Most religious communities declare themselves as the exclusive saving church, just like the Jews did in the time of Jesus, who had similar thoughts in interpreting ‘God’s chosen people.’
Let’s look at the calling of Abraham. God called Abraham (originally Abram) out from his family. We read about this in Moses’ Genesis 12:1-3.
And the Lord said to Abram: ‘Go forth from your land, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and he who curses you I will curse; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you.’
Abraham’s calling is very clear: “In you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Therefore, God did not want to be claimed exclusively by Abraham; rather, He brought Abraham out from his family so that through him, He could bless everyone and reach all. This is a calling.
Of course, God spoke to and, to a greater or lesser extent, used and led other people as well. These included the Pharaohs of Egypt, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Melchizedek the King of Salem, and many others.
Nevertheless, God was able to use Abraham’s descendants for the preservation of His truth, later through the observance of the law given by Moses, for the true understanding of God, and for making Him known to the world.
Unfortunately, the Jews forgot or did not understand God’s intention and will; instead, they claimed God for themselves. They referred to non-Jews as godless people and excluded everyone who was not Jewish.
Jesus confronted the Jews with their actions and pointed out their hypocrisy. They were only God’s people externally or claimed to be, but when you looked at their inner lives, their hearts, and their attitudes, they were servants of Satan – the people of Satan. External appearances meant nothing if their hearts were distant from God.
When Jesus was approached by the Samaritan woman, he clearly stated to her that God’s people, God’s children, are those who worship the Father in spirit and truth. (John 4:20-24)
Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”
Clear scripture. For every person. God cannot be claimed exclusively by a group, a lineage, a people, or a religious denomination.
Today’s Christian world seems to understand nothing, as if it has not learned anything from Jesus. Most churches, religious denominations, and religious groups designate themselves as the exclusive saving community. Those who do not follow their teachings or are not part of their group are labeled as not belonging to Christ, looked down upon, and branded as misguided.
Here appears the Claimed Christ. They did not understand Jesus’ gospel at all.
Christ cannot be confined to a church, cannot be claimed. No group can appropriate Jesus and His body for themselves. I can be part of a very good group, but if I live in sin and look down on others, then I have no connection to Christ. Even the thought of considering myself or my group superior to others is a mistaken understanding, and I have separated myself from the body of Christ; I have no connection to the body of Christ. (Luke 18:9-17 and 18-22)
Those who belong to the body of Christ are:
Those who humble themselves, as mentioned in Philippians 2:8: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Those who walk in the light, according to 1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Those who have crucified the flesh (sinful nature), as stated in Galatians 5:24: “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Those who follow the Lamb, as described in Revelation 14:4: “It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb.”
Those who follow in His footsteps, as stated in 1 Peter 2:21: ‘For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.’
And there are many more Bible verses that show who belongs to Christ. So, it is clearly evident that Christ belongs to those who are faithful to Him, and not to any particular group or denomination.
If a denomination or group claims Christ and prioritizes the teachings, declarations, or doctrines of its leaders, or, in worse cases, its followers, and looks down upon others who do not follow them, then it has departed from the straight path and fallen before God. It is on the wrong path, leading many astray.
Therefore, a personal relationship with God is crucial, as well as personal faith that God nurtures within our hearts.
Philippians 2:13: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
If God sheds light on something in our lives that is not good, then we also judge it, and we allow God’s purifying work to flow in our lives. In doing so, we become children of God. On this path, not even the fool will go astray, as Isaiah the prophet says.
Inside us, in our hearts, God speaks. If we hear His voice and pair it with faith, then God gives us strength and assistance to carry out His will, that is, to be free from sin and grow in virtues.
God does not demand great things from us, but rather, in those small things to which He points in our lives, He seeks faithfulness and complete dedication.
In the last times, many run here and there to find Christ, but Christ is not to be sought elsewhere; rather, we find Him within ourselves.
Matthew 24:23: “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.”
“God is spirit: and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
So all those who live in this way have fellowship with the Head, Christ, and have fellowship with the body, the body of Christ.