Undenominational Christianity

2. Undenominational Christianity One of the greatest tragedies of our era is that of religious division throughout the world. Some attempt to justify this situation, while others deplore it. Division is often the cause of seekers of truth, turning their backs to Christ, because of the maze of confusion. They are unable to find the answers they need to resolve their religious problems. Christ is sure displeased with this. Jn. 17:20-21 20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they 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.

3. Denominationalism – A symbol of Division • Division is the cause of today’s denominational system. Term implies division. • Term in the religious sense is used to denote a sect and this is the meaning we use here. • It is the divided religious system in which various sect, calling themselves Christians, wear different names, accept different creeds, practice different activities, and often oppose one another while at the same time claiming to have the same basic objectives.

4. Denominationalism – A symbol of Division • Denominationalism can also exist within the same congregation. 1 Cor. 1:10-13 • 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. • 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. • 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. • 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? • Resulted when men followed men rather than Christ! Wrong to follow and wear men’s names as titles.

5. What is the Church? • Such a study of this nature must involve the nature of the church. • Church is defined as “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place for any public reason”. Hence an assembly. • In reference to the body of Christ, there are two major senses, the universal-all the saved, the local, consisting of Christians joined together locally to work and worship together. Mt. 16:18, 1 Cor.1:2 • 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. • 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

6. What is the Church? • In reference to the body of Christ, there are two major senses, the universal-all the saved, the local, consisting of Christians joined together locally to work and worship together. Mt. 16:18, 1 Cor.1:2 • The church is only organized and activated in the local sense, congregational. In the Bible there is none other, no centralizing control over all, or a group of churches. • The church universal is synonymous with the saved. If one is saved, he is a member of he Lord’s church, placed there by the Lord Himself. He then joins himself to a local church wherein he may worship and serve God, his choosing. • But, we are speaking in the undenominational sense. One’s membership in a denomination does not save him, nor the listing of one’s name on the church roll. The N.T. does not recognize the denominational concept of “church”.

7. What is the Church? • There is a difference between interdenominational and undenominational. • The first, freely sanctions and works with all (or at least most) denominations. (Open fellowship.) • The second, (which is taught in the Bible) denies the right of all human denominations to exist and pleads with all to lay aside their divisive sects and creeds that thye might be one in Christ Jesus.

8. Can one be saved outside of the Church of the Lord? • This is frequently asked, but we should notice that the emphasis in scripture was not on church membership, but on salvation from sin. Peter addressed it that way. Acts 2:41, 47 • 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. • 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. • Priority: first things first.

9. Can one be saved outside of the Church of the Lord? • This is frequently asked, but we should notice that the emphasis in scripture was not on church membership, but on salvation from sin. Peter addressed it that way. Acts 2:41, 47 • Membership in a human denom. does not entitle one to salvation from sin, because such is without divine authority. • If think of the church in a denom. way, then, one can certainly be saved without being a member of such church. If, in the scriptural way, one cannot be saved outside the church, because the church is the saved by definition.

10. Can one be saved outside of the Church of the Lord? • If one could be saved out of the church, several things would be true. • Christ would have died for nought. Eph. 5:25-26 • 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; • 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, • Also, the one saved outside would have another Saviour. Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18 • 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. • 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.

11. Can one be saved outside of the Church of the Lord? • If one could be saved out of the church, several things would be true. • Christ would have died for nought. Eph. 5:25-26 • Also, the one saved outside would have another Saviour. Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18 • We could conclude also that salvation was without the blood of Christ! Acts 20:28 • 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. • Salvation without being first reconciled unto God. Eph. 2:16 • 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: • But THESE are impossible. Salvation is in His Church.

12. How can one get into the Church? • Men often speak of “joining a church”. Actually, the activity that brings about salvation from past sins, also puts one in the church. Acts 2:38-41, 47 • 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. • 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. • 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. • 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. • from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, • 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

13. How can one get into the Church? • Men often speak of “joining a church”. Actually, the activity that brings about salvation from past sins, also puts one in the church. Acts 2:38-41, 47 • There is a sense in which one may join a church, though one is added to the universal church by Christ. This would be joining a local church, thus to work and worship together. Acts 9:26-27 • 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. • 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. • The Lord adds the saved to the universal church as being saved.

14. What are Church Members called? • The denom. system has produced as many names as it has divisions. They deem it unimportant, “What’s in a name anyway?” Name is important! • Church is the bride of Christ and takes His name. Eph. 5:23-32 (read) Acts 11:26, 1 Pet. 4:16 • 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. • 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

15. What are Church Members called? • The denom. system has produced as many names as it has divisions. They deem it unimportant, “What’s in a name anyway?” Name is important! • Church is the bride of Christ and takes His name. Eph. 5:23-32 (read) Acts 11:26, 1 Pet. 4:16 • Also referred to as: disciple, saint, etc. all which glorify God rather than men. “Christian” gives Christ the glory, not a denom. name, or reformer, the glory. • Argued that these names are to distinguish between faiths. Would be valid were the denom. system valid to begin with, but without divine authority, along with the names. • Christians should be content to follow Christ and His teachings and wear His name no more or less.

16. How can we be Christians Only? • Christians in the 1st Cent. were undenom. • To be undenom. Christians, we need only to pattern ourselves after the Christianity they practiced in the 1st cent. We find this in the N.T. • If we take this church as our guide in every way possible and thus restore N. T. Christianity, we will be Christians only. Doing so implies we separate from the denom. view of religions. And will worship only with those Christians following the pattern, as a congregation we’ve joined. • This is RESTORATION to the original church.

17. CONCLUSION • Christ died for the ONE church of the N.T. There were not many bodies, many faiths, just one. • What are your religious ties? If you believe in the many churches concept, you are opposed to the unity of Christ in John 17. • Choose to unite with Christ, restoring the pattern. Be added and join a local work following that pattern.