The term church (rendered Ecclesia in Greek) means people called out. The Old Testament church stands for the people who crossed over the Red Sea on their way to Canaan, the people who were redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb (Acts 7:38). Similarly now those who repent, believe in Lord Jesus Christ, confess and leave their sins and receive immersion baptism, become Christians. They are added to the church (Acts 2:38-41,46). They joined the apostles and the church existing then, and abided resolutely in the apostolic doctrine (apostolic counsel and rule), fellowship, breaking of bread and in prayer (Acts 2:42).

This was the church. This church began to spread (Acts 5:12-14; 4:4; 6:7). The church began to spread in Judea and Samaria (Acts 8th Chapter). The church began to spread even in places far away (Acts 10th Chapter). All these churches were in fellowship with the mother church at Jerusalem. They remained as a single body (church), in the same faith (doctrine), in the same baptism (immersion baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), in the same Spirit (Holy Spirit), with the same God and the Lord (Father and Son) (Eph.4:4-6). The apostles and prophets wandered everywhere and performed their ministry. Local churches were governed through the elders and pastors appointed for the purpose by the Holy Spirit and apostles (Acts 6:2-6; 14:22; 20:17,28). The rule of the apostles and the rule of the Holy Spirit were present then. Ap.John was the last to die among the apostles. The church was somewhat upright upto the time of Polycarp, the disciple of Ap.John and others who were known as the early church fathers. The church enjoyed the rule of the Holy Spirit. After 300 BC, a Roman emperor who embraced Christianity superficially introduced world into the church. The worldly customs permeated the church. From the time the emperor changed his capital to Constantinople, Rome became the city of Popes. The deed of Milan in 313 BC, empowered the church to secure property for itself. Initially popes were appointed by Christian monarchs. Similarly bishops too were appointed by monarchs. In this manner, the church turned worldly. On payment of large sums of money, those with money and power could get the positions of popes and bishops. Later popes claimed that being spiritual rulers, they were responsible for appointing kings. Popes conducted wars. They led eight crusades. Millions died in the war (See the period of pope Innocent - III). They branded those who refused to follow their principles as heretics and punished them and burned them at stake. Popes held an inquiry committee called "Inquisition" and murdered many dissidents. In this period, allegedly, Mary appeared to a monk called St.Dominic and advised him that through rosary heresy could be suppressed. He spread the practice of rosary. But could heresy be suppressed? No! Why? During reformation, Protestants and Roman Catholics killed each other. Where was the church? There was no church. There was indeed religion. Yes, the church lost the rule of God. Doesn't this show the fall of early church? However, in order to preserve His name and the gospel, God had been working miracles through saints. Satan continued to release false doctrines and opinions. The counsels against the Scriptures are the seeds of satan.

Similarly in these days too, God preserves His gospel by giving dreams, visions and divine healing to His devotees. This can be seen in all Christian meetings. But these are not churches. If a person is not a member of a perfect Church, he can not have perfect salvation. He can not lead a holy life. He will not have perfect revelation and he can not become perfect. Apostle is the foundation of the church. The corner stone is Jesus Christ (Eph.2:20-22). Whatever be the denominations, it should have been started by an apostle and it should still be ruled by an apostle. On the contrary one should not claim that Rome is the mother church as St.Peter ruled from Rome. Do you know that for about seventy years nine Popes (from Clement V to Benedict XIII) were residing in Avignon (a French province)?. Also for several years, the R.C. church was without Popes. There were more than one pope at the same time(Pope and antepope). All these were not true churches but temporal arrangements.

2. The Church must have been founded properly. Till the 5th century, immersion baptism was prevalent. When Popes and councils, by their human authority, framed for themselves false ordinances, as Protestants (without any apostle among them) formed doctrines as they wished, denying the Scriptures, without anointing, without proper doctrines, without the rule of Holy Spirit, yielding to devilish works and human conceptions, how could all these be churches? Even in those days, it was not the pope who performed miracles but some saints who were holy monks. Similarly those who framed doctrines and creeds were the so called saints and not the Popes. Even the various creeds arrived through the councils were the culmination of deliberations by kings, bishops and monks. The origin of Protestant churches and the news about the families of their present titular heads, bring more disrepute than glory to Christ. The head of the Anglican church is the imperial family of England which is well known for its immoral life. Why, R.C. churches and the Protestants were critical of the anointing of the Holy Spirit and denied it twenty years ago (some churches do so even now). These days, with their sins they receive spirits through tarry-meetings and Charismatic centers. Still, why have they not stopped the practices of infant-baptism and confirmation being practiced in their churches? Let these churches decide to expel those who received baptism from other churches and those who received the Holy Spirit! What would be left in their churches? Let these churches admit that their foundations are wrong and change their doctrines.

Pentecostal churches say that they baptize the saved people. Only towards ones' salvation, baptism is given (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Mat.21:25-32). In the same way, when a person is baptized, he becomes a member of the visible body, the church. But only when he receives the anointing of the Holy Spirit, he becomes a member of the invisible body (church) of Jesus Christ. Accepting the above truth, why do they allow them who are not anointed by the Holy Spirit to take part in the Holy Communion (Eucharist)? Doesn't the anointing unifies into a single body (I Cor.10:16)? What is the Scriptural basis for baptizing those who are not anointed by the Holy Spirit? Doesn't all these show that the churches out there are not the true churches? Don't play double roles!

Though the churches like R.C. and Pentecostals have the doctrine of priests abstaining from marriage (In R.C. too, only in 1074 BC, the rule was passed disallowing priests to marry), they engage the services of women under the garb of ministry to remain with them for washing and cooking. It is not a sin to have a wife. An overseer should be a married man (I Tim.3:1-7; Titus 1:5,6). Similarly if virgins are to be engaged for the ministry, they should be accommodated in a separate monastery away from the contact of men. Otherwise, it will be a repetition of the unsavory tale of Father John Joseph of Marthandam (Tamilnadu, India) and his women-disciples. Satan has let loose his followers under the guise of ministers of God, intending to destroy Christianity. A person who resorts to a barrage of lies in his speeches and writings claims that God speaks to him! Revelations, visions and dreams that are contradictory to the Scriptures are the works of the devil. Time will prove that.

There are no true church outside! The reasons for our claim listed below:

1.There is no truth in other places.A true church should have all the doctrines in Christ (I Cor.1:5-7).

2. There should be oneness (Eph.4:4-6).

3. Miracles, signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit should be manifested (I Cor.12:8-11).

4. There should be holiness (Eph.5:26,27).

5. It should have governance (to be a unified body) with all the five types of ministry (Eph.4:11-13).

6. It should have a head (Apostle) (Eph.2:20-22; I Cor. 4:15,16; 11:1; Phil. 3:17). 7. The holy sacraments established by Jesus Christ should be present in that place and the work of God should be carried out by performing regular worship to God.

In that true church, people will be saved, sanctified and made perfect. They will be prepared for the coming of the Lord. The church is the pillar and foundation of the truth (I Tim. 3:15). New Jerusalem Church is so. Therefore we are not ashamed to call ourselves the true church.