
Measure everything by the Word. A true church preaches the full revelation of Jesus Christ, holds to one God (not three persons), calls sinners to repentance and the new birth, follows the apostolic pattern, and produces a clean, Spirit-filled life that matches Scripture.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- The Word is the absolute:
- “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
- All Scripture is given by inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bereans checked the preaching by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). Any other gospel is accursed (Galatians 1:8-9). Don’t add or take away (Revelation 22:18-19).
- The Godhead—one God revealed, not three persons:
- “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
- “God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). “In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). It’s not three Gods; it’s one God revealed as Father (above us), Son (with us), Holy Spirit (in us).
- The apostolic salvation pattern:
- Repentance and remission of sins in His Name (Luke 24:47).
- Water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5), burial with Him (Romans 6:3-4), and the promise of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:39).
- A life led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14) that keeps His Word (1 John 2:3-5) and bears fruit (Galatians 5:22-25).
- Holiness and order:
- “Follow peace… and holiness” (Hebrews 12:14). “Come out from among them” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Clean religion separates from the world (James 1:27).
- Be filled with the Spirit, not with wine (Ephesians 5:18). The Bible shows literal wine existed (John 2:10; 1 Corinthians 11:21), but drunkenness and bondage are sin. The safest walk is abstinence and sobriety, with a clear testimony and a Spirit-filled life.
- The Lord’s Supper is handled reverently (1 Corinthians 11:23-29), never in excess or lightness.
- Church leadership and discipline:
- Elders and deacons must be “the husband of one wife,” sober, blameless (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). Men who came into the faith having more than one wife can be received as believers, but they do not hold office in the church. The pulpit must be clean.
- The supernatural in order:
- “These signs shall follow them that believe” (Mark 16:17-20). Gifts operate decently and in order (1 Corinthians 12–14), never against the written Word.
- The Bride taught correctly:
- They place the Bride as the great blood-washed multitude out of all nations (Revelation 7:9-17) and those who live and reign with Christ a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). They don’t confuse the Bride with the saved nations.
- No traditions over Scripture:
- Beware of “tradition of men” (Colossians 2:8). “In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7-9).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Ask: Where did any apostle preach “three co-equal persons”? The Bible declares one God, and says God was manifested in flesh.
- Ask: Who in the Bible baptized using titles instead of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ? The record shows the apostles used His Name.
- Ask: If a church explains away the supernatural, where did God ever change? “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
- Ask: Do they put creeds on level with Scripture? Jesus condemned that (Mark 7:7-9).
- Ask: Do they ordain men who are not “husband of one wife,” or who are not sober and blameless? That contradicts 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
- Ask: Do they treat the Lord’s Supper carelessly, or use it in a way that leads to excess? 1 Corinthians 11 rebukes that.
- Ask: Do they teach the Bride according to Revelation 7:9-17 and 20:4, or do they mix the Bride with the saved nations? Let Scripture draw the line.
4) Short Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the Holy Spirit will always lead you to the Word and then live that Word through you. Stay with the Bible. A true church will preach Christ the Word, keep the apostolic pattern, and produce a life that matches the Scriptures. You see, that’s the proof.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Prodigal
50-0827A §13
...s she could get it without these, ever what you call the manicure on her face, and--or ever what the stuff is that they wear. On down the street she would go. Yes, it's the truth; we teach against it. God help preachers to get down to the Gospel. Listen, ladies, there was only one woman in the Bible that ever painted herself to meet a man, and that was Jezebel; and God fed her to the dogs. So when you see them wear that, say, "How do you do, Miss Dog meat." That's exactly what it was: God fed her to the dogs. You d...
Contending for the Faith
55-0220E §21
Notice, Jude said here that he gave all diligence to write unto the church, that they should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Now, that would... We'd want to think that that was our church. Us Methodists would want to think that's our church. We Baptists want to think that that's our church. We Presbyterians wants to think that that's our church. We Catholics wants to think it's our church. And we Pentecost wants to think it's our church. And every one of us wants to think th...
God's only provided place of worship
65-1128M §118
Now, church, we're teaching now. But, remember, when you leave here, start moving out of the shuck now. You're going into the grain, but lay in the presence of the sun. Don't add to what I've said, don't take away what I've said. because I speak the truth as far as I know it, as the Father has given to me. See? Don't add to it, just say what I said. The thing of it is, just tell the people to come seek the Lord Jesus. And then you yourself lay right in His presence, just make love to Him: "O Lord Jesus, Son of God,...
Does God ever change His mind about His Word?
65-0418E §91
...t He said. He never changed his original plan. Now, look at the Balaams today in the field, would you. Just look around: prospering, speaking in tongues, sure, using God's gift to gain, everything. Sure. But it defiles the whole church of God with their corrupt teaching. That's right. One said to me, he said, "What you doing this for? What you doing that for? I said, "Don't you believe that that's the truth?" "Oh, yes, but," he said, "you know what? That's not your business. You're to pray for the sick. They believ...
God commissioning Moses
53-0603 §43
...'ve been sick for some time---very sick, too. And you... It's a cancer. Could I talk to you just a minute away from this microphone? [Break in tape.] Now, this woman... God knows the woman. And she knows that unless God helps her, she's going to die. She can't live without God's help now. And I know the woman would be sincere. It wasn't nothing immorally she did, but just something that I had to tell her away from this microphone, because of a mixed audience. And there's not a person in the world that's seen this t...