What does the Restored Church of God believe? Is the Restored Church of God a cult?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

A cult has core beliefs that differ from the main religion it claims to be part of. On top of that, a religion, cult, or sect is considered to be extremist when its followers are called to live in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. The Restored Church of God (RCG) is a cult that presents teachings that contradict fundamental biblical truths. Founded in 1999 by David C. Pack, the group claims exclusive spiritual authority and combines Old Testament Law observance with unique interpretations of prophecy. However, Scripture teaches that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, not through organizational membership or law-keeping. The Bible clearly presents God as Triune, affirms salvation by grace through faith, and warns against those who claim exclusive spiritual authority or special biblical knowledge. The RCG's teachings about British-Israelism, prophetic interpretations, and racial distinctions find no support in Scripture and contradict the gospel's message, available to all who place their trust in Jesus’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Deuteronomy 13:1–5 provides criteria for identifying false prophets, warning against those who lead people away from true worship of God.
• Isaiah 8:20 establishes that teachings must align with God's Word: "To the teaching and to the testimony!"
• Jeremiah 23:21–22 warns about those who claim divine authority without being sent by God.
• Ezekiel 13:6–7 addresses false prophets who claim special visions and knowledge.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Galatians 1:6–9, Paul warns against those who distort the gospel, even if they claim divine authority.
• Colossians 2:16–17 shows that Old Testament observances were shadows pointing to Christ, not requirements for salvation.
• The early church rejected the practice of requiring Gentile believers to follow the Old Testament Law (Acts 15:1–11).
• Second Peter 2:1–3 warns about false teachers who introduce destructive heresies and exploit people with deceptive words.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

RCG is a prime example of how groups can drift from biblical truth by adding human requirements to salvation and claiming exclusive spiritual authority. The gospel message remains clear: salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone, not through organizational membership, racial identity, or law-keeping. This truth frees us from the burden of human-made religious systems and points us to the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross. When evaluating any religious group, we must compare their teachings with Scripture, remembering that true Christian faith rests and unites in trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

UNDERSTAND

• The Restored Church of God teaches that it is the only true church and requires adherence to the Old Testament law.
• The RCG’s beliefs on many topics are not supported by Scripture.
• Salvation comes by faith alone in Christ alone, not by membership in a certain group or observance of laws.

REFLECT

• How does the deviation of cults from biblical teaching like the Restored Church challenge or impact you?
• How can you safeguard yourself from falling into teachings that deviate from biblical truth and emphasize man-made rules and requirements?
• How does God's grace impact your daily life?

ENGAGE

• What criteria can we use to evaluate whether a religious group is deviating from core Christian doctrines?
• How can we effectively communicate the importance of salvation by grace through faith to those who are part of or are influenced by the Restored Church of God?
• How do the teachings of the Restored Church of God reflect broader trends in cult-like behavior among other religious groups today?