Author : Tom Rainwater
The apostle Paul said God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4). In Ephesians 5:17, he begged the saints at Ephesus to “not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
By these passages it should be obvious that we can understand what the truth of God is. However, if we look at the religious world today, we see hundreds (maybe thousands) of groups all teaching different things, yet all claiming to have the truth. Such a situation creates confusion for someone honestly seeking the real truth of God.
The popular idea that Christianity is divided into different “denominations” or “faiths” is against the will of God. Paul plainly affirmed that there is “one faith” (Ephesians 4:5), not many. Christ said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build My church,” not churches.
The Apostle Paul rebuked denominational division such as is common today. He tried to stop it when the brethren in Corinth were ready to splinter into separate groups. He said to them:
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
He also condemned those in Galatia who began teaching things other than the original truth he had taught when he first converted them.
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him he accursed.”(Galatians 1:6-8).
Friends, we can go back to the original truth as revealed by the apostles, and thus be of one mind and one judgment. We can and wemust.
“I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:25).
Only the Bible is right. The Bible is God’s sole standard (rule) for religious authority, not doctrinal creeds nor denominational churches legislated by man. Paul says:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Paul was concerned about division in Ephesus arising from those apostasizing from truth. In warning the Ephesian elders about it, he reminded them of the real source of truth and spiritual growth.
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”(Acts 20:32).
“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48).
Paul said:
“we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..”(2 Corinthians 5:10).
Let’s reject “denominationalism” and all its confusion, and begin following only the pure gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” (1 John 5:3).
