In today's confused secular and religious milieu, the question arises: is there a true church, and if so, where is it? Amidst the rise of secularism and the push for tolerance across various beliefs, Christianity stands distinct as the only religion with Jesus Christ as its Savior and centerpiece of truth. No true church can be found outside of Christianity, as it alone offers the path to salvation through Him, who declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." The church, described as Christ's body, holds an exalted position despite its visible weaknesses. The Father has placed Christ far above all principality and power, giving Him headship over all things to the church, which is the fullness of Him who fills all in all. As the complement of Christ, the church is not complete until united with Him as His bride. He sanctifies and shapes her in holiness, filling every part with the gifts needed to function effectively and glorify God in her overall responsibility to the Father and to our Lord and Savior. This body of believers is not confined to a single corporate entity, nor can one simply join it by choice. The Father must lead a person to it. When He does, the newly called will find a people who keep God's commandments in both letter and spirit, worship in spirit and truth, and sacrifice themselves despite personal costs. They are honest, trustworthy, and uncomplaining, driven by the vision of the Kingdom of God rather than envy or self-gratification. They live in the present with an eternal gaze, striving to transform into the image of Jesus Christ, humbly seeing themselves as tiny specks in a vast purpose, yet privileged to participate in it through faith and gratitude.

The Church of God, in its early days right after Christ's ascension and the dawn of Pentecost, seemed to embody a golden age. Those initial weeks or months following Pentecost were marked by an unparalleled unity and fervor. The twelve apostles were present, and most members had seen Jesus in the flesh, having heard Him speak, perhaps at the Sermon on the Mount or in the Temple. A significant number, as many as 500, witnessed Him after His resurrection. Everyone in the Church was in their first love, sharing all things in common, giving to those in need, and enjoying meals and fellowship from house to house. It was a grand time of joy and praise for God, with the Holy Spirit visibly working among them. The Church grew explosively, from 120 to 3,000 in a single day, and soon to 8,000, turning the world upside down through the apostles' efforts. Yet, this idyllic state did not last long. Early on, the Church faced external challenges as the world struck back through persecution by the Jews. The apostles were reprimanded and warned against teaching, though they continued preaching in Christ's name after prayer and encouragement from the Holy Spirit. Worse persecution followed repeatedly. Internally, corruption emerged within the Church, revealing the persistent human nature even among those called out and filled with the Holy Spirit. The incident with Ananias and Sapphira highlighted hypocrisy and deceit, with God making a stark lesson of the consequences of such sin. These events marked the two primary stumbling blocks for the Church: persecution from without and corruption from within. Throughout its history, as recorded in Acts, the Church experienced a pattern of highs and lows. Good times of peace, growth, and advances in knowledge were often followed by apostasy, betrayal, hypocrisy, and persecution. The apostles were imprisoned, freed by an angel, put on trial, and beaten, yet rejoiced in suffering for Christ. Disputes arose within the Church, such as between Hebrews and Hellenists over the care of widows, necessitating the ordination of seven deacons. While this led to the spread of God's Word, it also brought accusations against Stephen, resulting in his martyrdom, the first recorded among the Church. This persecution, fueled by Saul, scattered the Church from Jerusalem, yet God used this to spread the gospel to Samaria and beyond through Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. Even amidst conversions like Saul's, challenges persisted with figures like Simon Magus seeking to exploit the Holy Spirit, and Paul himself facing immediate threats after his conversion. Life within the Church of God is no picnic, marked by trials, temptations, and tribulations that test faith, patience, love, commitment, and endurance. The visible Church, though holy and set apart by God, remains human, with members still under the influence of human nature, prone to sin, mistakes, and bad decisions. Expectations of perfection within the Church often lead to disappointment, as members offend, hold grudges, gossip, and fail to bear one another's burdens or restore others in gentleness. Through the epistles, it is evident that the Church of God faced problems in every era, with issues ranging from false doctrine and disputes among members to susceptibility to deceptive teachings and even leaders teaching blasphemy, requiring severe reprimand. Despite this, God knows His elect and works intimately with them, calling for a response to depart from iniquity and live righteously, thriving in any environment by applying Christ's teachings and wisdom.

The church of God stands distinct from other Christian groups due to its unique characteristics, which are shaped by Jesus Christ Himself as the Builder. In recent decades, the church, once unified under the Worldwide Church of God, has fragmented into numerous smaller fellowship groups following internal dissension after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong. Despite this scattering, these groups maintain similar core doctrines and strive to preach the gospel, though they lack the unity of a common work. Some members express concern over this lack of unity, questioning the end-time vision of a compact church effort leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. It is evident that God Himself orchestrated the scattering of the church, just as He did with Israel and Judah, due to His displeasure with certain directions taken. Yet, He has gathered the scattered into smaller groups, maintaining the church's existence under His authority, operating effectively according to His current purpose. The church of God remains under His guidance, and He has promised to bring His people back together in His appointed time, as He never changes and can be relied upon. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 describe seven congregations of the church of God, existing simultaneously in the first century as one spiritual body. These congregations serve as examples for the end-time church, providing characteristics against which members today can evaluate themselves. Christ uses these descriptions to urge individual repentance and growth as prophetic events unfold, emphasizing that the church of God is not defined by eras but by enduring traits applicable to the end time. Each member is judged based on their personal relationship with Christ, not by the congregation or ministry, highlighting the individual responsibility within the church of God. The church of God is identified as the Israel of God, distinct from any ethnic or national claim to the name Israel. This spiritual identity sets it apart, marked by conversion and a unique relationship with God. Christ built only one church, configured according to His design, bearing His characteristics. The true church of God will reflect the traits of its Builder, evident in the actions and reactions of its members over time, as they are shaped into His image through the Holy Spirit. Despite its small size, often described as a little flock, the church of God persists with a determined purpose, striving toward the same goal as its Builder. Its impact on the world may be minimal, yet it exists with a clear direction. The scattering of the church into various fellowship groups, many still bearing the name church of God, is seen as a positive reconfiguration by Christ for the end time, enabling a broader witness through modern means like the Internet, reaching people worldwide with His truth.