Song Numbers

1

The church of

Christ is not a

denomination

2

• “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

• Let’s study a two-fold contrast

between the church of the N.T. and

denominationalism

5

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

• Kingdom of God would come with

power

15

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

• Kingdom of God would come with

power

• Power would come while apostles

were in Jerusalem

17

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

1 Pet. 4:11

• [11] If any man speak, let him

speak as the oracles of God;

28

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

•More contrasts

38

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

Church of the N.T.

• Walk by the same

rule

• Phil. 3:16

Denominationalism

• Walk by different

rules

47