In these soul-trying times of great religious confusion, where countless Christian churches, denominations, and other belief systems vie for attention, Jesus Christ assures us in Matthew 16:18 that He will build His church upon Himself as the Rock, and nothing, not even death, can prevail against it. This prophecy and promise, grounded in the authority and faithfulness of God, confirms that the true church of Jesus Christ still exists on earth and can be found, though not by one's own effort alone, as Jesus declares in John 6:44 that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father. The true church is a spiritual organism, not necessarily confined to one human organization or denomination, but composed of individual true Christians, wherever they may be, as described in Ephesians 1:22-23, where the church is Christ's body with Him as the Head. Throughout history, as seen in the first century with the apostles scattering to spread the gospel, truly converted members remain united in the spiritual body of Christ despite physical separation or differing organizations. Revelation 2-3 suggests that end-time church members may be scattered among at least seven churches, whether these are physical entities or spiritual designations in God's mind. To identify the true church, Romans 8:14 provides a key clue: those led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God, showing through their words and behaviors that God directs them. Jesus Himself offers a simple test in John 14:15, stating that His true disciples will keep His commandments—all of them—in faith, not selectively. They will strive for perfection, seek God's Kingdom and righteousness first, and aim to be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect, as urged in Matthew 5:48, Matthew 6:33, and Hebrews 6:1. Additionally, a true church of God will bear a name reflecting its divine Lord, such as "church of God," as consistently used in the New Testament, giving honor and glory solely to Him.

The concept of a true church of God remains a profound and central concern, even amidst widespread scattering and disintegration following the collapse of what was once seen as a unified body. The question persists: does a single, corporate, true church of God exist today? Despite the fragmentation into various organizations with similar doctrines but different focuses and names, the longing for unity, purpose, and solidarity endures, deeply ingrained from years of association with a singular entity that carried out a powerful, worldwide work. Jesus Christ Himself affirms the existence of His singular church, declaring that He will build His church, not churches, and that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. This true church cannot be found or joined without divine revelation, for no one comes to Christ unless the Father draws him. It is not a matter of human will or effort, but of God's sovereign mercy and design. The true church is described in various ways: as part of a Kingdom, a building, the body of Christ, and a Family, into which members are called exclusively by God's purpose. No volunteers are accepted; each person becomes a part by God's design alone. Though the true church may appear minuscule and virtually invisible compared to the vast number of professing Christians, it exists as a vital entity with eternal life within it, protected by the most powerful force in creation. Its existence is not negated by its small size, its mixture of faithful and unfaithful members, or its lack of visibility. Historically, the church was once unified in a single corporate group, but this unity did not last long as congregations spread beyond initial centers, leading to divisions and a vagueness in the concept of a singular true church. Even in the diverse and flawed congregations of the first century, such as those in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, the essence of the true church persisted despite their imperfections. These assemblies, though scattered and facing various spiritual challenges, were still part of the church that Christ built. Today, though scattered, fellowship remains possible among various congregations of God, providing an opportunity to grow and glorify God without elevating oneself above others or erecting barriers to true unity.