About in English and then 關於我們中文

About the Continuing Church of God

Are you interested in learning about the beliefs and practices of the original early Christian church? Are you willing to consider that perhaps what is commonly taught overlooks much of what really happened?

The real Christian Church–is a group which was never intended to be large in this age–as Jesus taught, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32) and the Apostle Paul taught, “at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5). Neither a little flock or remnant are particularly large. Nor is the Continuing Church of God, which strives to be its most faithful remnant.

Where Were the Early Christians?

Although there were early Christians in many places, more seemed to be in Jerusalem, Antioch, Asia Minor, Alexandria, Corinth, Rome, Armenia, and with some even into the Celtic areas, India, Africa, Arab areas, and possibly China. The main location of the early leadership seemed to be Asia Minor. An article of interest may be Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome.

Original Christianity was practiced in Jerusalem up until around 135 A.D., its second A.D. fall (which is when it ceased having Jewish bishops and changed practices to avoid imperial persecution–more details are in the article The Ephesus Church Era). By the time it first fell in 70 A.D., many Christians fled to Pella, then some returned later to Jerusalem, while others went to Asia Minor and were later called Nazarenes (please also see the article on The Smyrna Church Era). There is an Orthodox Church in Jerusalem which claims it is an original faithful Church, though it has many beliefs that differ from the original ones documented in the articles linked here.

Antioch was a major city essentially north of Jerusalem. The Bible records that some of the apostles met there. It was biblically in Syria, but the current border puts it in the nation of Turkey. True Christianity was, to some degree, practiced in Antioch apparently throughout the first and second centuries, and perhaps as the minority faith until the seventh century or so (please see Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices). The Antiochian Orthodox Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church both claim they are the original faithful Church from Antioch, though both have many teachings that differ from the original ones documented in the articles linked here.

According to the New Testament, true Christianity was practiced throughout many areas of Asia Minor in the first century (this area is now in the country of Turkey). Most (between 15-17) of the 27 books of New Testament were written to or from church leaders in Asia Minor. Even Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox leaders recognized that Asia Minor had early “apostolic succession”; essentially what they refer to as the early “apostolic see of Ephesus” and/or “see of Smyrna.”

What scripture clearly shows, is that although there were Christians in various areas, the focus for the New Testament writers were the churches in Asia Minor. And interestingly, the last book of the Bible is specifically addressed to the churches of Asia Minor (Revelation 1:4,11). The last of the original apostles to die, John, died in Asia Minor and his disciple Polycarp of Smyrna was a major leader there. Those there also taught the true gospel and opposed others who promoted a different gospel. There were actually two major groups that claimed Christianity in the second century that claimed succession from the apostles, and only one of them has remained faithful–for some further details, please see Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries?; see also the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

According to Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Church of God, and other sources, apostolic Christianity was practiced in Asia Minor in the second century–and those there that were true Christians were sometimes referred to as Smyrnaeans (or descendants of the Church of God in Ephesus/Asia Minor). Asia Minor is north and north-west of Antioch and Jerusalem, and was in the country now called Turkey. There are at least two churches that claim descent from Asia Minor: The Orthodox Church of Constantinople (which does not consider itself to be Protestant as it precedes the Protestant Reformation; and it remains in Constantinople, now called Istanbul) and the genuine Church of God (which also does not consider itself Protestant as it precedes the Protestant Reformation; see also Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism). Those in the genuine Church of God consider Polycrates (the late 2nd century Christian who refused to accept the authority of Roman Bishops) to have been an important and faithful leader, but the Orthodox Church is more guarded about that. Also, although the Church of God teaches that Polycarp is a successor to the apostles that it traces its history through, the Orthodox Church of Constantinople does not include him in their successor list, nor do any of the other Eastern “Orthodox” churches, even though they acknowledge that Polycarp was a successor to the apostles. The first several times the expression “catholic church” is used in the ancient literature it is not related to Rome, but to the original apostolic “catholic church of God” in Smyrna (see also Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?).

Alexandria is in Egypt, north Africa. It is unknown how long any true Christians were there. Certain ones have made claims that conflict with the biblical record as some claim that the Gospel writer Mark led the Church from there for 20 years (while the Bible shows Mark in different parts of the world during that time). Many non-apostolic practices, such allegorizing scripture, were promoted from this area, from even the first century. The largest Alexandrian church split in the year 451 into the Coptic Church and the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Both of those groups have many beliefs different from those documented here.

There were (and still are) true Christians in various parts of Africa and elsewhere around the world.

According to the New Testament, there was a troubled, but faithful church in Corinth in the first century. It eventually seemed to accept Roman influence.

According to the New Testament, there was a faithful church in Rome in the first century (one New Testament book was addressed to it and several were written from there), but it does not list any who later became known as “Roman bishops” as holding any office of importance there (please see the article What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About the Early Church?). There were also faithful Christians in Rome in the second century, though many heresies affected that area according to Roman Catholic, Church of God, and other sources. The Roman Catholic Church claims that it is still the faithful Church, the one that has supremacy over all Christendom, and that it has Apostolic Succession, but it has changed many beliefs that many it calls saints had (please see Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God?). It is of interest to note that even many Roman Catholic scholars have long held that the Churches in Asia Minor in the second century held to the original teachings of the apostles. And a lot of that is documented in our free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

Most Protestants come from groups that were affiliated with Martin Luther’s teachings and/or his departure from the Roman Church. And some groups, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim that the true church essentially had to begin again as essentially the Protestant reformation did not go anywhere near far enough.

According to various legends and historical writings, there were true Christians in the Celtic areas of the British and Irish islands from perhaps the late first century until sometime after the Council of Nicea (s0me information is included in the article on The Pergamos Church Era). There is a third century report that the Apostles Thomas and Bartholomew got the gospel to India in the first century (and that perhaps Thomas went to China or Malaysia ); and there are later reports that the church in India remained opposed to the Roman Catholic Church for centuries.

Hippolytus’ third century report on where he believed the original 12 apostles, plus Paul, went to is included in the article The Ephesus Church Era. Some of the Kelts (see The Pergamos Church Era), who had certain practices closer to those of the Church of God than the Church of Rome, said that they descended from the “apostolic see of Ephesus” (which essentially was the faithful leading group in Asia Minor until about the mid-third century).

Beliefs: How Was Early Christianity Practiced?

While scholars have a variety of opinions, this page itself will simply mention the following beliefs held by true Christians in the second century, with links to highly documented articles on each subject (which are primarily based on the Bible and early historical writings).

Amazingly, a leading Protestant scholar (H. Brown) has admitted:

It is impossible to document what we now call orthodoxy in the first two centuries of Christianity (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, p. 5).

In other words, much of what now passes for “orthodox Christianity” did not exist in the first two centuries after Jesus was crucified and resurrected. This is basically because while there was only one original church, another major group emerged in the second century who changed certain original Christian practices and became what most now seem to feel represent “orthodoxy” (for details, please see Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? and Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?).

Also, notice what one Roman Catholic writer has written:

Protestants of many traditions are now espousing recent Protestant traditions and modern schisms; yet they all claim the early Church as their own–asserting that they are the rightful heirs to the teachings of our Lord, the apostles, and the Fathers of the apostolic Church. Are they? Do they have a legitimate claim to the theology of the early Church? Was the “early Church essentially Protestant” in her theology and polity, or was she Catholic? (Ray, Stephen K. Upon This Rock. St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church. Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1999, p. 15).

Well, what if the early Church was the Church of God with its “Nazarene practices,” which is neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic? What if that is what the Bible and early writings from original “catholic” saints demonstrate?

We in the Continuing Church of God believe that salvation is only available through the name of Jesus and that true Christians will have God’s Spirit and “walk as He walked” (1 John 2:6).

To learn more about the faithful remnant and what original Christian beliefs were, please check out the Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

What About Today?

Almost none who profess Christianity hold to the basic original beliefs (which can be found in the article Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God as well as the free online books
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism and Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?
).

It is the Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God, represented by the Continuing Church of God (which happens to also be a “little flock” as well as “remnant”) that agrees with all the positions above, that were part of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

The Continuing Church of God also specifically traces its history from the Apostles like Peter, Paul, and John through Polycarp, Polycrates, and other early leaders in Asia Minor (see also Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?).

Was the Headquarters of the True Church To Remain in the Same City?

While as this page mentioned above, there are several churches that claim direct descent from places such as Alexandria, Antioch, Asia Minor, Jerusalem, and Rome, an important question to answer is: Was the headquarters of the true church to remain in the same city?

The answer, from a biblical perspective, is no.

While the true church was to continue (Matthew 16:18), what about a city for Christians?

The Apostle Paul taught that it was impossible:

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come (Hebrews 13:14).

Let us look at what Jesus taught on this matter:

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another.
For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes
(Matthew 10:22-23).

Jesus, of course, has not yet returned. Whatever Christians there have been in the area of Palestine have been chased through all the cities in that geographic region since Jesus stated this (the Crusades helped insure this). Thus Jesus must be referring to more cities than just those in the area of Palestine (such as those Jacob was alluding to in Genesis 49:1-27). Jesus, thus, seems to be prophesying that it would not be possible that the headquarters of the true church could permanently remain in any one city for hundreds or nearly two thousand years. These statements from Jesus and Paul clearly indicate that only a church whose headquarters moved relatively often could possibly be true.

There were theological persecutions coming from cities such as Pasadena in the 20th century and other cities in the 21st century that led to the latest city (Grover Beach, California) to be the current home of those attempting to represent most faithful work of God, now known as the Continuing Church of God.

Remember that although the true Church was prophesied to continue (Matthew 16:17-18), it was also prophesied to move to different locations (Matthew 10:23; Hebrews 13:14).

Furthermore, since John prophesied a time that the church would flee into the wilderness for apparently 1260 years (based on each day representing one year, such as shown in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6) in Revelation 12:6, this strongly suggests that the original church would be hard to locate for a very long time–and this simply is not the case with the Roman or Orthodox Catholic Churches. In Revelation Chapters 2 & 3, Jesus has the Apostle John list various churches that while also contemporaneous, provided a prophecy in advance of what would happen to those churches (for more information, please see the article The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3).

Perhaps it should be noted that even Roman Catholic scholars admit that there is a biblical prophesy related to Rome that is less than flattering as the commentary in the 1582 version of the Rheims New Testament (the Roman Catholic standard English translation) states:

The author of the Commentaries upon the Apocalypse set forth in St. Ambrose name, writeth thus: This…sometime signifieth Rome, specially which at that time when the Apostle wrote this, did persecute the Church of God. But otherwise it signifieth the whole city of the Devil, that is, the universal corps of the reprobate. Tertullian also taketh it for Rome, thus, Babylon (saith he) in St. John is a figure of the city of Rome, being so great, so proud of the Empire, and the destroyer of the saints. Which is plainly spoken of that city, when it was heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the world, the persecutor of the Apostles and their successors, the seat of Nero, Domitian, and the like, Christ’s special enemies, the sink of idolatry, and false worship of the Pagan gods (Annotations on Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse. The Original And True Rheims New Testament Of Anno Domini 1582. Prepared and Edited by Dr. William G. von Peters. Ph.D. 2004, copyright assigned to VSC Corp. Page 583).

Hence Bible prophecy seems to exclude Rome and many other places as the likely leader of true Christendom. Information on some of the early leaders from these cities can be found in the article titled Apostolic Succession.

A comparison of teachings that early Greco-Roman Catholic accepted leaders held and those held by the Church of God can be found in the articles Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? and Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of Godas well as the free online book Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

Let Brotherly Love Continue

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Let brotherly love continue (Hebrews 13:1).

Hebrews 13:1 is very interesting as literally, it says “Let Philadelphia continue” as the Greek word translated as “brotherly love” is transliterated as filadelphia or Philadelphia.

We of the Continuing Church of God strive to represent the most faithful remnant of the Philadelphia era of the Church of God.

Congregations

The Continuing Church of God has small groups and congregations scattered around the world. Here is a link to the: Congregations of the Continuing Church of God.

The Mission of the Continuing Church of God

The Church’s mission is to proclaim and promote the Christ’s Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14) and all that implies.

Here are seven specific parts of the mission of the Continuing Church of God:

1. To preach the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14) and salvation through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; John 6:29; Acts 4:10,12; Romans 1:13) including supporting Romans 11:25 fulness of the Gentiles (see What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?), and continue in doctrine (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:16).

2. To preach the end-time biblical prophetic warnings, including about the coming Great Tribulation, to the descendants of Jacob (e.g. Ezekiel 3-7 and 33, see also What is the Ezekiel Warning?; Matthew 24:4-51) and others in this age (see What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?) as we strive to lead the final phase of the work.

3. To preach Philadelphian love (Revelation 3:7-12; James 2:8; John 13:35; Hebrews 13:1), feed the flock (Matthew 28:19-20), promote Philadelphian unity (Joel 1:14, 2:15-16; Zephaniah 2:1-3; Jeremiah 4:5-6; Revelation 3:7-10, 12:14-17), and encourage all to build character through growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

4. To be examples (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 1:7) and educated witnesses (Matthew 24:14; 2 Timothy 2:15; Daniel 11:33) to the world in general, as well as other Christians (Daniel 11:32-33).

5. To learn and practice the words and commands of Jesus in all our dealings with others (John 13:35; 15:14).

6. To restore and teach more of the truths of original Christianity (Jude 3; Matthew 17:11; Acts 18:26).

7. To teach that Christians should be led by the Holy Spirit and pursue love, mercy, judgment, faith, justice, and the other gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:1-14:1; Matthew 23:23; Galatians 5:22-25; watch also Mercy and Forgiving Someone Who is NOT Sorry).

Teaching the truth and love of the word of God to the world in general and those called in this age in particular (Matthew 28:19-20) is the mission of the Continuing Church of God.

Note to visitors: Many of the doctrines expounded upon at this site are probably different than you have heard. It is certainly understandable that you may question what is taught here. Please understand that when the Bible teaches that Satan deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9) that means we all have been deceived (all of us have sinned too, Romans 3:23).

Could a small group actually be the remnant of the original church? Or must it be relatively large organization? Would Jesus’ true church be scorned by the world or a major player on the world scene?

Jesus clearly said His True Church would be a “little flock” and be around until He returns. The genuine Church of God is such a little flock that traces its history from the Book of Acts, throughout the ages, and into the 21st Century. Would you like to learn more about this faithful remnant??

Recall Jesus taught:

“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:22-23).

16b…”I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” (Matthew 11:6).

We are a very small church, but are trying to do the big work that Jesus wants us to do to proclaim His Gospel of the Kingdom to the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14) and make disciples for Him (Matthew 28:19-20).

Under the authority of Jesus Christ and the Bible, the Continuing Church of God is led by its overseer and pastor, the evangelistic prophet Bob Thiel.

If you are interested in supporting the church that is determined to be most faithful to that of the original apostles, please check us out.

Continuing Church of God
1036 W. Grand Avenue,
Grover Beach, CA 93433

Official website: https://www.ccog.org

Let brotherly love continue (Hebrews 13:1).

Three additional of possible interest for some new to this website may be The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?,
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and Continuing Church of God: Continue what?

Note: We have literature links in around 300 different languages at https://www.ccog.org

 

关于继续神的教会

你是否有兴趣学习最初早期基督教的信仰和传统吗?你是否愿意考虑也许通常我们所学的忽视了许多真正发生的事情?

真正的基督教教会-是从未打算在这个时代成为大众组织的一群人-正如耶稣教导,“[32] 你 们 这 小 群 , 不 要 惧 怕 , 因 为 你 们 的 父 乐 意 把 国 赐 给 你 们 。”(路加福音12:32)并且使徒保罗教导,“[5] 如 今 也 是 这 样 , 照 着 拣 选 的 恩 典 , 还 有 所 留 的 馀 数 。”(罗马书11:5)。无论是一小群人还是残余人数都不会特别多。继续神的教会也是 ,努力成为其最忠实的信仰残余

早期的基督徒在哪里

虽然许多地方都有早期的基督徒们,但是更多的似乎是在耶路撒冷,安提阿,小亚细亚,亚历山大,科林斯,罗马,亚美尼亚,有的甚至到凯尔特地区,印度,非洲,阿拉伯地区,而且可能是中国。早期领导的主要位置是在小亚细亚。你可能感兴趣的文章是:(早期教会的位置:另一个角度看以弗所,士麦那,罗马Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome. )

原始基督教实行于耶路撒冷直到公元135年左右,在第二公元时没落,(当时停止继续拥有犹太主教以及改变做法以避免帝国的迫害—更多细节可阅读文章以弗所教会时代The Ephesus Church Era)。到公元70年第一次没落的时候,许多基督教徒逃到佩拉,然后有一些基督徒随后返回到耶路撒冷,而其余的去了小亚细亚并且后来被称为拿撒勒(请参阅文章:士麦娜教堂时代The Smyrna Church Era)。在耶路撒冷有一东正教,称其它是最初的忠实的教会,尽管有着许多的信仰与原来所记载文件不同,附上这些文章链接。

安提阿是耶路撒冷基本上以北的一个主要城市。圣经记载,一些使徒在那里碰面。依据圣经,他的地理位置是在叙利亚,但目前的边境将其划在土耳其里。在一定程度上, 真正的基督徒在安提阿实行信奉,显然是在整个第一和第二世纪里,或许少数的信仰一直到第七世纪左右(请阅读:阿拉伯的拿撒勒可能保持最初的基督徒做法:Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices)。安提阿和叙利亚的东正教都声称是安提阿最初忠实的教会,尽管他们的许多教导都不同于原来在文章中所记载的,此处为文章链接。

根据新约圣经,在第一世纪,真正的基督教在小亚细亚全国各地的许多地方实行信奉。(现在这个区域是在土耳其)。27本新约圣经书,(在15-17之间),大多数的书籍都是写给或来自小亚细亚的教会领袖。(甚至是罗马天主教和东正教领袖意识到小亚细亚拥有早期的“使徒继承”;基本上他们指的是早期的“使徒见以弗所”。(“apostolic see of Ephesus.”))圣经清楚显示,尽管在不同的地区都有基督徒,但是圣经新约作者的重点是在小亚细亚的教会里。有趣的是,圣经的最后一本书是专门给小亚细亚的教会(启示录 1:4,11)。最后的最初使徒约翰,死在小亚细亚并且他的门徒士麦娜的圣波利卡普是那边主要的领导。那些人也在那里传授真正的福音并且对抗那些传播不同福音的人。事实上, 有两个主要的群体在第二世纪称其基督教,声称他们是使徒的继承,并且只有一个自始至终是忠诚的, 进一步详细细节,请参阅:早期教会历史:哪两个主要教会在第二和第三世纪公开宣称基督?:Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries?

根据罗马天主教,东正教,神的教会和其他来源,在第二世纪的小亚西亚实行使徒时代的基督教——并且那些真正的基督教徒又是被称为士麦娜人(或是以弗所/小亚细亚神教会的后裔)。小亚细亚是安提阿和耶路撒冷的北部和西北部,并且现在是在被称为土耳其的国家。至少有2所教会声称是小亚细亚的遗留:君士坦丁堡的东正教(不认为自己是新教徒因为它在新教改革之前;并且它仍然在君士坦丁堡,现在叫伊斯坦布尔)和另一个是真正神的教会(也不认为自己是新教因为它也在新教改革之前)。那些在真正神的教会的人认为波利克拉(第二世纪后期的基督徒拒绝接受罗马主教的权势)一直是重要的和忠诚的领导者,但是东正教对于此更加谨慎。此外,尽管神的教会教导波利卡普是使徒的继任者,追溯其历史,君士坦丁堡的东正教并没有把他列入他们继承者的名单中,也没有列入其他任何东部的东正教教会,即使他们承认波利卡普是使徒的继任者。

亚历山大在是埃及并非非洲北部。 真正的基督徒在那边有多久并不知道。一些声称福音作家马克带领教会有20周年,与圣经记载有冲突,一些人声称说。(而圣经中显示在那段时期马克在世界不同的地方)。许多非使徒的做法,例如寓言经文,从那个地区被推广,甚至是从第一个世纪。最大的亚历山大教会在451年分裂成科普特教会和东正亚历山大教会。这些教会有多信仰都不同于这里的记录。

在非洲和世界各地的其他地方曾有(并且仍然有)真正的基督徒。

根据新约,有一个困扰,但是在第一世纪,在哥林多(Corinth)忠实的教会,最终似乎接受了罗马的影响。

根据圣经新约,在第一世纪的罗马有一个忠实的教会(有一本新约书谈论罗马书,并且许多其他的新约书出自那里 ),但是并没有列出任何谁后来成为著名的“罗马主教”因为那里没有提到任何重要的领导者(请阅读罗马天主教学者关于早期教会究竟教授什么?:What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About the Early Church?)。罗马也有忠实的基督教徒在第二世纪,虽然有许多异端邪说影响了那个地区,根据罗马天主教,神的教会,和其他教会。罗马天主教称仍然有忠实的教会,一个凌驾于所有的基督教,它有使徒的继承(Apostolic Succession),但是它已经改变了很多的信仰,罗马天主教中圣人的信仰被教会所改变(请阅读 :哪一个是忠诚的:罗马天主教还是继续神的教会?:Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God?)有趣的是注意甚至是许多罗马天主教的学者们一直认为第二世纪小亚细亚的教会坚持使徒最初的教育(the Churches in Asia Minor in the second century held to the original teachings of the apostles)。

大多数来自教会的新教徒与马丁.路德金的教导和/或他离开罗马教会有关。并且一些教会,例如,后期圣徒的耶稣教会(摩门教)和耶和华见证人教会,称真正的教会基本上不得不重新开始因为基本上新教改革并没有完全地改变.

根据各种传说和历史著作,曾有真正的基督徒在英国和爱尔兰岛的凯尔特地区可能从第一世纪的后期直到尼西亚委员会后的某个时期(某些信息包含在文章:别迦摩教会时代:The Pergamos Church Era)。第三世纪有报道使徒托马斯和巴塞罗缪在第一世纪把福音传到了印度(也许托马斯那时去了中国或马来西亚);后面还有报道说在印度的教会仍然反对罗马天主教达几个世纪。

希波吕托斯在第三世纪的报告上说他相信最初的12门徒,再加上保罗,看附上的文章:别以弗所教会时代:The Ephesus Church Era。 一些凯尔特人的某些奉行做法与神的教会接近比起罗马教会,(参阅:别见摩迦教会时代: The Pergamos Church Era),说他们是“使徒以弗所?”(本质上是亚细亚忠实的主要教会直到第三世纪中期)。

信念:早期基督教是如何实践的

虽然学者们意见各不相同,但是本页将会简要的提到以下信念,是由第二世纪真正的基督徒所坚持的信念,在每一个主题都会附上链接大量用文件证明的文章(都是主要基于圣经和早期历史的著作)。

令人惊讶的是,一位主要的新教学者(H.布朗)承认说:

“我们不可能去证明我们现在所称的正统在前两个世纪的基督教里.(布朗HOJ.异端邪说:异教会与东正教在教会的历史上。亨德里克森出版社,皮博迪(MA),1998年,第5页)。

换句话说,许多现在所认为的“正统基督教”在前两个世纪中并不存在,在耶稣被钉在十字架和复活后。这基本上是因为只有一个最原始的教会,另外一个主要的教会出现在第二世纪改变了一些原有的基督教做法,并成为了现在似乎觉得是最能代表“正统”的教会(详情请参阅: 早期教会历史:谁是在第二和第三世纪相信耶稣的两大教会?Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries?).

此外,注意另外一个罗马天主教作家写道:

许多传统的新教徒现在信奉新教传统和现代分立;然而他们都声称他们自己是早期教会-主张说他们是我们神,使徒们的,使徒教会的神的教育的合法继任者,是这样吗?他们有一个合法的说法对于早期教会的神学吗?在她的神学和政体中“早期教会基本上是新教教会”还是她是天主教徒?(Ray, Stephen K 在磐石上.圣彼得大教堂和罗马圣经中的早期教会.伊格出版社,旧金山,1995年, 第15页)

那么,如果早期教会是神的教会实行“拿撒勒的做法”(Nazarene practices,),那神的教会即不是新教也不是罗马天主教吗?假如神的教会是圣经和早期著作来自原来的“天主教”圣人所显示的呢?在继续神的教会(Continuing Church of God)我们相信救赎的唯一方法是通过奉耶稣的名和真正的基督教徒将有神的精神和“[5] 如 今 也 是 这 样 , 照 着 拣 选 的 恩 典 , 还 有 所 留 的 馀 数 。”(约翰一书2:6)

要了解更多忠实的残余和原始基督教所信仰的,请查看: 继续神的教会的信念:  Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

那今天是什么呢?

几乎没有人信奉基督教坚持最基本的最初的信仰(可以在本文中找到:继续神的教会的信念:  Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

这是神的教会非拉铁非的残余,代表继续神的教会(这恰好也是一个“小群体”也是“残余”)认同以上所有的所说?即是部分 “[3] 亲 爱 的 弟 兄 阿 , 我 想 尽 心 写 信 给 你 们 , 论 我 们 同 得 救 恩 的 时 候 , 就 不 得 不 写 信 劝 你 们 , 要 为 从 前 一 次 交 付 圣 徒 的 真 道 竭 力 的 争 辩 。”(犹大书1:3)。

继续神的教会(Continuing Church of God)也还特意追溯其历史从使徒这里像彼得,保罗和约翰,还通过波利卡普,波利克拉特斯以及其他早期在小亚细亚的领导人。

真正教会的总部是留在同一个城市里吗?

虽然本页正如以上所提到的,有许多教会声称是这些地方直接的后裔,如亚历山大,安提阿,小亚细亚,耶路撒冷和罗马,一个重要答案的问题是:真正教会的总部是留在同一个城市里吗?

从圣经的角度看,答案是,不是。

虽然正真教会继续着(马太福音 16:18),那对基督徒是什么样的城市呢?

使徒保罗(Apostle Paul)教导说这是不可能的:

“[14] 我 们 在 这 里 本 没 有 常 存 的 城 , 乃 是 寻 求 那 将 来 的 城 。”(希 伯 來 書 13:14)

让我们看看耶稣是怎么在这个事情上教导我们的:

“[22] 并 且 你 们 要 为 我 的 名 被 众 人 恨 恶 。 惟 有 忍 耐 到 底 的 必 然 得 救 。 [23] 有 人 在 这 城 里 逼 迫 你 们 , 就 逃 到 那 城 里 去 。 我 实 在 告 诉 你 们 , 以 色 列 的 城 邑 , 你 们 还 没 有 走 遍 , 人 子 就 到 了 。”(馬 太 福 音 10:22-23)

耶稣,当然,还没有回归。无论基督徒们曾经有在巴勒斯坦地区被追赶,穿过所有的城市在那地理的区域从耶稣说(是十字军东征有助于确保这一点)。因此,耶稣一定是指更多的城市而不只是那些在巴勒斯坦地区的城市(例如那些雅各在创世纪49:1-27中暗指到的)。耶稣,因此,似乎在当时预言真正教会的总部不可能永远留在任何一所城市一百年或是近乎两千年之久。这些从耶稣和保罗的声明中清楚地表明教会总部的迁移相对频繁可能是事实。

在20世纪和在21世纪的其他的城市里,有过神学迫害,如帕萨迪纳,到时下的城市(Arroyo Grande, 加利福尼亚)是当下尝试代表神最忠实的工作,现在被称为继续神的教会。(Continuing Church of God.)

请记住尽管正真的教会预言会继续(马太福音 16:17-18),也预言正真的教会被迁移到各种不同的位置(马太福音10:23;希伯来书13:14)。

此外,由于约翰预言某个时刻教会将会逃离到荒野会达1,260年之久(基于每一天代表一个年,正如在民数记14:34和以西结书4:6中显示的)在启示录12:6, 强烈地表明原始教会在很长一段时间要安定下来会有难度—并且这不可能是罗马教或是东正教天主教。在启示录第2章和第3章中,耶稣的使徒约翰列出各个教会,也有同时期的,预言什么会发生在这些教会身上(更多信息,请阅读 启示录第2章和第3章中的教会The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3)。

也许还应该注意到即使是天主教学者承认关于罗马有一个圣经预言,不如兰斯新约1582版本的评论好(罗马天主教标准英语翻译)说:

“注释的作家根据启示以St. Ambrose的名字,从而写; 这……有时意味着罗马,特别是在这个时候,当使徒写到这个,的确迫害了神的教会。但是除此之外,他意味着魔鬼的整个城市,也就是,堕落的整个军团。德尔图良还夺了罗马,因此,巴比伦(他说)在圣约翰是罗马城市的一个身影,如此伟大,如此骄傲的帝国,并且是圣人的破坏者。这显然是说那个城市,当他是异教徒,世界的领土,土地统治的首领,使徒的迫害者和他们的继任者,尼禄,图密善的位置,等等,基督特殊的敌人,沉于偶像崇拜,异教神的虚假崇拜.”(注释17章上的启示,原始和真正1582年的Anno Domini的兰斯新约,由威廉姆G博士整理编辑, 冯.彼得斯博士,2004年著作权转让给VSC公司,第583页)。

因此圣经预言似乎排除罗马和其他许多地方像真正的基督教会的领袖。来自这些城市的早期领袖的信息可以在本文中找到文章名称为 使徒的继承Apostolic Succession)。

比较早期罗马天主教教会领袖所坚持的教导与神的教会坚持教导的不同之处的文章可在此文中找到:哪一个是忠实:罗马天主教教会还是继续神的教会?Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? 其他两篇可能对一些人感兴趣的文章可能是希望的救赎继续神的教会如何不同于大多数的新教:Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants 和东正教教会和继续神的教会的相似处与不同之处。 Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God.

让兄弟之爱继续

使徒保罗写道:

“你们务要常存弟兄相爱的心。”(希伯来书13:1)

希伯来书13:1 从字面理解上是非常有意思的,它说道“让非拉铁菲继续”如同希腊语被翻译为“兄弟之爱”被音译为filadelphia 或Philadelphia。

我们继续神的教会(Continuing Church of God)努力代表最忠实的非拉铁非时代神的教会的残余。(Philadelphia era of the Church of God

继续神的教会的使命

教会的使命是为神的国度宣讲和推广基督的福音(马太福音24:14)。这里有七个具体的继续神的教会的使命:

1.传王国的福音(马太福音24:14)和救赎通过耶稣基督(马太福音28:19-20,使徒行传 4:10, 12;罗马书 1:13)。

2.宣讲圣经预言警告中的末世,包括即将到来的大灾难,这时代雅各和其他人等的后裔(例如 以西结书3和33;马太福音24:4-51)正如我们努力引领最后阶段的工作(final phase of the work)。

3.宣讲非拉铁非爱(启示录3:7-12;雅各书2:8;约翰福音13:35;希伯来书13:1),牧羊羊群(马太福音28:19-20),鼓励所有的人在我们主和救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上有长进。(彼得后书 3:18)。

4. 树立榜样(马太福音 5:14-16;帖撒罗尼迦前书1:7)和向世界和其他的基督徒做见证人(马太福音24:14)。

5.学习和实行耶稣的话和命令,在与我们与所有人交往的时候(约翰福音 13:35; 15:14)。

6.要恢复原来基督教的真理(犹大书3)。

7. 教基督徒应该被圣灵指引和追寻爱,怜悯,判断,信念和其他圣灵的恩赐(哥林多前书13:1-14:1;加拉太书5:22-25)。

继续神的教会的使命是向整个世界教导神的话的真理与爱和那些尤其在这个时代被召唤的。

访问者注意:许多在这个网站上解释的教义可能不同于你所听到的。当然你对这边所教授的有疑问是可以理解的。请明白当圣经教导我们的时候撒旦欺骗着整个世界(启示录12:9)那意味着我们都被欺骗了(我们所有的人也都犯了罪,罗马书12:9)

一小群人事实上可能成为原始教会的残余吗?还是必须是相对较大的组织?耶稣的正真教会将会被世界蔑视还是成为世界舞台上的主角?

耶稣清楚地说他的正真的教会将会是“一小群”并且直到他回来才会显露。真正的神的教会是这样一小群人追溯其历史,从使徒行传,古往今来,一直到21世纪。你想要更多地了解这个忠实残余吗?

回想耶稣教导道:

“[14] 引 到 永 生 , 那 门 是 窄 的 , 路 是 小 的 , 找 着 的 人 也 少 。”(馬 太 福 音 7:14)

“[22] 并 且 你 们 要 为 我 的 名 被 众 人 恨 恶 。 惟 有 忍 耐 到 底 的 必 然 得 救 。 [23] 有 人 在 这 城 里 逼 迫 你 们 , 就 逃 到 那 城 里 去 。 我 实 在 告 诉 你 们 , 以 色 列 的 城 邑 , 你 们 还 没 有 走 遍 , 人 子 就 到 了 。”(馬 太 福 音 10:22-23)

“[18] 我 还 告 诉 你 , 你 是 彼 得 , 我 要 把 我 的 教 会 建 造 在 这 磐 石 上 ; 阴 间 的 权 柄 ( 权 柄 : 原 文 是 门 ) , 不 能 胜 过 他 。”(馬 太 福 音 16:18)

“[32] 你 们 这 小 群 , 不 要 惧 怕 , 因 为 你 们 的 父 乐 意 把 国 赐 给 你 们 。”(路 加 福 音 12:32)

“[6] 凡 不 因 我 跌 倒 的 就 有 福 了 !”(馬 太 福 音 11:6 )

我们是一个非常小的教会,但是正在尝试做重要伟大的工作,耶稣要我们向世界作为见证人去宣讲他王国的福音(马太福音 24:14)并且为他成为门徒。

在耶稣和圣经的权威下,继续神的教会由他的监督者和牧师带领着,福音传道的先知(evangelistic prophet)鲍勃.希尔。(Bob Thiel: http://www.cogwriter.com/cogwriter.htm)

如果你有兴趣支持本教会,决心成为最忠实的最初使徒那样的,请联系我们。

Continuing Church of God
1036 W. Grand Avenue,
Grover Beach, CA 93433

Official English-language website: http://www.ccog.org

 

继续神的教会

官方网址:http://www.ccog.org

 

“你们务要常存弟兄相爱的心。”(希伯来书13:1

 

此网站的新浏览者可能会对这2篇文章感兴趣:上帝計劃的奧秘 和:  神國的福音