Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources

A. The word "denomination" refers to a fraction or part of a whole. The Lord's 
church is not a fraction or part of anything. Hence, the word "church" cannot be 
used in a denominational sense. 


B. The word translated "church" (ekklesia) means "called out." The church includes 
all who have been called out of the world by the gospel. (II Thess. 2:14)

1. The Lord's church includes all the saved, not a part of the saved. The Lord 
does the adding himself. Acts 2:41,47 (cf. Heb. 12:22,23) 

2. No one modern-day denomination can or will make the claim that all the saved 
are within it. 


A. Christ called it "my church" (Matt. 16:18)


B. Christ is the "head of the church" (Eph. 5:23)

C. Christ "loved the church" (Eph. 5:25)

A. The "body" (Eph. 1:22,23; Col. 1:18)

1. A body is not to be divided (I Cor. 12:25) (cf. Eph. 4:4)
2. There is only one "head"- therefore only one "body" (I Cor. 12:20) (cf. v.25) 


B. The "kingdom" (Matt. 3:2; Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9)

1. A "kingdom" must be united (Lk. 11:17)
2. There is only one "king" - therefore only one "kingdom" (Lk. 23:1-3; Jn. 18:37)
   

C. The "bride" (Rev. 22:17)

1. The saved are married to Christ (Rom. 7:4
)
2. There is only one "husband" - therefore only one "bride" (Eph. 5:23)
   

A. No denominational name (Acts 4:12) (cf. Rom. 16:16) 

B. No denominational doctrines or creeds (Matt. 15:9; I Cor. 4:6; Gal. 1:6-9)
C. No denominational forms of government (Phil. 1:1)
D. No denominational types of worship (Gal. 4:10,11) (cf. Jn. 8:24) 

E. No denominational (para-church) organizations (Matt. 15:13; Col. 3:17)