Lesson #4
By: Dan C Bailey
The Church of Christ Is Not A Denomination
The church of Christ is not a denomination. It is not a "faction" or a "sect" of some religious group. The true church of Christ is the body of Christ. The true church of Christ is the body of Christ. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (I Corinthians 12:27). In the first century those who were baptized scripturally were all baptized into one body. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13). When Paul said, "For by one Spirit ...," he had reference to the teaching of that one Spirit through the preaching of the one gospel. The same inspired apostle said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16). When Peter taught the words of the Spirit on Pentecost, those who gladly received his word were baptized. "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" (Acts 2:38). "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).
The church of Christ was established or built by Jesus the Son of God. Jesus said, "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" (Matthew 16:18). Since Jesus is the head of the church, and since Jesus is in heaven, the headquarters for the church of Christ is in heaven. Most all denominations have an earthly headquarters. God's people do not need a central headquarters on earth. The Lord has left us our instructions in the word of God. We are living under the new testament or new covenant. We don't need conventions, disciplines, creeds, or manuals. Our authority is Christ. We take our directions and orders from him. My friend if "your church" has an earthly headquarters, I implore you to examine the word of God. If you cannot find such earthly headquarters in the Bible, then abandon the false religious group and just obey the Lord and his teachings. After all, he has all power. We read, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20).
We will be judged by HIS WORD. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). And we will all stand before HIS throne (or seat). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10).