The Church is not a Denomination
INTRODUCTION.
A. In the first century, there was only one church, the church that Christ built.
1. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (NKJV)
2. On the day of Pentecost, after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the Lord’s church was established. (Acts 2:47)
B. However, throughout the course of the centuries, there began to crop of different churches, all claiming to be the church that Jesus built, but none bearing the characteristics of Christ’s church. This continued even to today when we have thousands of different churches within the world.
1. If you study and follow the “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” you will become a Christian Scientist.
2. If you follow the writings of Ron L. Hubbard, you will become a member of Scientology.
3. If you follow the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” then you would become a Catholic.
4. If you follow the “Reasoning from the Scriptures,” using the New World Translation, then you would become a Jehovah’s Witness.
5. If you follow the “Book of Mormon,” “The Doctrine and Covenants,” and “The Pearl of Great Price,”then you would become a Mormon.
6. If you were to follow “The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches,” then you would become a Baptist.
7. If you were to follow the 1904 “Methodist Discipline,” then you would become a Methodist of 1904.
8. If you were to follow the 1972 “The Book Of Discipline of the United Methodist Church,” then you would become a Methodist of 1972.
C. How did we get to this point? The answer is simple: Division.
D. With this lesson we will show that the church which Jesus built was never intended to become a denomination. Denominations only came into existence when men began to divide in regards to religious practices and beliefs.
I. GOD CONDEMNS DIVISIONS.
A. Causing dissensions (divisions) will keep one from inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:20)
B. Within the church, there is to be no divisions. (I Corinthians 1:10)
C. In order to prevent divisions within the local congregation, the church is to stay away from those who would cause divisions. (Romans 16:17,18)
II. FALSE TEACHERS LEAD TO DIVISIONS.
A. We must not listen to false teachers because they do not have God. (II John 1:9-11)
B. False teachers set aside the word of God and make it of no use. (Mark 7:9-13)
C. False teachers may teach partial truth, and thereby deceive the ignorant and unlearned. (II Corinthians 11:13-15)
D. Christians should prepare their selves to stand against false teachers. (Ephesians 4:14-15, example: Galatians 1:6-9)
E. False teachers will bring upon themselves swift destruction. (II Peter 2:1)
III. UNITY CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN JESUS.
A. Jesus prayed that His believers would be one, just as He and the Father were one. (John 17:21)
B. This unity can only be recognized if we are of the same mind and judgment. (I Corinthians 1:10)
C. Why must we be of the same mind and judgment? Because, we have all been baptized into one body, which is the church. (I Corinthians 12:12-13, 27; Colossians 1:18)
CONCLUSION.
A. When we turn to the teachings of man, and make void the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, we begin to turn the church into a denomination. There is to be only one church, with all the members of that body being one as Jesus and God are one. This unity cannot be recognized if we teach and preach different doctrines
B. The church built by Jesus was neither a denomination nor a combination of denominations. It was simply the church.
C. If people will follow only the Bible and recognize the authority of Jesus and His inspired writers, then, and only then, will there be no more denominations.
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The Church is not a Denomination -- May 5, 2002 -- File # 1443 – by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK