The differences in Christ’s church and protestant denominations

If God had a mission to send his son to establish an earthly kingdom, and couldn’t complete the task, he would certainly be less than omnipotent and/or omniscient. God is not a being who cannot accomplish his plans.

 

Jesus came to the earth to establish his spiritual kingdom, which is his church. This is made very plain in Matthew 16:18-19 where he uses both terms for the same subject...interchangeably. It is also referred to as his “body”.

 

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 KJV)

 

As Jesus stood before Pilate, he was asked if he was a king. And here is his answer to Pilate:

 

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36 KJV)

 

That was Jesus way of saying his was a spiritual kingdom (Not of this world-not physical). This kingdom was to be an everlasting kingdom. In Matthew chapter 16 (referenced above), he adds that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Hell here is used meaning the grave, or in other words, death. Those who are in his kingdom, will not lose that citizenship through death.

 

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. (Mark 9:1KJV)

 

If Jesus did not lie here, and if he meant what he said, some of the people under the sound of his voice on that day, would still be alive when the kingdom came with power. Now, after he had arisen from the grave he appeared before them and we find this statement:

 

And said unto them, 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. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:46-49 KJV)

 

Notice that the quotation from Mark said the kingdom would come with power, then notice the quote from Luke as telling them they would be endued with power from on high. Following this we have recorded in the first chapter of Acts that the apostles and other disciples were gathered with Jesus before he ascended into heaven. He reminds them again of the power they would receive.

 

 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:8-9 KJV)

 

The time for the kingdom to come had arrived. They went to Jerusalem and waited. On the first Pentecost after Jesus resurrection, we find recorded, the entire incident of the coming of the power to the 12 apostles, they received the power via the Holy Spirit which descended and sat upon them as “cloven tongues of fire”. They were granted the power to speak all of the various dialects of the Jews who had gathered there for the Pentecost, languages which they had never before learned or been able to speak. They were also endowed with the remembrance of all things which Jesus had taught them while he was with them. This is all recorded in the second chapter of Acts and should be read carefully and prayerfully by every one. All of the apostles were preaching to the various groups who were gathered there...thousands of Jews had come from all over. Peter’s sermon was recorded for the holy record. He explained what they Jews had done with the son of God and instructed them as to what they must do to be saved, and there were added to them that day some 3,000 souls. The gospel power had been preached for the first time and it converted over 3,000 in one day.

 

Then in verse 47, it is reported that “The Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved.” (KJV rendering)  Some other versions say “...those that were being saved.”

 

Notice that “the church” is referred to for the first time in the present tense. Heretofore, it had always been spoken of in the future tense. Continuing through the epistles you will find were congregations of the Lord’s church, his kingdom, were established where ever the apostles went and later, by other evangelists. But there were none which were some of man-created organization. In fact Paul criticized those in Corinth for even speaking in a divisive manner. Read this:

 

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. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13 KJV)

 

The amazing thing about the church, it was never given a formal name. It was always referred to as the kingdom, the church, the body, the church of the firstborn, the churches of Christ, the church of God, and so on, simply stating what it was. It was referred to as the church at Corinth, the church at Antioch, being identified only by the location.

 

After the great apostasy began and increased, it finally became named the Catholic Church, and although that only meant universal, it became a proper name designation. When it split, one part became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, but the true identify became lost, that of being the church of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Both in name and in doctrine. True worshippers of Jesus who attempted to continue in the gospel, were designated as heretics and many were killed and tortured. The Lord’s church, during the “dark ages” virtually disappeared from the face of the earth except for small groups who worshipped in secret. More details of these groups can be found in a UK website Traces of the Kingdom, Click Here

 

After the reformation era, many groups of varied teachings originated, all in an effort to return to scriptural worship of God. Unfortunately, the many years of mans indoctrination of false doctrines  was difficult to fully overcome so the diversity was great, and remains so today. The Lord’s church was fully formed and the gospel message completely assembled before the apostasy came. The church has not changed in form or in doctrine since the day of it’s origin on the first Pentecost. Man has created some 30,000 variations in doctrine and names. Every professing Christian needs desperately to study, pray and meditate upon God’s inspired word, as Paul states to the young evangelist Timothy:

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

 

When we do this, we can rest assured that we will not hear Jesus say the following words to us.

 

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. 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?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)