T HE N EW T ESTAMENT C HURCH T HE U NDENOMINATIONAL C HARACTER OF THE C HURCH

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

THE UNDENOMINATIONAL CHARACTER OF THE CHURCH

UNDENOMINATIONAL IN SCOPE:

• The word “church” means “called out.”

• Church includes all who have been called out into God’s service—the saved.

• The word “denomination” suggest a fraction or part of the whole.

• The Church of Christ is not a part or fraction of anything.

UNDENOMINATIONAL IN SCOPE

• God does the adding

• “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” {Acts 2:41,47}

UNDENOMINATIONAL IN SCOPE

• Those who composed the church—enrolled in heaven.

• Church of Christ includes every saved person on earth.

• No denomination makes that claim!

• “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.” {Hebrews 12:22,23}

THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL ALWAYS REFERRED TO IN SINGULAR

• “MY church.”• Notice word church

—SINGLE

• “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.” {Matthew 16:18}


• “Kingdom of heaven.”

• One kingdom

• “And saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” {Matthew 3:2}


• “The Church which is His Body.”

• How many bodies does He have?

• “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” {Ephesians 1:22,23}

ITS SINGULAR CHARACTER EMPHASIZED IN EVERY BIBLE

PICTURE• “The Church is

called “The Body.”• “And He is the

head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” {Colossians 1:18}


PICTURE• One body. • “But now indeed

there are many members, yet one body.” {1 Corinthians 12:20}

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.” {Ephesians 4:4}


PICTURE• Many members,

no schism.• “That there should

be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” {1 Corinthians 12:25}


PICTURE• Only One HEAD. • “Far above all principality

and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” {Ephesians 1:21-23}


PICTURE• The Kingdom.” • “Another parable He

put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field... The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.” {Matthew 13:24,31}


PICTURE• The Kingdom.”• How many “Sons”

does He have?

• “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” {Colossians 1:13}


PICTURE• The Kingdom.”• Must be United.

• “But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” {Luke 11:17}


PICTURE• The Kingdom.”• Under Christ as

King.

• “Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate... then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "It is as you say.” {Luke 23:1,3}


PICTURE• The “Family.” • “But Christ as a

Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” {Hebrews 3:6}


PICTURE• The “Family.” • “Now, therefore,

you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” {Ephesians 2:19}


PICTURE• The “Family.”• All of God’s children

in God’s family.• God had but ONE

family.• That is the

CHURCH.• All of God’s children

in the HIS Church

• “From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” {Ephesians 3:15}


PICTURE• The “Bride of

Christ.” There is but ONE bridegroom—Christ.

• There is but ONE Bride—Church!

• “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord... This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” {Ephesians 5:22,32}

TO PRESERVE ITS UNDENOMINATIONAL

CHARACTER, THE CHURCH MUST HAVE:• No denominational

name.• “This is the 'stone

which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.‘ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” {Acts 4:11,12}

CHURCH

OF CHRIST



name.• “Now I say this,

that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ.” {1 Corinthians 1:12}

CHURCH

OF CHRIST



creed.• Recognizing no

authority but Christ.

• Under law to Him alone.

• “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” {Matthew 28:18}

• “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” {Galatians 6:2}



organization.• Only local church

wither elders, deacons and evangelists.

• Only one in NT days.

• “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” {Philippians 1:1}

• “So when they had appointed elders in every church...” {Acts 14:23}


CHARACTER, THE CHURCH MUST HAVE:• Uncorrupted

worship.• Following the New

Testament plan.

• “…See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” {Hebrews 8:5}

• “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” {John 4:24}


CHARACTER, THE CHURCH MUST HAVE:• No entangling

alliances.• Church must not

lose her identity in any movement—free from political, economical, and secular involvements.

• “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” {2 Corinthians 6:14,15}





• “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” {2 Corinthians 6:16,17}





• “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” {Philippians 2:12,16}


CHARACTER, THE CHURCH MUST HAVE:• No

denominational requirements for membership.

• Asking people to do exactly what they did in New Testament days.

• “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” {Mark 16:16}

• “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” {Acts 2:41}

CONCLUSION• The only explanation for

existence of denominations today in the world:– Disregard for Christ’s authority– A Corruption of God’s plan of

teaching, work and worship.

Documents

T HE N EW T ESTAMENT C HURCH T HE U NDENOMINATIONAL C HARACTER OF THE C HURCH