Authenticity and Heresy, and the Church of God

The Church of God is distinguished from other churches by its commitment to upholding true teachings of Christ, which it stringently follows in its doctrine. To be defined as the true church, the teachings must be solely based on the revelations directly given by God Himself. Unless a church preserves the authentic truths taught by God, worshippers cannot expect to attain salvation.

Revelations 22:18–19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

In order to keep the authenticity of the truths, God warned to neither add nor subtract from the words written in the Bible.

2 Peter 2:1–3 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Apostle Peter testified of the appearance of false prophets who teaches heresies and to their end, God will condemn and their destruction is reserved. The Bible outlines destructive heresies as distortion of the truth, fabricated stories, and people who follow the depraved conducts of the heretics are themselves who bring the way of truth into disrepute.

Galatians 2:4–5 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

As a minister of the gospel to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul also warned to not submit to the false believers lest they distort the truths and the regulations given by Jesus.

At His first coming, Jesus taught His disciples the laws and commandments of the New Covenant, which included observing God’s feasts such as the Sabbath and the Passover. Though He was God in the flesh, He distinguished His people through these laws and regulations, exemplifying the need to keep them.

Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom…

As was His custom, Jesus set an example in His observance of the Sabbath of the New Covenant, in which God’s people worship in spirit and in truth.

Acts 17:2–3 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.

Apostle Paul kept the Sabbath, following the example of Jesus.

Luke 22:7–8 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

Luke 22:15–20 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Jesus kept the Passover of the New Covenant with His disciples before He was crucified on the cross. At the last supper, Jesus set the regulation of keeping the Passover and taught it to His disciples.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Apostle Paul too kept the Passover, testifying to the truth as he received and was taught by Jesus Christ.

In addition to observing the Sabbath and Passover, the Church of God strictly adheres to all the other regulations of the New Covenant, including the seven feasts in three times as well as the ordinance regarding the veil. Therefore, the true and authentic church must uphold and obey the precepts taught by Christ Himself.

Nevertheless, Apostle Paul cautioned the church of the emergence of falsehood propagated by false christs who would preach a different gospel than what was taught.

Galatians 1:6–9 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 already said, 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!

Matthew 7:21–23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The will of God is to obey and follow every sound instruction given by God Himself, without adding to or removing from the Word. The church that teaches Jesus’ commands is the authentic church that God promised for salvation. God paves the way for us to attain salvation through refinement of our souls when we observe the laws and regulations as stipulated by Him.