Denominationalism is inherently sinful and stands in opposition to the will of Christ. This is not an indictment against the sincerity of those who are members of denominations because we believe the members of all denominations sincerely believe they are following Jesus Christ. However, denominationalism is not a solution to our religious problems, but is in reality a part of the problem. Denominationalism does great harm for several reasons.

Underlying the problem of denominationalism is the question of authority. When religious leaders modify, change and alter the Scriptures then the authority of Christ is rejected and confusion reigns. The rejection of Christ’s authority and the Scriptures as the rule of faith and practice allows denominationalism to minimize the » Continue reading “Do Denominations Do Any Harm?”

Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). The word “church” in this passage is in the singular. Our Lord did not say “churches,” or “one of the churches,” or, “a church.” Rather, Jesus said, “church” (singular). To illustrate, if there is a vacant lot (absolutely empty of everything) and I say to you “I will park my car in this lot.” How many cars would be in this lot? Suppose I then say to you, “Take the car of your choice.” You would respond by saying, “I cannot take the car of my choice, for there is but one car there.” The same applies in the Lord’s promise to build His church. He was not giving us a choice; rather, He was promising to build one church.

Paul told the Ephesian elders to “Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Paul also said that Christ, » Continue reading “Does The Bible Teach There Is Only One Church?”

It is very sad that the majority of people of our day have become so accustomed to thinking in terms of denominationalism that it is a most difficult task to persuade them that the church of Christ is not a denomination. Neither Peter, Paul, nor any other Christian of the first century belonged to a denomination. Yet, all Christians in apostolic times belonged to the church.

The term “church” translated from the Greek word ekklesia appears in the New Testament more than one hundred times. Literally, it means “the called out.” Therefore, the phrase “church of Christ” simply means “the called out belonging to Christ.” Such people are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14; Rom. 1:16) out of the world of darkness into the glorious light of the kingdom of Christ (I Pet. 2:9; Col. 1:13). » Continue reading “What Is The Church?”

The world at large de-emphasizes the importance of the church and, indeed, it sometimes appears to be the case that the church has been eliminated from the minds of men. This is to be expected from those who make no claim to religious belief, but even among those who claim to be seeking after God’s will, there are many who regard the church as being of little importance.

There is a very significant movement in modern Japan called the “No-church Movement.” This means simply that many thousands of people who were formerly Buddhists and Shintoists have come in more recent years to realize the tremendous appeal of the person of Jesus Christ. Many of them have accepted Him in a personal way and would call themselves Christians. While they have a great » Continue reading “How Important Is The Church?”

In talking with people about salvation one soon realizes that most people believe that things will eventually work out and that he/she will get to heaven. People feel that God is a God of love and that He simply will not see any person lost in Hell.

The Bible is crystal clear on this matter. The Lord Jesus Christ clearly warned, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Matt 7:13-14 NAS).

It is true that Jesus often spoke of God’s love for people, and He also perfectly manifested the love of God in His relationship with people. » Continue reading “Will All People Eventually Be Saved?”

When Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, he tried to persuade the king to become a Christian. “The Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that is such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not you only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds’” (Acts 26:28-29).

There are really many good reasons for being a Christian. Rational people seek for reasons when challenged to do something and for this reason we are happy to present a number of excellent reasons given in the Scriptures for being a Christian. » Continue reading “Why Be A Christian?”

This question deserves careful consideration. In answering this question I mean by “church”, the Lord’s church, the church that is identical in name, doctrine, practice and organization with the church that you can read about in the New Testament! I am not referring to religious bodies that have been founded by men, either Catholicism or Protestantism. By the expression “saved” I mean forgiven of past sins, redeemed, and has become a child of God.

Many people think that they can be saved outside the church as well as in it—that they can be Christians outside as well as in the church. They reason that as long as they are good neighbors, good husbands or wives, good parents that all is well. Rather than thinking that something is true one should be concerned with what the Scriptures teach. The Word of God furnishes us with everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Since this is true then let us consider what the Bible has to say concerning this question. » Continue reading “Is It Possible To Be Saved And Not Be A Member Of The Church?”

It is truly possible for a person to know that he/she is saved and is ready to meet God. In fact, God intends and desires us to have this assurance.

First, Paul shows very clearly that the man outside of Christ cannot live the Christian life. He said, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good {is} not. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish” (Rom 7:18-19). It is essential for one to understand that it is not the condition of the Christian that is here described. A failure to understand this may lead to the repulsive error of Calvinism which contends that one may serve God with the spirit while at the same time practicing sin with his body. The condition Paul describes in these verses could never be true of the Christian. The Christian is not “carnal and sold under sin?” » Continue reading “Can A Person Really Know That He Is Saved?”

At the very heart of the gospel message is the Cross of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:23-24). One of the reasons Jesus died and shed His blood was to establish redemption for mankind. Paul in writing to the church in Ephesus said, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7).

One of the great unchanging, immutable, principles of the Divine Government is the truth that, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” The Hebrew writer pointed this out when he wrote, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb 9:22). » Continue reading “At What Point Does The Blood Of Christ Save Us?”

Baptism is commanded by Jesus Christ. In the Great Commission Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20 NAS). Mark gives this same commission as, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16 NAS).

The word “baptism” is an anglicized word that was coined in 1611 in the translation of the King James’ Version. Sprinkling was introduced as a substitute for and on a par with baptism at the Council of Ravenna in 1311 and subsequently has been adopted by protestant denominationalism. In the 1600’s when the Anglican translators were confronted with translating the Greek baptizo (and other forms) into English, they found themselves in a dilemma. » Continue reading “Is Baptism By Sprinkling, Pouring Or Immersion?”