Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Revised Standard Version ( NRSV ). Below it is a copy of the Handbook OF Denominations IN THE UNITED STATES: NEW TENTH EDITION ( by FRANK S. MEAD, REVISED BY SAMUEL S. HILL, Abingdon Press, NASHVILLE, Copyright 1985, 1990, 1995 by Abingdon Press ). The following quotation, concerning the Baptist denomination, is taken from page forty-nine of this handbook:
"It is often heard among them that they have no founder but Christ and that Baptists have been preaching and practicing from the days of John the Baptist. This is true in a limited sense; men and women then certainly held what have come to be considered distinctly Baptist principles. But organized Baptist churches first appeared in Holland and England."
Matthew 16:17, 18 read as follows:
"17 And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.'"
From this passage in the Holy Bible, we see that there is one New Testament church ( Jesus used the word "church," in singular form, as we read in verse eighteen, above ), and that it belongs to Him ( He used the word "my" in reference to it, again, as we read in verse eighteen, above ).
The apostle Paul ( see Romans 1:1 ) wrote ( see 11:13; 15:15; and 16:22, for example ) the following in ( 16:16 ): "16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you." Thus, the phrase "churches of Christ" is specifically used in reference to local congregations of the one, universal New Testament church.
John 1:15 reads as follows: "15 (John testified to him and cried out, 'This was he of whom I said, '"He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me."'')" John the Baptist ( see also 3:22-30, for example ) said that Jesus ranked ahead of him ( please read verses one through eighteen to get the immediate context ). He also confessed, "I am not the Messiah" ( see verse twenty ).
He also said of Jesus, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" ( See verse twenty-nine. ) Peter said of Jesus Christ of Nazareth in Acts 4:12, "12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" ( please read verses one through twelve to get the immediate context ). Paul said, concerning John the Baptist ( see Matthew, chapter 3, for example ), in Acts 19:4, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus."
Upon hearing this, those disciples were rebaptized "in the name of the Lord Jesus" ( see verse five, and please read verses one through ten to get the immediate context ). This latter example demonstrates that John the Baptist's baptism was obsolete, and that one must be baptized, by immersion in water, in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the remission of one's past sins, to be saved ( see Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38, 41, and 47; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example; KJV, for example ); and Romans 3:21-31 ( especially verse 25, for example; KJV, for example ); 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), for example ). To be sure, denominational baptisms ( baptisms in the name of a human being after John the Baptist's baptism became obsolete ) do not save anyone ( see Acts 5:32; 8:4-25 ( especially verses 14-17, for example ); chapter 10 ( especially verses 34-48, for example ); and 2 Corinthians 4:13, for example ).
All of this evidence points away from John the Baptist and towards the Christ ( see the footnote for John 1:20 ). Why, then, would anyone claim to be a Baptist? There is no salvation in that name.
The handbook pictured above provides us with a myriad of examples of what the New Testament church is not. However, I would recommend it to anyone who desires to have a knowledge of what the various religious denominations believe and practice. It is important to realize, though, that there is only one correct way to believe ( see Ephesians 4:5, for example ).
The name "church of Christ" appears in this handbook in various forms, but none of these is the New Testament church. The New Testament church is not a religious denomination. Moreover, you will find no references to liberal or institutional local congregations or brethren in the New Testament. Such people are not disciples of Jesus ( see John 8:31, for example ).
Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ). If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
NOTE: Please read the Thursday, October 29, 2015, Friday, October 30, 2015, and Saturday, October 31, 2015 entries to this weblog to find additional facts regarding why denominational baptisms do not save anyone.
