The Seventeen Points of the True Church:
 

                           1.Christ organized the Church. Eph.4:11-14.

  11.And he gave some, apostles; and
     some, prophets; and some,
     evangelists; and some, pastors and
     teachers; 
  12.For the perfecting of the saints, for
     the work of the ministry, for the
     edifying of the body of Christ: 
  13.Till we all come in the unity of the
     faith, and of the knowledge of the
     Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
     the measure of the stature of the
     fulness of Christ: 
  14.That we henceforth be no more
     children, tossed to and fro, and
     carried about with every wind of
     doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
     cunning craftiness, whereby they lie
     in wait to deceive;

                           2.The true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ.
                             Eph:5:23.
  23.For the husband is the head of the
     wife, even as Christ is the head of
     the church: and he is the saviour of
     the body. 

                           3.The true church must have a foundation of Apostles and
                             Prophets. Eph. 2:19-20.

  19.Now therefore ye are no more
     strangers and foreigners, but
     fellowcitizens with the saints, and of
     the household of God; 
  20.And are built upon the foundation of
     the apostles and prophets, Jesus
     Christ himself being the chief corner
     stone;

                           4.The true church must have the same organization as
                             Christ’s Church. Eph. 4:11-14.

  11.And he gave some, apostles; and
     some, prophets; and some,
     evangelists; and some, pastors and
     teachers; 
  12.For the perfecting of the saints, for
     the work of the ministry, for the
     edifying of the body of Christ: 
  13.Till we all come in the unity of the
     faith, and of the knowledge of the
     Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
     the measure of the stature of the
     fulness of Christ: 
  14.That we henceforth be no more
     children, tossed to and fro, and
     carried about with every wind of
     doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
     cunning craftiness, whereby they lie
     in wait to deceive;

                           5.The true church must claim divine authority. Heb. 5:4-10.

   4.And no man taketh this honour unto
     himself, but he that is called of God,
     as was Aaron. 
   5.So also Christ glorified not himself to
     be made an high priest; but he that
     said unto him, Thou art my Son, to
     day have I begotten thee. 
   6.As he saith also in another place,
     Thou art a priest for ever after the
     order of Melchisedec. 
   7.Who in the days of his flesh, when he
     had offered up prayers and
     supplications with strong crying and
     tears unto him that was able to save
     him from death, and was heard in
     that he feared; 
   8.Though he were a Son, yet learned
     he obedience by the things which he
     suffered; 
   9.And being made perfect, he became
     the author of eternal salvation unto
     all them that obey him; 
  10.Called of God an high priest after
     the order of Melchesidek.

                           6.The true church must have no paid ministry. Isa. 45:13

   
  13.I have raised him up in
     righteousness, and I will direct all his
     ways: he shall build my city, and he
     shall let go my captives, not for price
     nor reward, saith the LORD of
     hosts.

                             and I Pet. 5:2.

   2.Feed the flock of God which is
     among you, taking the oversight
     thereof, not by constraint, but
     willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a
     ready mind;

                           7.The true church must baptize by immersion. Matt 3:13-16
  13.And he goeth up into a mountain, and
     calleth unto him whom he would: and
     they came unto him. 
  14.And he ordained twelve, that they
     should be with him, and that he might
     send them forth to preach, 
  15.And to have power to heal
     sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 
  16.And Simon he surnamed Peter; 

                           8.The true church must bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost
                             by the laying on of hands. Acts 8:14-17.

  14.Now when the apostles which were at
     Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
     received the word of God, they sent
     unto them Peter and John: 
  15.Who, when they were come down,
     prayed for them, that they might
     receive the Holy Ghost: 
  16.(For as yet he was fallen upon none
     of them: only they were baptized in
     the name of the Lord Jesus.) 
  17.Then laid they their hands on them,
     and they received the Holy Ghost.

                           9.The true church must practice divine healing. Mark
                             3:14-15.

  14.And he ordained twelve, that they
     should be with him, and that he might
     send them forth to preach, 
  15.And to have power to heal
     sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

                          10.The true church must teach that God and Jesus Christ
                             are separate and distinct individuals. John 17:11

  11.And now I am no more in the world,
     but these are in the world, and I
     come to thee. Holy Father, keep
     through thine own name those whom
     thou hast given me, that they may be
     one, as we are.

                             and John 20:17.

  17.Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not;
     for I am not yet ascended to my
     Father: but go to my brethren, and
     say unto them, I ascend unto my
     Father, and your Father; and to my
     God, and your God. 

                          11.The true church must teach that God and Jesus Christ
                             have bodies of flesh and bone. Luke 24:36-39

  36.And as they thus spake, Jesus
     himself stood in the midst of them,
     and saith unto them, Peace be unto
     you. 
  37.But they were terrified and
     affrighted, and supposed that they
     had seen a spirit. 
  38.And he said unto them, Why are ye
     troubled? and why do thoughts arise
     in your hearts? 
  39.Behold my hands and my feet, that it
     is I myself: handle me, and see; for a
     spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye
     see me have.

and Acts1:9-11.

   9.And when he had spoken these
     things, while they beheld, he was
     taken up; and a cloud received him
     out of their sight. 
  10.And while they looked stedfastly
     toward heaven as he went up,
     behold, two men stood by them in
     white apparel; 
  11.Which also said, Ye men of Galilee,
     why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
     this same Jesus, which is taken up
     from you into heaven, shall so come
     in like manner as ye have seen him
     go into heaven. 

                          12.The officers must be called by God. Heb 5:4,

   4.And no man taketh this honour unto
     himself, but he that is called of God,
     as was Aaron. 

Exodus 28:1

   1.And take thou unto thee Aaron thy
     brother, and his sons with him, from
     among the children of Israel, that he
     may minister unto me in the priest's
     office, even Aaron, Nadab and
     Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's
     sons. 

and Exodus 40:13-16.

   13.And thou shalt put upon Aaron the
     holy garments, and anoint him, and
     sanctify him; that he may minister
     unto me in the priest's office. 
  14.And thou shalt bring his sons, and
     clothe them with coats: 
  15.And thou shalt anoint them, as thou
     didst anoint their father, that they
     may minister unto me in the priest's
     office: for their anointing shall surely
     be an everlasting priesthood
     throughout their generations. 
  16.Thus did Moses: according to all
     that the LORD commanded him, so
     did he. 

                          13.The true church must claim revelation from God. Amos
                             3:7.

   7.Surely the Lord GOD will do
     nothing, but he revealeth his secret
     unto his servants the prophets.

                          14.The true church must be a missionary church. Matt.
                             28:19-20.

  19.Go ye therefore, and teach all
     nations, baptizing them in the name
     of the Father, and of the Son, and of
     the Holy Ghost: 
  20.Teaching them to observe all things
     whatsoever I have commanded you:
     and, lo, I am with you alway, even
     unto the end of the world. Amen. 

                          15.The true church must be a restored church. Acts 3:19-20.

  19.Repent ye therefore, and be
     converted, that your sins may be
     blotted out, when the times of
     refreshing shall come from the
     presence of the Lord; 
  20.And he shall send Jesus Christ,
     which before was preached unto you:

                          16.The true church must practice baptism for the dead. I
                             Cor. 15-16 and 29. too much to contain in this article>
                          17.By their fruits ye shall know them. Matt. 7:20.

  20.Wherefore by their fruits ye shall
     know them.

                   Why are these things important? Hebrews 13:8

   8.Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
     and to day, and for ever.