​E. Russell King
Very early in the history of Christianity (within three decades of its establishment), even while God was still confirming the word spoken by His apostles (Hebrews 2:4), there were those who, for various reasons, were turning away from the faith of Christ. Paul spoke of these apostates as “… not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19 ESV).
Paul identified the “body” of which he spoke as the “church” of which Christ is the head (1:18). By referring to the church as a “body,” we are to understand that the church of Christ is a spiritual organism, not a building, not an organization, not a denomination. It is a single, unified organism “knit together through its joints and ligaments with a growth that is from God.” Christ “is the head of the body, the church,” (Colossians 1:1 and every saved person is, by a divine action of God, set in the body (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:18; Acts 2:47). Paul, after likening the spiritual body of Christ unto a physical body, concluded, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
For all who follow the teaching of the New Testament, the only possible conclusion is that the church is not denominational in nature or structure. She is described as a completely unified entity with inseparable, interdependent, functional parts (members), each having assigned functional roles – all under the headship of Jesus Christ. God has, Paul writes, “… put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23 NKJV).
The use of the word “churches” in the New Testament signified “congregations’ (e.g. Galatians 1:2), divided only by geographical locations, not by doctrinal differences or organizational structure. All of these congregations were attached to Christ and to one another (often referred to as sister congregations) in spirit, in doctrine, and in purpose. Thus they constituted the one body on the earth and in heaven (cf. Hebrews 12:22-24).
Denominations do not exist due to geographical locations. They exist due to doctrinal differences and become distinct structural entities with fixed boundaries. For example, denomination (church) “A” holds to some distinct doctrine, which is bounded by an organizational structure that holds together all who subscribe to that distinct doctrine. Denomination (church) “B” holds to a different distinct doctrine that is bounded by its own organizational structure. Each is identified by distinct denominational names. There is no pattern or authority in the New Testament for such an arrangement.
Therefore, all who follow strictly the teaching of the New Testament strive to maintain the “unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3) that forms and characterizes the Lord’s church. They guardedly thwart any movement toward doctrinal differences or organizational structures while suppressing the rise of any divisive spirit from within. Such will certainly be the case when every individual member of the body of Christ is holding fast to the Head. When such is the case, it is impossible for there to be anything but unity in doctrine and in spirit both inter-congregationally and intra-congregationally.

​Hear the Gospel
Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). The Lord is inviting you into His kingdom. He also said, “I am the good shepherd,” and He is the “door of the sheep” (Jn. 10:7, 11). He invites the lost into the fold of safety, for danger is outside. For the lost, Jesus is the good shepherd that leaves the “ninety and nine” and looks for the “sheep that is lost,” for “the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Mt. 18:11-14). Jesus’ sheep hear His voice and follow Him (Jn. 10:27-28) for eternal life. How do the sheep hear the voice of Jesus? We are “called by the gospel” (2 Thess. 2:14), which is “power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). It is by the word of God that faith is produced in the hearts of the lost (Rom. 10:17). Have you heard the gospel?
Believe
As the gospel story is read (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), Jesus is shown to be the Son of God (Jn. 20:27-31). Our faith rests in Him. We must believe that He is the Son of God, sacrificed for our sins (Mt. 16:13-16; Jn. 8:24). Do you believe?
Repent of Sins
All of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and have died spiritually because of sin (Rom. 6:23). We must face our sins and repent. Repentance is a change of mind, followed by a change of life, as illustrated in Matthew 21:28-31. The son “repented” (changed his mind) and “went” (changed his life). This repentance is required before one can be saved (Lk. 13:3-5; Acts 2:36-38). Have you repented?
Confess the Name of Jesus
Jesus warned that we must have the courage of our faith to openly confess Him with the mouth, an oral confession (Rom. 10:10). If we do not have this courage, Jesus will not confess our name as brethren (Mt. 10:32-33). People in the New Testament times confessed Jesus’ name (Acts 4:10-12; 8:37). Have you confessed that Jesus is the Son of God?
Be Baptized
Yes, baptism is a Bible doctrine, commanded by Jesus (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Lk. 24:48). Baptism is not administered as a “rite of the church,” as a work of human righteousness or merit, but as an act of faith (Mk. 16:16; Jas. 2:17, 18, 20, 24). Regardless of the animosity toward baptism in the denominational world, and in spite of their denial of its place in salvation, it is administered by the authority of Jesus for the remission of sin.
Baptism is a burial (Rom. 6:1-7; Col. 2:12) in water (Jn. 3:1-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:38). It is for (unto, toward) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and is viewed in scripture as involved in “washing away sins” (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). It is understood by Bible students that forgiveness is not in the water, but in the blood of Christ (Mt. 26:26-28; Rom. 6:1-7). However, Jesus has placed the opportunity of reaching that blood in the act of baptism. It is at baptism that the sinner meets the blood of Christ, that the old man of sin dies, and the new birth takes place (Rom. 6:1-7; Jn. 3:1-5).
Baptism is a re-enactment of the sinner for what Jesus did for him (death, burial and resurrection, (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The sinner obeys, in baptism, a “form of the gospel” (Rom. 6:16-18) in that he becomes dead to sin as he repents, is buried in baptism, and arises to a new life in Christ (Rom. 6:1-7). There is no other act of obedience in the New Testament that so fittingly portrays the gospel in our life as baptism. It is an act of faithful obedience (Rom. 1:5; Jn. 6:28-29; 8:39), not an act of merit or of human righteousness (Tit. 3:5). At the time of baptism, Jesus forgives our sins by the power of the blood and adds us to His church (Acts 2:38, 47). Have you been baptized?
Now That I’m A Christian
Disciples of Jesus wear no denominational names or support denominational doctrines. You are not Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc. No such names or denominations existed when Jesus built His church, and you now belong to that church (Mt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). The name of “Christian” is given for you to wear, and you glorify God in that name (Acts 11:26; 4:12; 1 Pet. 4:14-15).
As a Christian, you will meet with other Christians for worship and service (Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:42; 9:26-28; Eph. 4:11-16).
Christians begin as “babes” in Christ, having been born again (Jn. 3:1-5; Rom. 6:1-7; 1 Pet. 1:22-23; 1 Pet. 2:1-2). Each grows toward being a mature Christian (Eph. 4:11-15). They no longer live in sinful lifestyles as in the past (Col. 3:1-17; Gal. 5:19-24). A Christian grows by adding the attributes of grace (2 Pet. 1:2-11). Are you a Christian?