Matthew 16:13-19
Kent Bailey
Denominationalism cannot, does not, and will never produce Christians. When we use the term denominationalism, we refer to religious division outside the realm of the Lord’s one true New Testament church. The false view that one religious entity is as good as another is a position that will cause the vast majority of morally good and sincere people to be lost in hell. When one understands the truth regarding the very nature of the New Testament church, he will have taken note of the fact that Christ died for it and purchased it with his own blood (Acts 20:28). One will also ascertain that Christ redeemed it, washed it, and cleansed it (Eph. 5:25-27). Christ, therefore, is savior of such (Eph. 5:23).
When false teachers advocate that “it makes no difference to which church one belongs” or “that one church is as good as another,” such demonstrates either a total lack of understanding of Bible teaching or else deliberate dishonesty. All this amounts to nothing more or less than pious profanity. While that may not be the intent of such teachers, it is the consequence of any doctrine that is opposed to God’s eternal plan for the church.
The Church Defined
An essential component of presenting and defending the gospel is to properly define the terms that we are using. Those who are outside the Lord’s church in many cases view the term church either as an invisible trans-denominational body composed of various individuals advocating a variety of contrary and/or contradictory doctrines or that of a particular denomination advocating particular doctrines that is not taught by the New Testament of Christ. Such reasoning is totally opposed to the New Testament concept of the term church. A careful examination of Scriptures produces evidence that the word church is used in two different ways:
The New Testament church in its universal or comprehensive extension comprises the totality of all individuals who have obeyed the Gospel of Christ—the universal body of all those who have been saved from their past alien sins (Acts 2:38-47; 1 Cor. 12:13). The church in its universal extension is a saved relationship in Christ (Gal. 3:26-29). It has no time of assembly, no meeting place, and no collective function. There is no possible way that all of God’s people from all over the world could come together for the purpose of engaging in a collective work or action. It has no general eldership overseeing this spiritual relationship in Christ. It is simply the sphere of salvation, the realm and room of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ (Heb. 12:22-23). If we can assist individuals to properly understand the church in this non-denominational concept, we can bring about a clearer understanding of the scheme of redemption.
The New Testament also refers to the church in the limited or local sense. The local extension of the church is an autonomous, independent unit of Christians. It has a meeting place, times of assembly, and collective function. When brought to a condition of spiritual maturity, faithful local churches following the New Testament pattern develop qualified men to oversee their work of evangelism, edification, and authorized benevolence. We read of such local churches in Acts 13:1, 20:17; 1 Cor. 1:2, 16:9; 1 Thess. 1:1, as well as in other passages.
The only organization that the New Testament authorizes for the Lord’s church is that of the local church. Inter-church organizations among local churches are not authorized by the word of God. Neither do we read of New Testament authority for human institutions and/or para-church organizations to accomplish the work that God has assigned to the local New Testament church. Even cooperation among local New Testament churches is limited by the Scriptures to that of independent concurrent action without a general overseeing eldership managing the work of a plurality of local churches under a single eldership (1 Peter 5:1-4). When the work of the church becomes an organization that is larger than the local church, such becomes an organized entity larger than that authorized by the word of God. Such a work is not approved by God.
The local church as set forth in the New Testament is pictured as organized units of God’s people functioning in a collective capacity. We carefully note such scriptural organization in Acts 6:1-6; 11:22-26; 13:1; 14:23; 15:2-6; 20:17. We read about local autonomous independent churches in Philippi (Philp. 1:1), Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:12-15), in Crete (Titus 1:5), in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:1-8), and also in Asia (Rev. 1:20).
During the first century local churches were organized for:
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Evangelism—Acts 11:19-26; 13:1-4.
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Edification—Ephesians 4:11-16.
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Authorized Benevolence—Acts 6:1-6; 11:27-30; 1 Corinthians 16:1-6.
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Proper discipline—1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15.
In making proper distinction between the church in its universal and local extensions, we note that one enters the universal extension of the church when one is baptized into Christ (presupposed upon one’s faith-John 1:12), repentance of sin (Acts 17:30), confession of the deity of Christ (Romans 10:10) in accordance with Acts 2:38-47 and 1 Corinthians 12:13. One enters the extension of the local church by agreement and identity with other local Christians (Acts 9:26-31).
The New Testament Church is Essential
Denominationalism denies that by their own existence membership in any of the denominational organizations is necessary for salvation in this life or eternal salvation in Heaven. The consequence of this admission necessitates that the very essence of denominationalism is that of human origin. If it is case that salvation is not found within denominationalism, then why would any individual desire to be a member of any denomination? Protestant denominationalism denies that any component of such is essential to salvation. If so, then why bother of being a member of any denomination?
In 1 Corinthians 1:11-13, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul condemned that of religious division within the New Testament church:
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the household of Chole that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you that saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or, were you baptized in the name of Paul?
This specific Corinthian passage deals with division within the New Testament church. However, the same principle also condemns that of religious division outside the Lord’s church concerning the essence of denominationalism. Returning to the point we made at the beginning of this article, Protestant denominationalism is division outside the Lord’s church. Such keeps individuals outside the fellowship of Christ, thus outside the realm of Salvation.
The New Testament church is essential to one’s salvation. Spiritually speaking, the church of Christ is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). However, one cannot be saved outside of this spiritual body (Eph. 5:23).
The church is also comprised of those purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). However, one cannot be saved without being purchased by the blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5). The church of Christ is also composed of all those having been reconciled to God (Eph. 2:16). However, it is the case that there are no reconciled individuals outside of this body of reconciliation; therefore, one cannot be reconciled to God from sin outside the church of the Lord.
The church of Christ is composed of those who are in Christ (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 2:1). However, one cannot be saved outside of the fellowship of Christ (Gal. 3:27). The only way to enter into Christ is through his spiritual body-the church (1 Cor. 12:13). Therefore, there is no way to be in Christ outside his spiritual body, which is the church (Col. 1:18).
The church of the Lord is composed of all those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-23). One cannot be saved without being redeemed by the blood of Christ (Heb. 10:1-10). Therefore, no redemption is found out of the New Testament church.
A careful examination of the Scriptures demonstrates the church of Christ is separate and distinct from that of denominationalism. Christ did not shed his blood to purchase any or all of the denominations. The New Testament church is the divine blood-bought body of Christ, whereas the denominations are the institutions of men. The church of Christ exists as fulfillment of Old Testament kingdom prophecies (Dan. 2:44; 7:13-14; Micah 4:1-2).
This same kingdom was promised by Christ (Matt. 4:17; 16:13-28) The kingdom that was promised in the Old Testament and identified by Christ during his earthly ministry is the church of Christ that was established upon the first Pentecost after his resurrection from death. One can read about its establishment in Acts chapter 2. Christ promised to establish his kingdom when the power of God would come (Mark 9:1). This power was the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-6). Therefore, the church of Christ (the kingdom of Christ) was established on Pentecost (Acts 2:38-47; Col. 1:13-14, 1:18).
A Scriptural Argument
If it is the case that (A) New Testament baptism is for (unto) the remission of past alien sins, and (B) that remission of past alien sins is found within the confines of the New Testament church, and (C) that one must understand that New Testament baptism is for (unto) the remission of past alien sins for such baptism to be valid, then (D) it is also the case that one must understand that remission of past alien sins is found within the confines of the New Testament church for baptism to be valid.
It is the case that (A) New Testament baptism is for (unto) the remission of past alien sins (Acts 2:38), and (B) that remission of past alien sins is found within the confines of the New Testament church (Acts 2:47; Col. 1:13-14), and (C) that one must understand that New Testament baptism is for (unto) the remission of past alien sins for such baptism to be valid (Rom. 6:17-18), then it is the case that (D) one must understand that remission of past alien sins is found within the confines of the New Testament church for baptism to be valid (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23).
The church is the sphere of salvation, the realm and room of those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Denominationalism, therefore, cannot, does not, and will never produce Christians.
