• Is The Church Of Christ A Denomination?
• (Part Eight)
• Introduction
• So far we have answered this question with a resounding “NO!”
• To back up such answer, we have shown from the Scriptures that if we do
things the same as they did in the Bible, we will be following the pattern God
set forth in His word.
• The failure of denominations is the lack of respect for bible authority.
• As a result, most people end up doing what is in their own hearts and
minds and most ignore the design of the New Testament.
• Another question which is vital to this study and would normally come
at the end of the series is this:
• How do we know that we are not just another denomination?
• How do we know that we are following the true guidance from God’s
word?
• This question is extremely important and needs to be answered.
• We will address this question based upon nature and what is natural.
• On the third day of creation, God created plant life.
• Each plant had the capability of reproduction, but only after its kind.
• Thus corn does not produce tomatoes and sunflowers do not produce watermelons,
etc.
• If we can understand nature only reproduces after its kind, we can understand
that when we do things the way God specifies in His word, we are following after
the kind of religion God wants.
• It should be that simple, but simplicity is never a quality men respect.
• The Founder Of The Church
• We have already established that Jesus is the founder of the true “church
of Christ”.
• It belongs to Him.
• He is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).
• He built the church on His own foundation (Matthew 16:18).
• Jesus is the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20-22).
• He purchased His church (Acts 20:28).
• He died for His church.
• This is all verified by Scripture.
• Every denomination has a different founder.
• Historical records show that each denomination was started by an individual
who was not inspired by God.
• It is as simple as going to the internet and making a query as to who
started each denomination.
• We will not take the time to list all of these as anything not recorded
in the New Testament is the wrong religion.
• Not only have denominations been started by men and women through time,
the time they started is also important.
• When Was The Church Established?
• The church began in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came with power upon the
apostles.
• Peter preached the first sermon, and we read that with many words he exhorted
the listeners.
• And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
• About 3,000 that first day.
• After that, the church grew exceedingly.
• No denomination existed in the first century.
• Neither did they exist in the second, third, fourth, or fifth centuries.
• The first one started in 606 A.D.
• That first denomination had a division between 800 A.D. and 1054 A.D.
• The next denominations do not show up until around 1520 A.D (beginning
with Lutheran).
• The majority of denominations have started in recent time; say the last
100 years.
• All of these were started because men were not satisfied to do things
God’s way as revealed in the Bible.
• A lot of denominations have begun because men were not satisfied with
any organized religion.
• They viewed the mainline churches as antiquated and seemingly obsolete.
• Where Was The Church Founded?
• The events recorded in Acts 2 all take place in Jerusalem.
• This is where Jesus told His apostles to wait until the kingdom come with
power (Acts 1:3-8).
• This is where Jesus said that these things would happen as written in
the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms would be fulfilled” (Luke
24:44).
• Jesus said the church would begin in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).
• No significant denomination ever started in Jerusalem.
• The church of Christ began in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost fifty
days after Jesus was crucified.
• Conclusion
• The Church of Christ we read about in the New Testament is not a denomination.
• If we practice New Testament Christianity as we read in the Scriptures,
we will be that New Testament church that God calls His own people.
• So we have learned things about the church that we can read in the Scriptures
that describe what we teach and do, and that removes us from being a denomination.
• The smartest thing we can do is to practice New Testament Christianity
as God directs in His word.
By Carey Scott
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