Is Jesus Church a Denomination?

"Substitute Christianity podcast"

JESUS' one Church

(text version)

Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18

Ask yourself this one question; If Jesus established His one church around 33 A.D. and in the Bible (Daniel 2:44) God declares that His last Kingdom (the church) would be Eternal, meaning that it's been on the earth ever since Jesus established it on the Day of Pentecost (Acts, Chapter 2).

Why would you want to belong to any man-made Denomination, rather than the doctrinally sound church that Jesus established in the first century? Sure denominations can help people learn the Bible, but they are still a very, very, serious enemy against the “unity” that Jesus prayed for in John 17:22-23 which He said then and says now:

“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

You see, these denominations actually assist the devil's joy of dividing Christ. They're all man made and their doctrines can easily be proven False by using many scriptures within the Bible.

The Alliance denomination only exists because of its  . . . Alliance DOCTRINE

The Baptist denomination only exists because of its  . . . Baptist DOCTRINE

The Catholic denomination only exists because of its  . . . Catholic DOCTRINE

The ICOC (Boston C of C) only exists because of its  . . . ICOC works DOCTRINE

The Jehovah's Witness denomination only exists because of its . . . J.W. DOCTRINE

The Lutheran denomination only exists because of its . . . Lutheran DOCTRINE

The Mormon denomination only exists because of its . . . Mormon DOCTRINE

The Pentecostal denomination only exists because of its . . . Pentecostal DOCTRINE

The Presbyterian denomination only exists because of its . . . Presbyterian DOCTRINE

The Seventh Day Adventist denomination only exists because of its . . . SDA DOCTRINE

Etc.  etc. etc.

Have you ever wondered why God created monkeys?  Especially when they give so much power to atheists and their theories of evolution? Because God is the "ultimate" God of fairness.  He gives every possible means to non-believers so that they can have their way if they want.  Without monkeys on the earth, atheistic theories would be at a great disadvantage.

Well God has also given every person many different possible Doctrines to choose from.  He could have written His word so cut and dried and so plainly that there would be absolutely no question whatsoever regarding Doctrine.  But He didn't, He wrote the Bible in such a way that gives every person the ability to choose their Doctrine.

And it just so happens that only one Doctrine fits  ALL  scripture, and all other Doctrines only fit  "some"  scriptures. And then God goes and says in 1 Timothy 4:16, Watch your Doctrine; persevere in it because it will save both you and those who hear you.

* * Important Note * *

The word church is simply the Greek word for assembly or called out. And every church can only exist because of whatever Doctrine it embraces.

False Doctrine is one of Satan’s most sinister schemes because with it he is able to promote Denominations which hinder those who are searching for Truth.  Who are searching for the church that Jesus established back on the Day of Pentecost (33 A.D.). False Doctrine is rampant in the religious world today.

1 Timothy 6:3, if anyone teaches False Doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to Godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing.

Surely you would think that any empathetic human being would pursue unity in light of the torture that Jesus went through, Right?  Well NOT so.  Many religious people would much rather just follow their own feelings rather than God's True Doctrine.  And by doing so they support Denominations and division based upon false man-made Doctrines. (Just like Paul prophesied would happen.)

Acts 20:30, Men will arise and distort the Truth in order to draw away their own followers.

According to Acts 20:30, Jesus did NOT endure excruciating pain in order to build Denominations. God's church is called to refute False Doctrines.

Titus 1:9, Encourage others with sound Doctrine and refute those who oppose it. So, those who refuse to abandon False teachings are actually saying to Jesus, "We know that your crucifixion may have been a bit uncomfortable but we just don't see a real need to pursue True Doctrine, but thanks anyway."

And Yet, get this;

Society would never accept a police force that did not pursue truth. Society would never accept a school system where teachers teach that 2+2=5. So why is it, as we're compelled to ask you? That only in the realm of religion, is man so willing to accept so many teachings that fall short of Truth? Perhaps it was even prophesied.

2 Timothy 4:3, For the time will come when men will not put up with SOUND DOCTRINE. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

God's church does not have a Name. It can't, it's the church... God's vessel of salvation from the cross on is just like Noah's ark.  The church is God's last and Eternal Kingdom, prophesied 600 years before Christ, in Isaiah 9:7 and Daniel 2:44

God refers to His ONE church using four different terms;

1. The church of the Living God

2. The church of God

3. The church of the Firstborn, and

4. The church of Christ

These are not meant to be Names of denominations; they are only references that God uses concerning His Body.

Characteristics of God’s church

1. God’s one church was prophesied to be God's last reigning Kingdom, an Eternal Kingdom, one that would last forever. - Daniel 2:44, Isaiah 9:7

2. God’s church was NOT founded by any man or woman, but rather by Jesus Christ who is its only Founder and its only Foundation. - 1 Corinthians 3:11

3. God’s church was started by Jesus, He began its construction in the first century, it was born on the day of Pentecost and on that day the church grew by 3,000 souls. - Acts 2:41

4. God’s church is made up of repentant sinners, not buildings, etc. and only God Himself adds believers to His one Body.  This happens when they choose to accept His Word and obey His ONE Plan of Salvation. - Acts 2:38,47

5. God’s church will be rivaled against by False Doctrines and the False Teachers who promote them. - Acts 20:30   

6. God’s church is DEFINED by its one Doctrine, the Doctrine of Christ's New Covenant.  God's church is NOT a Denomination, it can't be.  Denominations are False Divisions that break off of God’s church. - Titus 1:9  Acts 20:30

MOST IMPORTANT FACT

The majority of Denominations do not baptize sinners into the Body of Christ, for the forgiveness of a person's sins and to receive the gift (the indwelling seal) of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3 - Galatians 3:27 - 1 Peter 3:21

Were you added to God's Body by God Himself, or by man?

Acts 2:47, The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Were you added to Christ's Body according to the Doctrine of His New Covenant?

Acts 2:38 says, Repent and be Baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. By the sounds of this next scripture, God doesn't like man made teachings.

Matthew 15:9 says, They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.

Contemplate what the world would be like with no Denominations. Just one church around the world perfectly united in mind and thought, exactly like what Paul and God plead for.

1 Corinthians 1:10 says, I plead with you brothers, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be  "no divisions"  among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. Imagine non-Christians seeing ONE church. How powerful would that be!!

Indeed the unbelieving world would then in their hearts say, "Wow, God really must have sent His Son."

Well this is exactly what Jesus prayed for.

John 17:22, I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and You in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

But now the world only rightfully mocks saying, "Those religious wackos can't even get that Bible of theirs to agree, let alone persuade us to believe."

Denominations do nothing more than bring doubt to the minds of unbelievers. Denominations (those who refuse to abandon false teachings, not the innocent folks who are in them searching for Truth) are nothing more than a disgrace towards God's Word, and they fuel Satan’s war on Truth.  Denominations actually enable Satan, in a most sinister way, to spit in Jesus' face.

Pursue God's True Doctrine,   Not Denominations