Undenominational Christianity

By Dan C. Bailey

Most people do not understand that the church of Christ, the body of Christ, or the church that we read about in the New Testament is not a denomination. As a Christian and Bible believer, I am against division in the body of Christ. In theory, denominationalism says that it is acceptable to God to worship in the various denominations which treat different doctrines from each other, and therefore, different doctrines than those in the Bible.     It cannot be the case that the Bible teaches contradictory doctrines. The very concept of denominationalism justifies and supports the teaching of error. Any organization, group, or theory that justifies error and contradicts the Word of God is an organization, group, or theory that a Christian should have nothing to do with. As Christians, we are not in fellowship with any denomination, neither do we intend to be.     Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." One must realize that true Christianity is undenominational and be ready to defend that fact.     In the Bible, God teaches us that there is only one church, body, family or kingdom over which Christ is the head or ruler. This church or kingdom takes its orders or commands from Jesus Christ by means of the words of the New Covenant or New Testament. Christ is not the author of error or doctrines that contradict the Work of God.     Jesus promised to build His church in Matthew 16:13-20. We read in verses 18 & 19: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The Lord said "my church." He didn't say churches or denominations that would contradict one another. Christ is the builder of the only one church and it belongs to him. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).     When a man is saved in obedience to the gospel of Christ, he is immediately added to the church of Christ, body of Christ, or kingdom of Christ. We read in Acts 2:38-41: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." And in verse 47 of the same chapter: "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."     The church is the body of Christ, and since there is only one body, there is only one church in the Bible. I do not expect you to take my word for this, but the scriptures teach us in Ephesians 1:17-23. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."     And we read in Ephesians 4:4-6: "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."     Christ is the one head of the one church or the one body. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Ephesians 5:23). "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).     Let us never be ashamed to teach what the Bible teaches about the church or any other subject.   - Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home

The Unity of The Church

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By Dan C. Bailey    Certainly, one of the most important subjects in the Bible is the unity of the Lord's church. The church is the body of Christ and the body of Christ is the church. Paul said, "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). And again he said, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18). We read in I Cor 12:20, "But now are they many members, yet but one body." And again in I Cor. 12:27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." Jesus promised to build His church. He said, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). The Lord did build or establish his church on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two. Does Jesus desire that his church be divided? David said, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). If unity is good and pleasant, wouldn't it be God's will for his church to be united or to be one?      In John 17:1-26, we have the longest prayer in the New Testament. The Lord prayed this prayer just before he went out to the garden of Gethsemane. In verses twenty through twenty six, Jesus prayed for the unity of his disciples or his church. Surely it was a sincere prayer. Surely it was a prayer within the realm of possibility. We know that Jesus meant what he prayed and prayed what he meant. Here is what he prayed: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" (John 17:20-23).      Jesus not only prayed for unity, he gave the plan for unity. God would not expect his people to be united without a plan. Jesus said, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20). His church is to be united through the word of the apostles. Was it really obtainable? After all, many say that we cannot understand the Bible alike?      My friends, if we really understand the word of God, we will understand it alike! Luke tells us in Acts 2:42, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." In Acts 4:32-33 we read, "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." The apostles preached the gospel by the Holy Spirit who guided them into all truth. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).      The teachings of the apostles of Christ were understood and followed in the early church. Peter exhorted, "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour" (II Peter 3:1-2). And Paul informs us in I Cor. 14:37, "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." Jesus gave us the plan for unity. Now we are expected to follow the plan.      There is only one God and God has only one plan for unity! Division in the Lord's church is sinful. Paul commanded the brethren in Corinth, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10). In chapter 3:1-3 we read, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" Envy, strife, and division are carnal. They are fleshly, worldly, sinful!      It is not a light matter to divide the Lord's church. Paul wrote to the Philippians and said, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27). How can anyone study these verses and the prayer of Jesus and then affirm that there is nothing wrong with division in the body of Christ? Let us be one in Christ, just as our Savior prayed. ******************************** United As One The church is commanded to be of one mind, To labor together -- a God given sign. United in love, one body indeed, Helping the helpless, and all those in need.   The church of the Lord is to be of one soul, Cleansed by the blood, redeemed and made whole. Led by the words of the Bible each day, United as one, let us walk in the way.   One body, one Spirit, one Savior Divine, One Lord and one Faith, delivered one time. So let us take heed to the prayer of God's Son. Like Him and the Father, we all should be one. Dan C. Bailey / November 30, 2009   "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one."                               John 17:20-22

- Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home

Does It Make Any Difference

By Dan C. Bailey       In some ways, this is a strange question to one who studies the Bible carefully. The scriptures clearly teach that it makes a difference what we believe. Jesus said of the scribes and Pharisees, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men "(Matthew 15:9). Those who believed the teachings of the Pharisees were just as wrong as those who taught errors. The Lord said, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch"(Matthew 15:14).     Many seem to forget that Jesus warned us about false teachers. The Lord said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves"(Matthew 7:15). It is very commonly taught that the plan of salvation is simply to believe repent, and call upon the name of the Lord by praying, "the sinner's prayer." The problem with this is that it isn't God's plan of salvation. Must one have faith? Absolutely! Must one repent? Absolutely! Does the Bible teach us that we are saved from our past sins by saying a prayer? The answer is absolutely NOT! It is true that after one becomes a Christian, he is to pray to God for forgiveness. This is found in Acts 8:22: "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." However, there are no examples of alien sinners being saved by saying "the sinner's prayer" in the Christian dispensation under the great commission.     When Jesus gave the great commission to His apostles, he said: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  "(Matthew 28:18-20).     In Mark 16:15-16, He said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. "     And in Luke 24:46-47, Jesus said, "... Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. "     Jesus died for us on the cross and shed His previous and innocent blood for the remission of our sins. "For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). Just as the blood is required for the remission of sins, so repentance and baptism are required for the remission of sins. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost"(Acts 2:38). "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ"(1 Peter 3:21). "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord"(Acts 22:16).     My Friend, will you not confess the dear name of Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), and upon that confession be baptized into Jesus Christ? "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ"(Galatians 3:26-27). It does make a difference what we believe!

- Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home

Keeping God's Commandments

By Dan Bailey Keeping the commandments of God is either essential or not essential to salvation. If the keeping of the will of God is essential, then we certainly ought to preach a great deal about doing the will of God. If the keeping of the commandments of God is not essential, then why bother teaching anything about keeping God's commandments?    There are many in the church and in the world today who laugh and scorn the very idea of commandment keeping. They usually say out of one side of their mouth, "Oh yes, I believe that we should keep God's word." But out of the other side of their mouth they say, "Man cannot go to heaven by commandment keeping." It is a practice of false teachers to affirm contradictory propositions. If anyone ever questions them, then they can just quote a verse on the keeping of God's law and continue to teach that man is saved apart from commandment keeping.    Multitudes fail to see the contradiction. Let us open our eyes to the truth! God's law is not contradictory! A true teacher of God's doctrine does not contradict himself! When God's law is preached and followed, there is perfect harmony. "Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good" (Lamentations 3:38).    Let us make some clear statements and support them by the word of God:    One cannot go to heaven who does not do the will of God. We read in Matthew 7:21-23 "21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."    Jesus affirmed that love and commandment keeping go together. "15 If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). And in John 14:21 we read, "21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. "    Jesus taught that those who do not love Him would fail to do His commandments. "23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me" (John 14:23,24).    Jesus taught that His friends were those who did His commandments. "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).    Jesus taught that love itself was a commandment. "These things I command you, that ye love one another" (John  15:17).    The inspired apostle John taught that a man was a liar who said that he knew Christ but failed to keep His commandments.  "3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him" (1 John 2:3-5).    God further taught that those who did His commandments would enter into the holy city. "14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).    It is tragic that men pervert and corrupt the word of God. Even some in the church today are teaching that man cannot be saved by commandment keeping. They separate the gospel from the grace of God. It is true that we are saved by God's grace, but that grace is found in and through the gospel of Christ. That pure gospel teaches us that we must obey God in order to be saved. "8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8,9).    All of God's commandments are important. It is our responsibility as Christians to obey those things that our Father has commanded. If we want to be pleasing to God, we cannot pick and choose just the ones that we want to obey. Which commandments will you choose to obey?  "58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58)   - Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home

The Law of Salvation of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus

By Dan C. Bailey It is always sad when people fail to study, believe, and obey the word of God. We read the following in Romans 8:1-2: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."     This is a comforting and beautiful passage of scripture. There are those who have obeyed the gospel. • Romans 10:16 -- "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" • 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 -- "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." • 1 Peter 4:17 -- "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" Therefore, they are cleansed by the blood and have no condemnation. Revelation 1:5 -- "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." That is, any child of God who is walking in the light is in a saved condition. • 1 John 1:7 -- "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." • In Acts 2:38, we read, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." When people obey the gospel, they are baptized into Christ and they are added to the Lord's church (~Acts 2:47~; ~Matthew 16:18-19~).     After becoming Christians, they are exhorted to "walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" (~Romans 8:4~). To walk after the Spirit is to walk after the teachings of the Spirit. If a Christian refuses to be led by the Spirit of God, then that Christian has departed from the living God. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). A Christian must walk in "the way of the righteousness " (~2 Peter 2:21~). A Christian must walk in the "right way" (~2 Peter 2:15~). The only "right way" or "righteous way" is to walk in the truth (2 John 4; 2 John 6; 3 John 3).  The truth of God's word has been, and always will be, God's law for mankind. "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth (Psalm 119:142).     To walk after the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is to be walking on the way that leads to heaven. The word of the Spirit, the truth, sets us free from sin. "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).     Let us follow this law of the Spirit. Let us heed the "law of Christ" (~Galatians 6:2~). And let us never decline from the law of faith (~Romans 3:27~). Surely, James has told us so clearly, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:25).     There are many both inside and outside the church who teach that Christians are not under any law today. In essence, this is just the doctrine that man is justified by grace alone.

Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home

The Road Less Traveled

By Bob Prichard     Robert Frost’s 1916 poem, “The Road Not Taken,” is one of the most often quoted poems of all time. The poet speaks of two roads, each “just as fair,” but the traveler chose one, concluding “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Frost indicated that most have misunderstood the poem. The choice was actually random—the traveler didn’t know which was best. The difference wasn’t from a wise choice, but a random choice.     In life, we often have to choose between two roads that seem equally good or bad. We don’t know which road is better, because we cannot see the end of the road with either choice. We just have to choose. But what we must always remember is that when we choose the beginning of the road, we also choose the end of the road. That is why it is so important that we not only choose the right road in life, but that we periodically evaluate the road we are now on, to see if we should change roads.     Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians. He entered the city as a blind man, and exited as a follower of the Christ he persecuted. The Lord told Ananias, “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). As Ananias taught him, Saul counted the cost (Luke 14:28) of starting on the road of service to Jesus Christ, and immediately obeyed when Ananias commanded him to be baptized (Acts 22:16).     Jesus warned that there are two ways—the broad way of the world and the narrow way of following Him. “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” (Matthew 7:13-14). The narrow way is definitely “the road less traveled.” But it makes all the difference—not only in this life, but in the world to come. Are you on the right road today? Is it time for a change?

Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Second Only To The Bible

By Bob Prichard     It was required reading in Jr. High School. I can still remember trying to slog through it, and not appreciating it at the time. It is the story of a fifty-year-old man setting off on a quest to do great deeds and right all wrongs. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes was quite innovative when first published (part one in 1605, and part two in 1615). The exploits of this man of La Mancha have inspired many, whether he is a tragic hero, a non-conformist, or simply a buffoon. According to The Intellectual Devotional (2006), “of all the books published throughout history, Don Quixote is second only to the Bible in terms of total number of copies printed.”     With time, I have come to have more appreciation for Don Quixote—appreciation that I lacked when I was in Jr. High. With maturity, I have learned to appreciate many things that I saw little reason for at 13. Consider the accolade for Don Quixote, “second only to the Bible in terms of number of copies printed.” Have you noticed how often comparisons are made to the Bible? With all of the great and not so great books published every year, the Bible is the perennial best-seller. Perhaps it does not generate the same media frenzy as a new Harry Potter book, but the Bible continues to outsell every other book.     We know why this is so. It is because there is no other book like the Bible. Although other books make similar claims, it is the only book that is truly inspired—“God breathed.” No other book can offer what it offers.     We should join with the psalmist in praising the Bible, which is second to no other book. “For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction” (Psalm 119:89–9

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.