THE UNDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH OF CHRIST

The church of the New Testament is not denominational. In the beginning there was only one church — no denominations. In the first century, denominations did not exist, but the church of Christ did exist. The undenominational church of Christ is produced when the Gospel of Christ is obeyed (Rom. 6:17,18). The New Testament church and denominational churches are far from one another in origin, purpose, mission and destiny.

Denominations were planned by men, the church of Christ was planned by God. God planned the church in such a way as to have unity (Ephesians 3:10,11). Unity is possible when, “all speak the same thing” (I Cor. 1:10). Denominations promote division while the church of Christ promotes unity.

Denominations exist without blood, the church of Christ was purchased with Christ’s blood — “...shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Christ and His church cannot be separated because the church was purchased by His blood. Those who reject the church of Christ do not recognize the connection between the church of Christ and the blood of Christ. “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25).

Denominations do not teach God’s plan of salvation; the church of Christ teaches the Gospel plan of salvation. Denominations teach people to go to an altar and pray for salvation, pray the sinner’s prayer, or to just accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. They do not tell sinners to hear the Gospel (Rom. 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus as the Son of God (Rom 10:9,10), and be baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-5). Denominations never tell people what Peter told the people on the day of Pentecost. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The church of Christ encourages Gospel obedience (Acts 2:36-41).

God has blessed us with the great privilege of being a part of the blood-bought. God-planned, Heaven-promised church. Jesus gave the world His church before and without denominationalism. Let’s go back to the Bible, back to the Bible church. You can be just a Christian! It is a great blessing to be a member of the undenominational church of Christ.

by Charles Box —from The McLoud Messenger, 3-10-02, McLoud, OK

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