Have you ever wondered which is the true Church of Christ? How can we know if we belong to the church He founded and leads? In this discussion, we will explore the arguments of the Catholic Church, which considers itself the only true and legitimate church. Are these arguments valid and convincing, or is there other evidence that contradicts them? Join me on this journey of discovery and reflection, and at the end, you can draw your own conclusions.
The first argument of the Catholic Church is the uniqueness and antiquity of its institution. According to this church, it is the only one that has existed since the time of the Apostles and has preserved the same doctrine and tradition throughout the centuries. The Catholic Church claims that all other Christian churches are offshoots or sects that have separated from it for various reasons and therefore do not have the fullness of truth or divine authority. But what does the Bible say about this? It is true that the Catholic Church is the only one that has remained faithful to the teaching of the Apostles? Let’s see what the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, chapter 1, verses 6-9:
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have said before, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
The word “anathema,” according to the dictionary, means excommunication, curse, or a person or thing anathematized. Its origin is Greek and means “offering to the gods” or “cursed.” In a religious context, it refers to the condemnation or rejection of someone or something considered impure, heretical, or unacceptable according to certain norms or beliefs. Here we see that the Apostle Paul warns the Galatian Christians not to be deceived by false teachers who teach them a different gospel from the one he had preached. Paul says that not even an angel from heaven has the authority to change the message of Christ and that whoever does so should be cursed. This shows us that during the early church, there were attempts to corrupt and alter the gospel of Christ, and the apostles had to defend the purity and integrity of the Christian faith. Therefore, it is not enough to claim that a church is the oldest or the largest; rather, one must examine whether its doctrine is in accordance with the gospel of Christ as taught by the apostles.
Here comes a very important part, so pay close attention to the following: the second argument of the Catholic Church is apostolic succession, especially through Peter as the first pope. According to this church, Jesus gave Peter primacy over the other apostles and entrusted him with the keys to the kingdom of heaven, which means that he gave him the power to govern and teach the church. The Catholic Church maintains that this power has been transmitted from generation to generation through the bishops of Rome, who are the successors of Peter and who therefore have supreme and infallible authority over the entire church. But what does the Bible say about this?
It is true that Jesus gave Peter a special and unique position among the apostles. Let’s see what the Gospel of Matthew says, chapter 16, verses 13-19:
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ Some said John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'”
Here we see that Jesus praises Peter for his confession of faith and tells him that on this rock He will build His church. But what does Jesus mean by “the rock”? Is Peter the Rock, or is it Peter’s confession? The rock is interpreted by the Catholic Church as referring to Peter, thus giving him the foundation and leadership of the church. However, there are other possible interpretations based on the biblical context and the use of words. For example, some say that Jesus refers to Himself as the rock and that Peter is just a stone that forms part of the building. Others say that Jesus refers to the revelation of the Father as the rock and that Peter is the first witness of that revelation. Still others say that Jesus refers to the doctrine that He is the Christ, the Son of God, as the rock and that Peter is the spokesperson for that doctrine.
What is clear is that Jesus does not give Peter any special title such as “Pope,” “Bishop of Rome,” or “Vicar of Christ.” Nor does He give him any exclusive power such as the power to bind and loose or to forgive sins. These powers are also given to the other Apostles, as we see in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 18-20:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Here we see that Jesus gives the apostles the power to bind and loose, which means the power to establish rules and disciplines for the church and to declare what is lawful and unlawful according to God’s will. But this power is not absolute or infallible; it is subject to the word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, Jesus promises them that He will always be with them, which means that He is the true head and Lord of the church and does not need any human representative to govern it. I will tell you more about this later.
But first, I want you to know that there is more biblical evidence that contradicts the idea that Peter was the first pope and the founder of the Catholic Church. For example, in the book of Acts, chapter 15, we see there was a Council in Jerusalem where the issue of circumcision and the Law of Moses for Gentiles converting to Christianity was discussed. At this Council, Peter did not act as the supreme leader of the church but was one among those who gave their testimony and opinion. The one who presided over the council was James, the Lord’s brother, who was the bishop of Jerusalem. He gave the final verdict based on the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, and it was accepted by all present. Let’s see what the book of Acts, chapter 15, verses 13-21, says:
“And after the discussion had ceased, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘Men and brethren, you know that some time ago God chose the Gentiles to believe, and God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. And now, why should we bear a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? We believe that by the grace of the Lord Jesus we will be saved, just as they were.’ Then the whole crowd fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting how many great signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles. When they had finished speaking, James answered, saying, ‘Brothers, listen to me. Simon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written: “After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen down, and I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name,” says the Lord, who makes all these things known from ancient times. Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble those Gentiles who turn to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood, for Moses has been preached in every city from ancient times in the synagogues, where it is read every Sabbath.'”
Here we see that James recognizes Peter’s role as the first evangelizer of the Gentiles, but he does not recognize any superior or infallible authority in him. On the contrary, he bases his judgment on the word of God and the testimony of the Holy Spirit, a judgment that is accepted by all the apostles and elders. This shows us that the early church was not governed by a single man, but by a college of leaders who submitted to God’s will and respected one another.
We must keep in mind that the word “church” comes from the Greek “ekklesia,” which means assembly or convocation. The church is not a building, a hierarchy, or a label. The church is the people of God: those who have been called by His grace, those who have believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, those who have been baptized in His name, those who are part of His body, those who have His Holy Spirit, those who worship Him in spirit and in truth, those who follow and obey Him, those who love one another, those who proclaim His gospel, those who do His will, those who await His coming. That is the true church.
The true church is the one Jesus said to build on the rock of His confession, the one against which the gates of hell will not prevail, the one He loved and gave Himself up for, the one He cleansed and sanctified, the one He will present glorious for Himself, the one to whom He will give the kingdom of heaven. You realize that this definition of the church does not depend on a name or a denomination. In fact, the early church did not have an official name. The first Christians were known simply as the disciples, the brethren, the saints, the believers, those who call on the name of the Lord, those of the Way, those of the sect of the Nazarenes, the Christians.
These names were not exclusive or distinctive titles but general descriptions or nicknames given by others. The first Christians did not identify themselves by a denomination but by their relationship with Jesus and His doctrine. They did not divide themselves into separate groups but united in one faith and one love. They did not follow men but Christ. They did not submit to traditions but to Scripture. They did not seek human glory but the glory of God. And how can we know if a church is true or false? Because of its rites, its dogmas, its miracles, its saints, its antiquity, its popularity, or its authority?
Jesus gave us the criterion for discerning between the true and the false church: the fruits. He said:
“By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:16-20)
The fruits are the works, the attitudes, the results, the effects, the consequences of the life and teaching of a church. The fruits reveal the character, the nature, the quality, and the source of a church. The fruits show if a church is guided by the Spirit of God or by the spirit of the world, if a church is founded on truth or error, if a church is full of love or hate, if a church is blessed by God or cursed by Him.
History is full of testimonies and evidence of crimes, heresies, and persecutions. The wars, the Crusades, the Inquisitions, and the tortures of the Catholic Church—these fruits are not those of the true Church, but those of the false church, which arose during the reign of Emperor Constantine. He caused horrific acts to be committed and abominably transformed the message of God. The Bible calls this the great harlot, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth, she who is drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus, she who sits on the scarlet beast, she who has a mysterious name written on her forehead: Babylon the Great (Revelation 17).
With this, we arrive at a very important and controversial topic: apostasy and corruption in the Catholic Church. Do you know what apostasy is and how it has affected the history of the Church? What false doctrines have been introduced into Christianity? Let’s examine it. Apostasy means abandoning or turning away from the true faith. It is a grave sin that carries eternal damnation. According to the Bible, Jesus told His disciples that in the last days there would be many false prophets. He warned that they would deceive many, and apostasy would multiply. Let’s see what it says in Matthew 24:23-24:
“So if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
This means we must be vigilant and not be deceived by anyone claiming to be the Messiah or to possess the absolute truth. There is only one way, one truth, and one life: Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can save us and give us eternal life. But how can we recognize true faith from false? What criteria should we use to discern between good and evil? Here comes the most important part: the Word of God. The Word of God is the source of authority and revelation for Christians. It is the sword of the Spirit that allows us to combat lies and heresies. It is the lamp that illuminates our path and guides us toward God’s will. It is the food that nourishes and strengthens us in faith. Without the Word of God, we are lost and vulnerable to attacks. That’s why we must read it, study it, meditate on it, and apply it to our daily lives. This way we can resist the devil and remain firm in the faith. Let’s see what it says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
This means that the Bible is the standard by which we must judge everything we hear, see, and do. If something is not in accordance with the Bible, we must reject and denounce it. We cannot accept any tradition, custom, doctrine, or practice that contradicts the word of God. That would be falling into apostasy and idolatry.
Changing the subject, I would like to talk to you about a very relevant topic today: Protestantism. Do you know what Protestantism is and how it arose as an alternative to Catholicism? What role did Martin Luther play in this movement? We are going to answer these and other questions right now. Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that separated from the Catholic Church in the 16th century as a result of a protest against corruption. Protestants believe that the Bible is the sole source of authority and revelation for Christians and that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, without the need for works or human intermediaries. They reject many of the traditions, rites, and dogmas of Catholicism, such as the veneration of saints, images, transubstantiation, purgatory, papal infallibility, clerical celibacy, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption of Mary, and many others.
However, Protestantism did not arise from nothing; it was the fruit of a long history of resistance and fidelity by a small group of Christians who never submitted to the power and authority of the Catholic Church. These Christians, who were sometimes persecuted and martyred, kept alive the flame of true faith and hope in the return of Christ. Some of these groups were the Waldensians, the Albigensians, the Hittites, the Lollards, the Anabaptists, and the Moravians. Although they had some differences among themselves, these groups shared some basic principles, such as the rejection of the hierarchy, the importance of the Bible, freedom of conscience, and the simplicity of worship. Let’s see what it says in Revelation 12:6:
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for 1260 days.”
This means that the true church, symbolized by the woman, had to flee to the desert—that is, to secluded and hidden places—to escape the persecution and apostasy that dominated the world. There, God protected her and nourished her with His word until the time came to go out and proclaim the gospel. That moment arrived in the 16th century with the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
The Protestant Reformation was a movement that shook Europe and the world and changed the history of Christianity. It was a reaction against the corruption and abuse of the Catholic Church, which had strayed from the purity and simplicity of the Gospel. The Protestant Reformation had many protagonists, but one of the most prominent was Martin Luther, a German monk who dared to challenge the Pope and tradition with his 95 Theses. The theses that Luther nailed to the door of the church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517, questioned some of the practices and doctrines of Catholicism, especially the sale of indulgences, which were documents that supposedly forgave sins and reduced time in purgatory. Luther denounced this as a fraud and an offense against God, stating that the only way to obtain forgiveness and salvation was through faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s see what he says in Romans 1:16-17:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile, because in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed. From faith to faith, as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.'”
This means that the gospel is God’s message to save sinners regardless of their origin or condition. The gospel reveals that God is just and that He justifies us through faith in His Son, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. The gospel calls us to live by faith, trusting in God’s promises and obeying His commandments. This was the message that Luther and other reformers boldly and convincingly proclaimed despite the opposition and persecution they suffered.
But Luther was neither the first nor the only one to protest against Catholicism. Before him, there were others who also rose up against the tyranny and falsehood of the Catholic Church, such as John Hus, John Wycliffe, Girolamo Savonarola, and William Tyndale. These men were forerunners of the Reformation, and some of them paid with their lives for their fidelity to the truth. They contributed to the spread of the Bible in vernacular languages so that people could read and understand it for themselves. This was a key factor in the advancement of Protestantism, since the Bible was the foundation and standard of its faith and practice.
What are you going to do? Are you going to continue in ignorance and tradition, or are you going to seek truth and freedom? The decision is yours. But remember, there is only one chance, and time is running out. I’ll tell you more about this later. We’re almost at the end of the video, but I ask you to stay with me because I’m going to reveal what you must do to recognize the true church. How to know if the church you attend or the one you’re invited to is the one God approves and blesses. How to avoid falling into the deception of the false churches that abound in the world. I’m going to show you right now what the biblical criteria are for identifying the true church. I’m also going to teach you how to evaluate the doctrines and practices of a church, how to observe the transformation of lives that a church produces, and how to understand God’s gaze upon the heart and faithfulness to His will.
Remember what I told you before: the first thing we must know is that the church is neither an organization nor a denomination. The church is the people of God, those who have been called by His grace, those who have believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The true church is the one Jesus said to build on the rock of His confession, the one He loved and gave Himself for, the one He cleansed and sanctified, the one He will present glorious for Himself, the one to which He will give the kingdom of heaven. But not all churches that call themselves Christian are true. There are many churches that have strayed from the truth, that have adopted doctrines and practices contrary to the word of God, that have corrupted the gospel of grace, that have deceived people with false promises, that have exploited people with false demands, that have persecuted people with false authorities, that have divided people with false differences, that have destroyed people with false blessings.
These are the false churches, the ones the Bible calls the synagogue of Satan, the ones that claim to be Jewish but are not. Those who suffer condemnation are lying because they have made themselves an abomination. How can we distinguish between the true church and the false church? What criteria should we use to evaluate a church? The answer is simple: we must use the criteria that God has given us in His Word. The Word of God is the rule of faith and conduct for the church, the source of truth and life for the church, the supreme and final authority for the church, the revelation of God’s will and purpose for the church. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which pierces to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, guiding us in the way of righteousness, correcting us, teaching us, instructing us, exhorting us, comforting us, edifying us, and perfecting us (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
So what should we do? To which church or denomination should we belong? The answer is that there is no perfect or infallible church or denomination; all have their errors and limitations. What we must do is seek truth and authenticity in our personal relationship with Christ. He is the only one who can save and guide us. He is the only one who knows our hearts and our needs. He is the only one who loves and accepts us as we are. Let’s see what it says in John 14:6:
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
This means that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity. He is the only one who reveals to us who God is and what He wants from us. He is the only one who gives us eternal life and abundance. He is all we need. Therefore, I invite you to seek truth and authenticity in your personal relationship with Christ. Don’t settle for what you have been told or taught. Don’t be deceived by appearances or emotions. Don’t be swayed by pressure or habit. Don’t be influenced by fear or doubt. Seek Jesus with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Study His Word, pray to His name, obey His commands, follow His example, trust in His promises, receive His grace, share His love, praise His glory, await His coming.
In this way, you will be truly happy and blessed, truly free and authentic, truly Christian. This is the invitation I extend to you today. I hope you accept it and put it into practice. I assure you that you will not regret it. And if you want to know more about how to have a personal relationship with Christ, I invite you to watch other videos on this channel where I offer advice and resources to help you grow in your faith. Until then, may God bless you and keep you. Amen.
