The Undenominational Church
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesThroughout the world, there are congregations of Christians who have obeyed the commands of our Lord with regard to salvation. These Christians are organized into local congregations (Titus 1:5-NKJV), having no central government and no earthly headquarters (John 18:35-36-NKJV). Each congregation is independent, taking the New Testament as its sole authority in religion (1 Corinthians 2:1-5-NKJV; Gal. 1:6-12-NKJV; Ephesians 3:1-11-NKJV).
The members of the Lord’s church in the twenty-first century believe the exact same things that first century Christians believed, and by doing the same things they did, they become the same thing — Christians (Acts 11-26-NKJV; cf. Isaiah 62:2-NKJV).
The Lord’s church was established on Pentecost day, 33 A.D. And as we read in Acts 2, every saved person was added to the church by the Lord Himself (Acts 2:47-NKJV). Thus the church is composed of folks who have obeyed from the heart the Lord’s plan of salvation (Romans 6:17-18-NKJV; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4-NKJV; Romans 6:1-8-NKJV; Ephesians 5:23-NKJV).
God’s word is similar to a seed planted (Luke 8:11-NKJV). This seed produced Christians in the first century, and will produce Christians in the twenty-first century (1 Peter 1:13-25-NKJV; James 1:18-NKJV; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:15-NKJV).
Twenty centuries have passed since the beginning of the church, but we still have the same truth (John 17:17-NKJV) that will judge us on that last day (John 12:48-NKJV). We still have the same church unchanged in name (Matthew 16:18-NKJV), doctrine, organization, faith, and practice.
The Lord’s church does not use any creed other than the inspired New Testament (2 Timothy 3:16-17-NKJV; 2 John 9-NKJV), nor does it add any doctrine or commandment of man (Matthew 15:9-NKJV; cf. Colossians 2:18-23-NKJV; Revelation 22:18-19-NKJV).
The only plea of the Lord’s church is the plea for unity — not unity in diversity — but for unity based on the standard revealed in God’s Word (John 17-NKJV; Ephesians 4:1-6-NKJV). The Lord’s church pleads the merit of no man — only the merit of Christ’s shed blood and of His holy Word (Romans 5:6-9-NKJV; Ephesians 1:3-7-NKJV; Hebrews 9:11-14-NKJV; 1 John 1:7-NKJV).
Dear reader, will you not this day study the above statements along with your Bible (Acts 17:11-NKJV), seriously and prayerfully consider them, and then become obedient to the Lord’s teaching regarding the New Testament church (Romans 6:17-NKJV).
May the Lord bless you as you think on the Scriptures provided in the above study.
NOTE: For any additional questions you might have regarding the undenominational New Testament church, please contact a congregation of the Lord’s people nearest you or consider becoming a member of the Preacher’s Files Forum. The brethren there will be more than happy to assist you in finding a Bible answer to your questions.