The Lord’s Church is Different

Matthew 16:18

Good to see each of you out this morning. This morning I would like to bring you a sermon that has been titled, The Lord's Church is Different. The Lord's Church is Different.

So while sad, it's very fascinating to know that the workers of Satan if I can use that term, are very hard at work trying to destroy that which God deems to be important and dear. Institutions like marriage, of course we can include the family, I'll mention that, and of course the church. Satan’s workers use various tactics in their efforts to destroy the institutions that God has established, institutions that He deems very important.

One way Satan tries to destroy the effect of the role of these institutions is to lead people to believe that they're no different than the counterfeits that Satan tries to institute. For example, Satan’s workers would try to convince the world that same-sex marriage is no different than the marriage between a man and a woman. If you understand why the Lord limited marriage to or for a man and a woman, you know that there is a difference between same-sex marriage and the marriage between a man and a woman. It makes a difference.

Finally, no surprise, those who serve under Satan want people to accept the same type of message about the church of Christ, the church that Christ established, Matthew 16:18. But there is a difference. The church is different. The Lord's church, first of all, I have to say, is not a denomination. It is un-denominational.

In other words, it is not divided. It is not divided, scripturally speaking. In our society, people are accustomed to thinking of the church as a denomination. Reading the Bible one cannot come to that conclusion.

The church is neither, as we understand it, is not Catholic, nor is it Protestant. What were the first century Christians considered? They were considered just simply Christians. They weren't considered to be Catholic, nor were they considered to be Protestant, meaning congregations or churches, as we understand, like the Lutheran, the Baptist church, which I came out of, the Methodist, the Presbyterian, etc.

Catholicism is not or didn't develop until about the 6th century, around 606 A.D. Protestantism didn't come about until centuries later. Therefore, denominations came hundreds of years after the Lord's church was established.

Denominations came about only, notice this; they only came about because of sin. Therefore, real Christians, in a Biblical sense, cannot be members of the denominations.

I want you to follow with me the Scriptures. Not with what I'm saying, but follow me with the Scriptures. The Lord's church is superior. The church we find in the Bible is superior to denominations. Why? Why is the Lord's church superior to denominations? Because the Lord's church was started by Christ, and it was paid for by His blood. Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28. It has a divine origin, right? Denominationalism, on the other hand, they were started by men. We will get into this a little further later.

They have human origins. Before any denomination existed, the church of Christ, the church that Christ established, was already established. Acts chapter 2:22 and 47, and then Romans 16:16.

Some Scriptures, I would encourage you to pay close attention to some of these words, or these words, period.

“Now, the parable is this. The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11).

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15).

“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:26).

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28.)

“Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” (Romans 16:16).

Notice these Scriptures. These are very important principles here.

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth, and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass and herb, yielding seed after his kind. The tree yielded fruit, whose seed was in itself after his kind. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:11-12).

Last, “but be not deceived, God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”( Galatians 6:7).

Today, if we preach the same gospel, urging people to submit to the same commandments given by the apostles, everybody that obeys will only be Christians. Why? Because the seed of the kingdom is the word of God. Luke 8:11.

The good soil, is the honest and good heart. Luke 8:15.

When the same word of God is preached, it will only produce Christians like those in the first century. The law of reproduction is consistent. A seed only produced after his kind.
You reap what you sow. A corn seed only produces corn. An apple seed only produces apples. Watermelon seeds only produce watermelon seeds. The seed of humans, the man and the woman, they only produce other humans.

The seed of the kingdom, the seeds of the citizens of the kingdom only produce Christians, not members of denominations, neither Catholic nor Protestant. In the New Testament, you cannot find a seed, or the word, that produce a variety of churches. Notice that, a variety of churches that's contrary to the law of reproduction. You cannot find it in nature, nor can you find it in the spiritual realm.

There is one church.

Notice these scriptures. Matthew 16:18, I already mentioned that. There we find that Jesus said, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Then Acts 2:38, says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sin. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Spirit.”
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls,” (Acts 2:41).

Verse 47 says, “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved.”

Then, “but we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to be used to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth, whereunto he called you by our gospel to obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (2nd Thessalonians 2:13-14).

In Colossians 1:13, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son,”

“Then tidings of these things came unto the ear of the church, which was in Jerusalem, and they sent from fourth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch” (Acts 11:22).

Just a couple more, 1st Corinthians 1:2, “Unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ call to be saints with all that in every place called upon the name of Jesus our Lord, both theirs and ours.”

Finally, 1st Thessalonians 1:1. There we can read what was written unto the church by; “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

What we want to know about the church, the New Testament must be our standard.

The New Testament must be our standard. It's not the church manuals, not the statement of faith like I had when I was in the Baptist church. They had a statement of faith right behind the pulpit. You could read what the church stood for. They did not have the Bible there. They had a statement of faith.

The term church basically means a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place according to then. What about the church of the New Testament? The church of the New Testament is composed of people, people that were called out of the world, people that were called out of darkness, people that were called out of the dark sinful world. How are they called out? They are called out by the gospel.

They are called out by the gospel of Christ, by the teachings of Christ himself. Where did the called out or the church begin? The church began in Jerusalem. When Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost, God called those Jews out of the world. Those who gladly received the word were added to the church. From Jerusalem, the church developed wherever the gospel was preached and accepted. Hence the churches in Thessalonica, the church at Corinth, the churches of Galatia, or the church in Rome, “salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you,” Romans 16:16.

At times when the word church is used, it refers to a congregation in a given area, but when the word churches is used, it refers to the number of churches that maybe Paul or Peter or some other holy writer was communicating with. They were not talking or communicating with denominations, okay? Therefore, the number of congregations in a given area would be referred to as the churches of Christ, like the churches of Christ in Geauga County or the churches of Christ in Stark County or Cuyahoga County. They would be considered the churches of Christ.

One congregation in one area would be called a church of Christ, like this church of Christ in Chardon, Ohio. Chardon Church of Christ. It's local, in a local area. All the saved around the world would be considered the church of Christ universal.

More scriptures: “Unto the church of God, which is Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus. Called to be saints with all that, with all that in every place called upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” (1st Corinthians 1:2). And then Hebrews 12:23. “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn.”

I will skip and go down now to Romans 16 again. “The churches of Christ salute you”.

Then Colossians 1:24, “Who now rejoice in the suffering for you and fill up that which is behind of the affliction of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church.”

Next Revelations 21:2 says, “And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

And then finally, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.” You can read that in 1 Timothy 3:15.

What about these various names referring to the churches in the New Testament? Can they be referring to denominations? The answer would be no, not at all. Different names given to the church express the relationship of the church to Christ and to the Father. Okay, the church of God. The church which belongs to God, 1st Corinthians 1:2, and then you have the church of Christ. Of course, the church that belongs to Christ, Matthew 16:18. As we read, “For I will build my church and the gates of hell, should not prevail against it.”

It is the body of Christ, and “He is the head of the body, the church…”. (Colossians 1:18.) “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. He is the savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23). Christ is the head of the body. The body is the church. Therefore, the church is Christ's body.

Then, how about the bride of Christ? We can read in 2nd Corinthians 11:2, I think verse two, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband.”

He goes on, And then we can read in Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify clans with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Before a wedding, a bride prepares herself to meet her husband to be. I think we understand that in our society. Weddings are a big deal. And like manner, the church is preparing herself to meet Christ Jesus. The church today is preparing herself to meet Christ Jesus, her husband at the second coming.

How about the house of God? Well, scripture says, “but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name,” (John 1:12). “But he answered and said unto him that told him, who is my mother? Who is my brother? And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples and said, behold, my mother, my brethren, for whosoever shall do the will of my father, which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50).

“Therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizen with the saints and of the household of God,” (Ephesians 2:19).

“As we have, therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith,” (Galatians 6:10). The house of God simply refers to those who are God's children, refers to those who are God's children, those who do the will of the father, those who obey the faith, those who obey the father.

Therefore, the variety of names given to the church in the New Testament refers to different aspects of the church’s relationship with Christ and with the father. What about denominations? Let's notice these scriptures, Matthew 15:7-9. It says, “ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, this people draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, notice that, but in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandment of men.”

What about these words? Verses 13 through 14. “But he answered and said, every plant, which my heavenly father, hath not planted shall be rooted up, let them alone. They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:13-14.

The church of Christ has a relationship with Christ and a relationship with the father. However, what about the Roman Catholic Church, for example? It doesn't have a relationship with Christ or with the father in the scriptures. We do not find that. According to history, the Roman Catholic Church was founded by Boniface III and others who created their teachings, which started around 606 AD.

I believe those people truly worship God. But they worship God, I would argue, in vain because they worship according to the teachings, the doctrine of men. The Father didn't plant the seed or the words that started the Catholic Church. Therefore, the Bible teaches us that such shall be uprooted.

How about the Greek Orthodox Church? It has no relationship with Christ nor with the Father. In the scriptures, you cannot find that name. You cannot find it at all. According to history, its relationships are found with a group that started it around 1053 AD or 54. It was split between, I guess, Pope Leo IX and a patriarch named Michael Cerularius because they excommunicated one another. You have these two different churches. I believe they worship God, but they worship God in vain because their worship was according to the teachings of men. The Father did not plant that church. Therefore, it shall be uprooted.

What about the Lutheran Church? It doesn't have a relationship, with Christ or the Father. We do not find it in the scriptures. You cannot find it there. Its relationship started after, I believe, Martin Luther himself died, by his followers in Augsburg, Germany around 1530 AD. And again, that church shall be uprooted.

What about the Baptist Church that I came out of? The Baptist Church has many branches, if I may say. It has no relationship with Christ or with the father. In the scriptures, you cannot find it in the scriptures. Matter of fact, it does not even have a relationship with John the Baptist himself. It was started about 1607 after, of course, John the Baptist died. Its relationship started with a John but his last name was Smith in London, England. Therefore, the father did not plant it and it shall be uprooted.

The same thing applies to the Seventh-day Adventist Church started by William Miller, 1830, thereabout, in Low Hampton, New York. The Congregational Church, Robert Brown, 1550, in England. The Christian Science Church, Mary Baker Eddy, 1866, thereabout, in America. The Methodist Church, John Wesley, 1739, thereabout, in England. The Presbyterian Church, John Calvin, 1530, in Switzerland. All the other churches we can name. There's hundreds and hundreds of congregations or churches or so-called churches started by men. None of them have a relationship with Christ and the Father and they shall be uprooted.

The Lord's Church is different. Denominationalist churches may look like it, they may sound like it, they may act like it, but they are not it. Chevy, Ford, Chrysler, and other makes, Hondas, Toyotas, you can name it. They may look like Rolls Royces, and they may sound like Rolls Royces. They may perform like a Rolls Royce, but they are not a Rolls Royce. A Rolls Royce is different. If you were to take your Chevy or your Ford, your Chrysler, your Honda, your Civic to a Rolls Royce dealership for repair, you probably would get laughed out of the dealership. Why? Because Rolls Royce does not make Chevys. They do not make Fords. They do not make Chryslers and others. Just because GM, Ford, and Chrysler cars have steering wheels, engines, and tires, and other similar parts, doesn't mean that Rolls Royce will honor the warranties from GM and Chrysler and others.

The same principles apply to the Lord's church. Just because other churches may resemble the Lord's church, doesn't mean that they will be recognized in the judgment by the Lord himself. Or just because some people look like or act like Christians does not mean that Christ will accept them as Christian or his own.

Notice these scriptures. Don't take my word for it. Notice these scriptures.

The Bible says, “Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils. And in thy name done many wonderful works. And then I will profess unto them, says the Lord, I never knew you. Depart from me ye that worketh iniquity.” You can find this for yourself in Matthew 7:21-23.

What can we say about this group of people? They sound like Christians. They call Christ Lord. Lord, Lord, they said. Just therefore like many today, they probably have the Christian vernacular down. They sound like Christians. Not only do they sound like Christians, but they also act like Christians. Notice they did many good works. They probably fed the poor. They probably clothed the naked. They probably visited the sick and did much, much more. Then people saw them, they probably said, there's a Christian, but Christ thought differently.

Man probably saw acts of obedience, but God saw partial obedience. Partial obedience does not cut it in the kingdom of God. God deserves and demands complete obedience. What about us? What about you? Have you fully obeyed Christ? If you haven't obeyed the pure gospel of Christ, you cannot be a Christian.

Christ promised to build his church, Matthew 16:18-19. The church was built or was established, Acts 2. Philip preached the gospel as we can find in Acts 8, and Philip preached faith in Christ, no doubt. I'm sure he preached repentance like we find in Acts 17:30. I'm sure he preached confession like we find in Romans 10:9. And I'm sure, and we can see that he preached baptism just like we find in Acts 2:38. In preaching the gospel, Philip preached the kingdom of God.

That is the kingdom of God's dear son. The kingdom believers are translated into, and out of the kingdom of darkness. In other words, the church of Christ, the church that Christ died for. The church believers were added to on the day of Pentecost as in the book of Acts. Acts chapter 2:48, I believe. On Pentecost, they weren't added to the Catholic church. Neither were they added to any of the Protestant churches that we can find today or any church that was started by man.

Therefore, if we obeyed what they called the gospel, you didn't obey the gospel of Christ. They preached a different Jesus. They preached a different church. Notice these scriptures if you don't believe me. For if they come as preaching another Jesus, notice there's more than one Jesus being preached, whom you have not preached. For if they receive another spirit, notice there's another spirit out there, not just the Holy Spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel.

Notice there are other gospels out there which you have not accepted. You might bear with them well. That's 2nd Corinthians 11:4. Read it for yourself. Notice men do preach another Jesus. Notice they preach other gospels. That being true, they also preach another kingdom or another church. Therefore, there is a true Jesus and there is a false Jesus. There is a true gospel and there is a false gospel. There is a true church and there are false churches.

If you obey the true gospel, the question is, have you continued in obedience? If not, you need to consider your ways, repent, obviously confess. So if you're here this morning and you stand and need to respond to the true gospel or to renew your relationship with the Father and Christ, we encourage you to do so as we stand to sing this song of invitation. Thank you.