INTRODUCTION: THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED DIFFERENT CHURCHES IN EXISTENCE IN AMERICA THAT CLAIM TO BE "CHRISTIAN." THEY ALL CLAIM TO BE THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT, OR AT LEAST A PART OF IT. MANY PRAISE THIS DIVISION. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS THAT DIVISION IS WRONG. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE BIBLE AND SEE WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT THE CHURCH.

BODY

I. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE CHURCH IS NOT A DENOMINATION.

A. Many believe that there is nothing wrong with denominationalism.

1. They think that there are many parts of the one "mystical church"

2. But there is no support from the word of God for this "mystical church."

B. The Bible clearly states that there is only ONE CHURCH.

1. Jesus promised to build only One Church.

a. Matthew 16:16-18

2. Ephesians 4:4-"There is one body..."

3. What is the one body?

a. Ephesians 1:22-23

b. Colossians 1:18-"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

c. Therefore, there must be only one church.

C. The Bible condemns the very principle that denominationalism is built upon-division.

1. John 17:20,21-"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That there all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
 
2. 1 Corinthians 1:10- "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

3. Ephesians 4:3-"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

4. I Peter 3:8-"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."

5. Matthew 15:13-"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."

A. Many churches have different heads.

1. Presidents, Bishops, Prophets, Popes/Patriarchs

B. But the church of the Bible recognized only one head-Christ.

1. Ephesians 1:22-23- "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

2. Ephesians 5:22-23- "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. {23} For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

3. Matthew 28:18

4. Romans 7:4-"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."

A. Many different ways of salvation for different denominations.

1. Many believe that you "get saved" and then join the church.

2. Many vote on their prospective members.

3. Some make the initiates go through long class to study and give approval to man-made creeds.

B. But the church of the Bible doesn't vote on it's members.

1. Acts 2:47-"...the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

C. The action that makes one a Christian also make one a member of Christ's church. 

1. Romans 10:17

2. Hebrews 11:6

3. Luke 13:3,5

4. Romans 10:9,10

5. Acts 2:38

6. After doing these things the Lord himself adds you to the church of the Bible.

A. Denominationalists wear various names.

1. They are named after some founder or practice.

B. The name Christian is the name the New Testament uses to describe the followers of Christ.

1. Isaiah 62:1-2- "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. {2} And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."

2. Acts 11:26- "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

a. The word "called" here literally means a divine calling.

3. I Peter 4:15,16-"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

4. Denominational names are by their nature divisive, the name Christian is a name we call unite on.

A. The church of the Bible follows the five items of worship found in the New Testament.

1. I Timothy 2:8- prayer

2. Acts 20:7- preaching and teaching

3. Ephesians 5:19- Singing

4. I Corinthians 16:1,2- giving

5. Acts 20:7- the Lord's Supper

B. Two areas where many deviate from the New Testament pattern.

1. Singing

a. No authority for instrumental music in the worship of the New Testament church.

b. Bible command singing- is silent when it comes to instrumental music.

2. The Lord's Supper

a. While the New Testament authorizes it's partaking each first day of the week, many celebrate whenever they please.

A. God has always had a pattern for his people.

1. Hebrews 8:5- "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount."

2. Romans 6:17-18- "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

a. The same Greek word that is translated pattern in Hebrews 8:5 is translated form in Romans 6:17. It could just have easily been translated "pattern of doctrine."

3. Matthew 28:20

B. God's attitude toward those who refuse to follow the pattern.

1. II John 9-11

2. Matthew 15:7-14