The two issues of denominations and grace-only are very fundamental and lie at the heart of departure from the Lord and His truth. This study is regarding the issue of denominations. 

First, that the church is just a denomination sends chills over me especially when you think of the wide spectrum of denominationalism. This would include the Mormons, who believe that Adam was a polygamist-God-the-Father... to Christian Scientist, who believe that Jesus did not die... as well as hundreds of other man made doctrines. The church of which I am a member is not one among these man made churches (so to be named or denominated as one of them), it is the church that Jesus built (Mat.16:18), loved and died for (Act.20:28; Eph.5:25), and prayed for (Joh.17:20,21). 

MAT 16:18 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. 

ACT 20:28 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. 

EPH 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

JOH 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 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.

I am a member of the church the Lord added me to (Act.2:47) and have never joined a church governed by man made creeds. 

ACT 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

When the church is spoken of in the New Testament it is always referred to as one body of believers (Eph.1:22,23; 2:15,16; 3:6; 4:4-6; 5:23). 

EPH 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

EPH 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

EPH 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 

EPH 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

EPH 5:23 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.

The New Testament preachers taught the same thing in every congregation (1Cor.4:17). 

1CO 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

This body of teaching is called "the faith" (Gal.1:23; Jude 3; Act.6:7; 13:8; 14:22; etc.). 

GAL 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 

JUD 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

ACT 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 

ACT 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 

ACT 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

This body of teaching, "the faith" is the "Gospel" (Rom.1:16), the "form of doctrine" (Rom.6:17), "sound doctrine" (Tit.2:1) and must not be changed or altered in any way (Gal.1:6-10; 2:14; 2Joh.9-11). 

ROM 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

ROM 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

TIT 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 

GAL 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

GAL 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 

2JO 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Jesus prayed that all believers would be one as the Godhead is one, by the teachings of the apostles (Jn.17:20,21 cited at beginning of letter). Paul demands "that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you" (1Cor.1:10). 

1CO 1:10 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.

Peter demands that "if any man speaks, let him speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (1Pet.4:11). 

1PE 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

When one obeys the Gospel as a penitent believer, the Lord adds him to His church with the expectation that he will continue to live by His precepts in the covenant made he made with God. (Rev.2:10). 

REV 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Jesus condemns the doctrines of men (Mark.7:7; Mat.15:13). 

MAR 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

MAT 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

The apostles condemned "false teachers (2Pet.2:1; 1Tim.1:18-20; Rom.16:17,18). 

2PE 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

1TI 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 

ROM 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

If denominationalism is acceptable there could no false teacher. There would be nothing wrong with the "infallibility of the pope", the denial that Jesus died, the doctrine that one cannot fall from grace, that Christ is a created being or that His blood is not efficacious. I have found few who, upon their real examination of denominationalism, will really subscribe to the belief that denominationalism is acceptable. The church to which I belong is not a denomination nor a part of a denomination. It is the glorious church of Jesus Christ (Ep.5:27). 

EPH 5:27 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.
 

The NEXT STUDY will address the assertion "that restricting to only five acts of worship is law-keeping, legalism, and not grace."