OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #23
| - church of Christ is not a sect - |
I. All Denominations Follow After Ways of Men.
1CORINTHIANS 3:3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,
and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The church of Christ is not a sect, and is not a cult, and is not a denomination, or division of
men. Denominations are called many names by men, 1 COR 3:4; MATT 16:13-14. And in
such confusion they even call the church a sect, ACTS 24:14. (See 9-page list of
denominations in Frank Mead’s Handbook of Denominations.) Denominations change the
plan of salvation to please men, GAL 1:10; ACTS 15:1; PROV 14:12. Denominations
corrupt worship to elevate men, COL 3:18,23; MATT 23:5-7ff.
1CORINTHIANS 3:3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,
and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The church of Christ is not a sect, and is not a cult, and is not a denomination, or division of
men. Denominations are called many names by men, 1 COR 3:4; MATT 16:13-14. And in
such confusion they even call the church a sect, ACTS 24:14. (See 9-page list of
denominations in Frank Mead’s Handbook of Denominations.) Denominations change the
plan of salvation to please men, GAL 1:10; ACTS 15:1; PROV 14:12. Denominations
corrupt worship to elevate men, COL 3:18,23; MATT 23:5-7ff.
II. The Church of Christ Follows Only Christ.
John 10:4-5. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth forth before them, and
the sheep follow him: for they know His voice. And a stranger they will not follow, but
will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Only one church is named by Christ, MATT 16:18; EPH 2:19-20; COL 1:18. God promised
salvation only in Christ’s church, AC 4:12; 1 COR 3:11; 1TM 2:4,5. Christ wrote the book
on true worship, GN 1:26; 4:4-5; LEV 10:1-3; JN 4:23-24. In the church of Christ, members
are not to think above that which is written (1COR 4:6).
John 10:4-5. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth forth before them, and
the sheep follow him: for they know His voice. And a stranger they will not follow, but
will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Only one church is named by Christ, MATT 16:18; EPH 2:19-20; COL 1:18. God promised
salvation only in Christ’s church, AC 4:12; 1 COR 3:11; 1TM 2:4,5. Christ wrote the book
on true worship, GN 1:26; 4:4-5; LEV 10:1-3; JN 4:23-24. In the church of Christ, members
are not to think above that which is written (1COR 4:6).
III. Therefore, Church of Christ Is Not A Denomination
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.
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.
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| Table 1. |
Conclusion: Denominations are many. The church of Christ is one, "the common faith" Titus
1:4.
1:4.
The church is revealed in God's word, and so are Christians (Matt. 16:18; Isa. 62:2; Acts 11:26; Acts 20:28). God in
Holy Scripture uses designations and metaphors including: church, kingdom, vineyard, one body, general assembly,
household of faith, church of the firstborn, and others. In Romans 16:16 the “churches of Christ” refers to scattered
local congregations. Such congregations are of the one church body in the world, with the one Head being Jesus
Christ (1 Corinth. 12:12-13,20; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). The church of Christ is from heaven and shown in the
scripture. -- Click here to go to lesson #13 on the church, general and local.
Holy Scripture uses designations and metaphors including: church, kingdom, vineyard, one body, general assembly,
household of faith, church of the firstborn, and others. In Romans 16:16 the “churches of Christ” refers to scattered
local congregations. Such congregations are of the one church body in the world, with the one Head being Jesus
Christ (1 Corinth. 12:12-13,20; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). The church of Christ is from heaven and shown in the
scripture. -- Click here to go to lesson #13 on the church, general and local.