Christ Is

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7:13 14). The world calls these words of Jesus, "narrow mindedness." That's because the denominational industry preaches a humanistic religion of comfort which winks at most sin and attaches no guilt to anything man does. But regardless of what one thinks, the broad road to hell is being traveled by multitudes who have been told by denominational hirelings that there is nothing they must do to be saved and that God will save all denominations. But that's not what the New Testament teaches. The church of the New Testament is the only one which Christ will save. (Eph. 5:23). Now, some may claim that this is "narrow minded," but that is the plain truth of God's word. The church as mentioned in Acts 2 was purposed from eternity (Eph. 1:3 12) which the Son of God himself promised to build (Matt. 16:18). Furthermore, since Jesus gave his blood for it (Acts 20:28) and hath put all things under his feet, he is the head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22 23). Therefore, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4 6). Thus, the New Testament church is the body of Christ and Christ has only one body or church. Yet we must censor that denominations do not constitute his body. They are counterfeits, man made institutions devoid of any spiritual or saving benefit because they constitute plants that God never planted. Therefore as Christ said, they shall be rooted up and cast into the fire at the last day. (Matt. 15:13). Now, the body of Christ, the church, is not a monstrosity of warring members teaching contradictory doctrines. If you ask a Mormon, a Methodist, a Baptist, a Pentecostal, a Catholic or a Presbyterian what to do to be saved or how to worship God, each one will give different answers. So, does anyone honestly believe Christ is the author of such confusion and contradictory teachings? Thus, to believe and/or teach that all denominations comprise the one church of the New Testament is sophistry and defies all logic. The thing is, Christ has only one body (one church) that is found within the pages of the New Testament. Now one might add that it takes Baptist doctrine to make a Baptist, the Methodist Discipline makes a Methodist, the Catholic's Catechism produces a Catholic and the Presbyterian Confession of Faith invents a Presbyterian. But it takes the New Testament without addition or subtraction to make a Christian, which is a member of the church or body that Jesus built. And, Christ has only one body. This church in the New Testament is also called the "house of God." (1 Tim. 3:14 15). That means the church is God's family and God has only one family. Thus, it is blasphemous to even intimate that God has children outside his own family. All Christians, as set out by the plan mentioned in the Bible are God's children, but God has no children outside his family. One who has children outside his own family is an adulterer and to say that God has children outside the church of Christ is to charge him with adultery. God has only one family. This church in the New Testament is also called the "temple of God." (Eph. 2:19 22). God's temple is his dwelling place and the only place where he will accept man's worship. Thus, it is he who determines the acceptable place and form of worship. This is not the prerogative of men. A principle is illustrated in the Old Testament tabernacle and later in the temple Solomon built. It was there where God figuratively dwelt among his people and it was within the temple where he accepted Israel's worship. The principle is the same in the New Testament church. As the temple of God, the church is the place where God dwells among his people and accepts their worship. Denominations do not constitute the church of Christ. They do not constitute God's temple, he has only one. Therefore, their worship is vain because they teach the doctrines of men. (Matt. 15:8 9). Denominations are no part of the church for which Jesus died. They are not the "branches" of which Jesus spoke in John 15:5 when he said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches." He spoke to his apostles and referred to individuals as branches — not denominations. His words in John 15:6 make this crystal clear for, "If a man (not "denomination") abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered..." Thus, Christ is very “narrow-minded” because he has only one church and denominations are no part of it. Robert Notgrass