We could show forth all the teachings and the entire practice of the original Church. In summary it just needs to be said that from apostolic times all the true teachings about the Godhead, baptism, Lord’s Supper — absolutely everything related to the plan of Salvation is left unto us in writing. When we now present a comparison between the Church of Jesus Christ as it was at the beginning and all the churches which have developed over the course of the two thousand years, then it is only for the purpose to show the way back to the original Church and its structure. In regards to this we ask God that we may experience His mercy in the same way as our brothers and sisters in Christ did in the beginning, for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and for ever. Amen.

All who are familiar with church history know that the first centuries ad passed without a uniformly organised church. Originally there were only the local, sovereign assemblies. In the 2^nd century Ireneus speaks about 20 assemblies, in the 3^rd century Hippolyt refers to 32, in the 4^th century Epiphanius writes about 60, and then Bishop Philaster mentions 131 different church groups. In the first centuries there were no cardinals or popes, and the bishops were not dignitaries, but they were the elders in the local churches. They had to be married (1. Tim. 3; Tit. 1). After the last widespread persecution of the Christians under Diocletian (ad 240-313), Caesar Constantine decided to unite all of those different fractions within one Christian church in the Roman Empire. Only later did they introduce a state religion and a “successor” to Peter, as well as the title “Pontifex Maximus” for the popes.

In the year ad 380/381 Caesar Theodosius I the Great declared the belief in the Trinity, which was mainly formulated by Tertullian from Tunesia, to be the official state religion that had to be accepted by every citizen. In the year ad 382 Caesar Gratian officially gave up the Roman title “Pontifex Maximus”, which he had carried as the highest-ranking member of the heathen priest faculty. “Pontifex Maximus” was the premier “bridge builder” and even back then had the task to build bridges between nations and tribes for the purpose of bringing them together. In the year ad 217 the Roman bishop unsuccessfully demanded that superior office, which eventually was first granted to Leo I in the year ad 441. He was the first one who claimed to have the exclusive rights to the words addressed to the Apostle Peter in Mt. 16, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven …” In the year ad 312 Constantine introduced the political dogma that “the Caesar is both, the head of state and as vicar of Christ the head of the church”, as it was practised in heathenism, wherein both powers were represented by the emperor. This view was later adopted by the popes, who claimed the spiritual as well as the worldly power. Martin Luther rejected this idea and taught that these two powers must be separated.

Various church councils were held, beginning with the one at Nicea (ad 325), attended by about 300 delegates from all the different camps. The bishop of Rome was ill at that time and could not be present. Certain subjects were discussed and initial statements of faith were formulated. That was followed by one dogma after another, right to the dogmas of the infallibility of the pope in 1870 and the bodily ascension to heaven of Mary in 1950. If the faith in a dogma would be required for our salvation, then we would have to indict the apostles and even our Lord for not telling us about it. O God, how very blessed we are to know that in the Word of Truth everything is recorded, absolutely everything You had to say to Your Church, and that only Thy Word is the light that illuminates our way! Amen. The New Testament has indeed been completed and has been in force since the passing of the testator, and nothing may be changed and nothing may be added to that Testament (Gal. 3:15). Is it not in fact a falsified faith, a falsified truth, a falsified gospel, if it does not coincide with the original? This is the crucial question we all must face.

The term “dogma” is taken from the Greek word “dokein” and means “it seems.” So it seemed to those church fathers that this or that could be right. Just because church fathers considered something to be seemingly right, that does by far not make it correct. God’s Word does not just seem to be right, God’s Word is right and true and remains for ever. Amen.

It is not our task to judge the greatest and mightiest institution on earth, or the many state and national religions and denominations, which all have their own tradition and character. But for the sake of truth we must ask this question: What happens if the churches do not coincide with the Holy Scripture in their teaching and practice? Of what possible gain is it to the faithful Catholics, that in the year 1929 the Vatican was pronounced a church state, which now has diplomatic connections to 175 nations on earth? What does this have to do with the salvation of our soul? What can all the Protestant believers gain from belonging to state-recognised churches in the different countries, when their clergy is not even recognised by God? The Church of Rome has over a billion members all over the world, has more than a million members in the various orders, about four hundred thousand priests and four thousand five hundred bishops. The other churches also have millions of members as well as their clergy. But how many of them have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and have obtained their assurance from above that they are a part of the Church of the living God? The following question poses itself: Can those billions and millions of people belonging to all the different church denominations be the “small flock” of which Jesus Christ spoke and to whom the Father is pleased to give the Kingdom (Lk. 12:32)? Can they all be the one Church of Jesus Christ that our Lord referred to when He said, “I will build my church …”? Can the churches of this world be the Kingdom of God, which Jesus Christ our Lord said is not of this world (Jn. 18:36)?

When and where did Jesus Christ appoint the Apostle Peter as the head of His Church or even designate him to be the head of state? The Lord made this statement, “… thou art Petros (a stone), and upon this rock (petra) — not upon ‘you’ — I will build my church …” — not upon the wavering man who also on that occasion, when he spoke without being under divine inspiration, had to be told by the Lord, “Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Mt. 16:23)! Jesus Christ Himself is that rock, the cornerstone upon which the Church is founded. That is the actual revelation the Apostle Peter received! The Redeemer alone is the “Head of His Church”!

The ambassadors of the pope in all the different countries are not ambassadors of Jesus Christ — they represent the Vatican state! What about all the clergy in the various church denominations? Are they messengers of God? Are they apostles of Jesus Christ, or are they indeed the servants of their churches? Do they preach the Word of God as it was done in the beginning, or do they stand for the teachings of their denomination? Did Jesus Christ ever claim a worldly position? Did He ever intend to have a state church or have any of the different churches recognised by the respective countries? Could Peter have been the first pope, when all historians agree that he has never even been in Rome?

We could show forth all the teachings and the entire practice of the original Church. In summary it just needs to be said that from apostolic times all the true teachings about the Godhead, baptism, Lord’s Supper — absolutely everything related to the plan of Salvation is left unto us in writing. When we now present a comparison between the Church of Jesus Christ as it was at the beginning and all the churches which have developed over the course of the two thousand years, then it is only for the purpose to show the way back to the original Church and its structure. In regards to this we ask God that we may experience His mercy in the same way as our brothers and sisters in Christ did in the beginning, for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and for ever. Amen.

All who are familiar with church history know that the first centuries ad passed without a uniformly organised church. Originally there were only the local, sovereign assemblies. In the 2nd century Ireneus speaks about 20 assemblies, in the 3rd century Hippolyt refers to 32, in the 4th century Epiphanius writes about 60, and then Bishop Philaster mentions 131 different church groups. In the first centuries there were no cardinals or popes, and the bishops were not dignitaries, but they were the elders in the local churches. They had to be married (1. Tim. 3; Tit. 1). After the last widespread persecution of the Christians under Diocletian (ad 240-313), Caesar Constantine decided to unite all of those different fractions within one Christian church in the Roman Empire. Only later did they introduce a state religion and a “successor” to Peter, as well as the title “Pontifex Maximus” for the popes.

In the year ad 380/381 Caesar Theodosius I the Great declared the belief in the Trinity, which was mainly formulated by Tertullian from Tunesia, to be the official state religion that had to be accepted by every citizen. In the year ad 382 Caesar Gratian officially gave up the Roman title “Pontifex Maximus”, which he had carried as the highest-ranking member of the heathen priest faculty. “Pontifex Maximus” was the premier “bridge builder” and even back then had the task to build bridges between nations and tribes for the purpose of bringing them together. In the year ad 217 the Roman bishop unsuccessfully demanded that superior office, which eventually was first granted to Leo I in the year ad 441. He was the first one who claimed to have the exclusive rights to the words addressed to the Apostle Peter in Mt. 16, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven …” In the year ad 312 Constantine introduced the political dogma that “the Caesar is both, the head of state and as vicar of Christ the head of the church”, as it was practised in heathenism, wherein both powers were represented by the emperor. This view was later adopted by the popes, who claimed the spiritual as well as the worldly power. Martin Luther rejected this idea and taught that these two powers must be separated.

Various church councils were held, beginning with the one at Nicea (ad 325), attended by about 300 delegates from all the different camps. The bishop of Rome was ill at that time and could not be present. Certain subjects were discussed and initial statements of faith were formulated. That was followed by one dogma after another, right to the dogmas of the infallibility of the pope in 1870 and the bodily ascension to heaven of Mary in 1950. If the faith in a dogma would be required for our salvation, then we would have to indict the apostles and even our Lord for not telling us about it. O God, how very blessed we are to know that in the Word of Truth everything is recorded, absolutely everything You had to say to Your Church, and that only Thy Word is the light that illuminates our way! Amen. The New Testament has indeed been completed and has been in force since the passing of the testator, and nothing may be changed and nothing may be added to that Testament (Gal. 3:15). Is it not in fact a falsified faith, a falsified truth, a falsified gospel, if it does not coincide with the original? This is the crucial question we all must face.

The term “dogma” is taken from the Greek word “dokein” and means “it seems.” So it seemed to those church fathers that this or that could be right. Just because church fathers considered something to be seemingly right, that does by far not make it correct. God’s Word does not just seem to be right, God’s Word is right and true and remains for ever. Amen.

It is not our task to judge the greatest and mightiest institution on earth, or the many state and national religions and denominations, which all have their own tradition and character. But for the sake of truth we must ask this question: What happens if the churches do not coincide with the Holy Scripture in their teaching and practice? Of what possible gain is it to the faithful Catholics, that in the year 1929 the Vatican was pronounced a church state, which now has diplomatic connections to 175 nations on earth? What does this have to do with the salvation of our soul? What can all the Protestant believers gain from belonging to state-recognised churches in the different countries, when their clergy is not even recognised by God? The Church of Rome has over a billion members all over the world, has more than a million members in the various orders, about four hundred thousand priests and four thousand five hundred bishops. The other churches also have millions of members as well as their clergy. But how many of them have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and have obtained their assurance from above that they are a part of the Church of the living God? The following question poses itself: Can those billions and millions of people belonging to all the different church denominations be the “small flock” of which Jesus Christ spoke and to whom the Father is pleased to give the Kingdom (Lk. 12:32)? Can they all be the one Church of Jesus Christ that our Lord referred to when He said, “I will build my church …”? Can the churches of this world be the Kingdom of God, which Jesus Christ our Lord said is not of this world (Jn. 18:36)?

When and where did Jesus Christ appoint the Apostle Peter as the head of His Church or even designate him to be the head of state? The Lord made this statement, “… thou art Petros (a stone), and upon this rock (petra) — not upon ‘you’ — I will build my church …” — not upon the wavering man who also on that occasion, when he spoke without being under divine inspiration, had to be told by the Lord, “Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Mt. 16:23)! Jesus Christ Himself is that rock, the cornerstone upon which the Church is founded. That is the actual revelation the Apostle Peter received! The Redeemer alone is the “Head of His Church”!

The ambassadors of the pope in all the different countries are not ambassadors of Jesus Christ — they represent the Vatican state! What about all the clergy in the various church denominations? Are they messengers of God? Are they apostles of Jesus Christ, or are they indeed the servants of their churches? Do they preach the Word of God as it was done in the beginning, or do they stand for the teachings of their denomination? Did Jesus Christ ever claim a worldly position? Did He ever intend to have a state church or have any of the different churches recognised by the respective countries? Could Peter have been the first pope, when all historians agree that he has never even been in Rome?