• “The church of Christ is
undenominational in that it is not a
denomination and in that it stands
opposed to denominationalism.”
(Leroy Brownlow)
3
Our Lord did not align himself with
any party or division while here upon
the earth
• 4 Divisions among the Jews:
• Pharisees
• Sadducees
• Herodian's
• Essenes
• Christ belonged to none of these
4
Church of the N.T.
• Divine in origin
• Is. 2:2-4
• Mt. 16:18
• Dan. 2:44
Denominationalism
• Manmade –
without divine
origin
1. 6
Is. 2:2-4
• [2] And it shall come to pass in the
last days, that the mountain of the
LORD's house shall be established
in the top of the mountains, and
shall be exalted above the hills; and
all nations shall flow unto it.
7
• [3] And many people shall go and say, Come
ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the
LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and
he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk
in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.
[4] And he shall judge among the nations,
and shall rebuke many people: and they shall
beat their swords into plowshares, and their
spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall they
learn war any more.
8
Mt. 16:18
• [18] And I say also unto thee, That
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.
9
Dan. 2:44
• [44] And in the days of these kings
shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall
not be left to other people, but it
shall break in pieces and consume
all these kingdoms, and it shall
stand for ever.
10
Church of the N.T.
• Began in the first
century
• Acts 2:47
Denominationalism
• Began in the 7th
century and
onward
2. 11
Acts 2:47
• [47] Praising God, and having
favour with all the people. And the
Lord added to the church daily such
as should be saved.
12
Church of the N.T.
• Began in
Jerusalem
• Is. 2:2-4
• Mk. 9:1
• Lk. 24:46-47
• Acts 1:8
• Acts 2:1-4
Denominationalism
• Began in various
places
3. 13
Mk 9:1
• [1] And he said unto them, Verily I
say unto you, That there be some
of them that stand here, which shall
not taste of death, till they have
seen the kingdom of God come
with power.
14
Lk. 24:49
• [49] And, behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but
tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,
until ye be endued with power from
on high.
16
Acts 1:8
• [8] But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth.
18
• Kingdom of God would come with
power
• Power would come while apostles
were in Jerusalem
• Power would come after the Holy
Spirit came upon them
19
Acts 2:1-4
• [1] And when the day of Pentecost
was fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a
sound from heaven as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting.
20
• [3] And there appeared unto them
cloven tongues like as of fire, and it
sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance.
21
• Kingdom of God (church) would
come with power
• Power would come while apostles
were in Jerusalem
• Power would come after the Holy
Spirit came upon them
• They were baptized in the Holy
Spirit on Pentecost of Acts 2
• Church began in Jerusalem on
Pentecost of Acts 2 (1st century)
22
Lk. 24:46-47
• [46] And said unto them, Thus it is
written, and thus it behoved Christ
to suffer, and to rise from the dead
the third day:
[47] And that repentance and
remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
23
Church of the N.T.
• The apostles were
members of this
church
• Acts 2:41
Denominationalism
• No apostles who
were members of
denominations –
they did not exist
4. 24
Acts 2:41
• [41] Then they that gladly received
his word were baptized: and the
same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls.
25
Church of the N.T.
• Bible only
• Acts 2:42
• 1 Pet. 4:11
• Gal. 1:6-9
• Rev. 22:18-19
• Jude 3
Denominationalism
• Creeds
• Manuals
• Disciplines
• Catechism – (basic
teaching of a
particular religion
in the form of
questions and
answers)
5. 26
Acts 2:42
• [42] And they continued stedfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers.
27
Gal. 1:6-9
• [6] I marvel that ye are so soon
removed from him that called you
into the grace of Christ unto
another gospel:
[7] Which is not another; but there
be some that trouble you, and
would pervert the gospel of Christ.
29
• [8] But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be
accursed.
[9] As we said before, so say I now
again, If any man preach any other
gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.
30
Rev. 22:18-19• [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth
the words of the prophecy of this book, If any
man shall add unto these things, God shall
add unto him the plagues that are written in
this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, God shall
take away his part out of the book of life, and
out of the holy city, and from the things which
are written in this book.
31
Jude 3
• [3] Beloved, when I gave all
diligence to write unto you of the
common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort
you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints.
32
Church of the N.T.
• Entered by
believing,
repenting,
confessing and
being baptized
• Acts 2:36-38
• Acts 8:36-38
Denominationalism
• There are human
laws of bringing
one into a
denomination
6. 33
Acts 2:36-38
• [36] Therefore let all the house of Israel
know assuredly, that God hath made
that same Jesus, whom ye have
crucified, both Lord and Christ.
[37] Now when they heard this, they
were pricked in their heart, and said
unto Peter and to the rest of the
apostles, Men and brethren, what shall
we do?
34
• [38] Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
35
Acts 8:36-38
• [36] And as they went on their way, they
came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what
doth hinder me to be baptized?
[37] And Philip said, If thou believest
with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.
36
• [38] And he commanded the chariot
to stand still: and they went down
both into the water, both Philip and
the eunuch; and he baptized him.
37
Church of the N.T.
• Will last forever
• Dan. 2:44
• Heb. 12:28-29
Denominationalism
• Will be rooted up
• Mt. 15:13
39
Church of the N.T.
• Designated by
Bible names
• Rom. 16:16
• Acts 20:28
• 1 Cor. 1:2
Denominationalism
• Named after men
or forms of church
government, etc.
40
Church of the N.T.
• Heavenly
headquarters
• Eph. 1:22-23
• 1 Pet. 3:22
Denominationalism
• Earthly
headquarters
41
Church of the N.T.
• The Lord adds the
saved to the
church
• Acts 2:47
Denominationalism
• Men join
denominations
42
Church of the N.T.
• Essential to
salvation
• Eph. 5:23
• Acts 20:28
Denominationalism
• Man teaches that
one can be saved
and never be a
member of a
denomination
43
Church of the N.T.
• Purchased by the
blood of Christ
• Acts 20:28
Denominationalism
• No such price paid
44
Church of the N.T.
• The church of
Christ’s choice
Mt. 16:18-19
• Col. 1:24
Denominationalism
• The church of
man’s choice
45
Church of the N.T.
• One church
• 1 Cor. 12:20
Mt. 16:18
Denominationalism
• Many bodies or
churches
46