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.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
52-1027 §24
Then if His Spirit is with us tonight, and with the church in this day, that same Spirit that was upon Jesus Christ, will be doing the same thing today that it did yesterday, because it's Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Is that right? The world misunderstood it. The world called it psychology. The world called it the chief of devils. But the world will always call it that. But the church knowed Him to be the Son of God. You see what I mean? That's the reason that people misunderstand. Theologic...
Father, the hour has come
56-1002A §22
You see what happened back in Rome; you see what happened in Greece; you see what happened back in the old Roman colonies long ago, to the Christian church when they got to acting like the world. You know history, or your pastor should teach it to you. And you see in every age what happens to that crop. And you see exactly where it is right now in the Pentecostal church. It's time to draw a line, and make a garrison, and preach the truth. You got examples the same as Jehoshaphat had examples. So, let's draw a line,...
Questions and Answers
54-0515 §70
Now, I got The Facts Of Our Faith, it's called, the Catholic church, 'cause my people were Irish Catholic. So I know what I'm speaking of, see. And it absolutely is the truth, that's right, that there... And the Bible said that "He will be sitting in a church, or a place, or a church that sets on seven hills in Rome, and his power will go to all the world. And he's called the antichrist." And out of that church come forth little churches that was born after that, and said, "She was a whore, and they were harlots th...
Church Ages, part 4: The Smyrnaean Church Age
60-1206 §8
Another thing that I'd like to read you. It's found in the book, "How Did It Happen?" And this was by the historians, and, "How Did It Happen?" by R. C. Hazelton, "The History of The Early Churches." And here on page 180, "The Spiritual Gifts In Irenaeus's Time," A.D. 177 to 202. Now, the reason I'm quoting this, it's going on tape, you see, and it'll be taken off on books. "It was in Irenaeus's time that the most of the apostolic church of France had all the gifts of the Holy Ghost." That was from him teaching, se...
Questions and Answers, The Law having a shadow
54-0516 §22
And why then, He said, "Now, Peter, I know all this, but you're not converted yet." See. "You're not right yet, Peter. You're not converted. But after thou art converted, then strengthen your brother." Peter hadn't received the Holy Ghost yet, see. When the Holy Ghost come, then Peter was an inspired teacher. Jesus recognized it (in last night's question, you remember), where he said...come down, said, "Upon this rock I'll build My church." Not upon Peter. Not upon the pope or upon that place wherein that--that...N...