the lord’s church versus denominationalism (part 2)

The Lord’s Church Versus Denominationalism

(part 2)

A Denominational Church

• was built by man away from truth• was built after the Lord’s Church• may accept most of what the Bible

teaches• is full of good people• has earthly headquarters• is larger than the local church and

smaller than the universal church

review of key thoughts

The Lord’s Church• was built by Jesus in truth

• 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "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. 16:16-18)



?

“petros” –a rock or stone (#4074, Online Bible Greek Lexicon)



“petra” –a rock, cliff or ledge (#4073, Online Bible Greek Lexicon)

Matt. 7:24, 25

Who’sThe

Rock?

"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. 16:16-18)

Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4

Jn. 5:28, 29; Rev. 20:13; 21:4; 1:18

PETER CHRIST1) ROCK (petra)?

2) GATES OF HADES?

?

?

Acts 2:29ff

Why did He Promise To Give Peter the Keys Then?

• "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:19)• giving Peter the keys to the church/kingdom is far

different than building the church on him

• key grants access into the kingdom (e.g., Acts 15:7)

• all apostles had these powers (cf. John. 20:22, 23; Matt. 18:18)

WhoseChurch?

"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. 16:16-18)

• Jesus promised to build it (Ps. 127:1)• Jesus did build it and owns it (Acts 20:28)• Church should wear His name (Rom. 16:16)• Jesus revealed to the apostles the terms for

admittance (Mk. 16:15, 16; Jn. 3:3-5; Acts 2:38)• Jesus gave rules for the admitted to continue in

(Matt. 28:19, 20)


• the church must remain in truth or the King will remove the candlestick

• To Ephesus – “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:5)

• "I am the way, the truth, and the life. . .” (Jn. 14:6; cf. 1 Tim. 3:15)

The Lord’s Church• was built by Jesus in truth• was built by the Lord at the right time

• church and kingdom are the same• established at the same time

The Time for the Kingdom-Church

18 "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.19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.“

(Matthew 16:18, 19)

IF NOT THE SAME, JESUS BUILT ONE THING AND GAVE PETER THE KEYS TO

SOMETHING ELSE!


18 "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.19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.“

(Matthew 16:18, 19)

IF NOT THE SAME, JESUS BUILT ONE THING AND GAVE PETER THE KEYS TO

SOMETHING ELSE!

Lord’s Table in Kingdom (Lk. 22:29)

Lord’s Table in the Church

(1 Cor. 10:16, 21; 11:17-34)


David (2 Sam. 7)

1000 BC

Isaiah(2:1-4; 9:6, 7)

Daniel(2:44)

“kingdom of heaven is at hand”(Matt. 3:2)

“some standing here” (Mk. 9:1)

“Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body,

according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne” (Acts 2:30)

“Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body,

according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne” (Acts 2:30)

~30 AD

prophesy

“I will build My church”

(Matt. 16:18)


Acts 2:47

Acts 5:11

Acts 8:1

Acts 14:22

Acts 28:31

Col. 1:13, 4:11; Rev. 1:9

As something already present!

The Oldest Denomination is Too Young!

• Roman Catholic -325 A.D.

• Lutheran -1530 A.D.

• Episcopalian -1534 A.D.

• Presbyterian -1534 A.D.

• Baptist -1607 A.D.

• Methodist -1729 A.D.

• Mormon -1830 A.D.

• Adventist -1831 A.D.• Pentecostal -1900 A.D.

The Lord’s Church• was built by Jesus in truth• was built by the Lord at the right time• accepts all scripture

2 Timothy 3:16, 17

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(NKJV)

Romans 15:4 & Colossians 3:17• “For whatever things were written before were

written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4, NKJV)

• “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. . .” (Col. 3:17, NKJV)

POINT: Old Testament – FOR LEARNING New Testament – FOR LAW

The Lord’s Church• was built by Jesus in truth• was built by the Lord at the right time• accepts all scripture• is full of saved people

• “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, NKJV)

• Acts 20:28

The Lord’s Church• was built by Jesus in truth• was built by the Lord at the right time• accepts all scripture• is full of saved people• has heavenly headquarters

• Jesus is head (Col. 1:18)• yet reigns in heaven (Heb. 8:1)

Some Denominational HEADQUARTERS

• Catholic -Rome• Mormon -Salt Lake City, UT• Seventh-Day -Washington, D.C.

Adventist• Pentecostal -Joplin, MO

Church of God• Salvation Army-Alexandria, VA

The Lord’s Church• was built by Jesus in truth• was built by the Lord at the right time• accepts all scripture• is full of saved people• has heavenly headquarters• has a local and universal concept

• is made up of individuals

• has no organized work on earth• no treasury• no gathering on

earth• no officers on earth

• individuals in a given area

• has an organized work• treasury (1 Cor. 16:2)• regular assembly

(Heb. 10:25)• is to have bishops (also

called pastors, elders) and deacons when men meet qualifications (Phil 1:12)

(Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23) (Acts 8:1; Acts 13:1)

Ephesians 5:23 and the ‘Singularity’ of the Church

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

(NKJV)

1. how many husbands?2. how many wives?3. how many Christs?4. how many saviors?5. How many churches?

1. how many husbands?2. how many wives?3. how many Christs?4. how many saviors?5. How many churches?

Eph. 5:23 “Christ is head of thechurch”


(NKJV)

head

head

church


(NKJV)

Christ

head

churchPope

church

Eph. 5:23 “Christ is head of thechurch”

“the head”1Co 11:3, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (NKJV)

Christ

Christ

mankind

Pope

mankind

“the head”“but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Eph. 4:15, NKJV)

Christ

Christ

church

Pope

church

There are many local congregations in scripture but only one universal church!

God has placed upon us to:

• seek the will of God (Jn. 7:17)

• test preachers (1 Jn. 4:1)

• seek the true church of God (Matt. 6:33)

IN THE NEXT LESSON

• WE WILL LOOK AT DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF THE LORD’S CHURCH WHICH EXISTED IN THE FIRST CENTURY• a simple comparison of the ancient portrait

of the first-century church to modern depictions of the church will show which are counterfeit or legitimate

the lord’s church versus denominationalism (part 2)

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