Jesus Gives New Life, Not a Denomination 10-9-24
This is just one of the many quotes that were sent for me from which to create a message. Jesus didn’t call you to be catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, or any other denomination. He called you to be born-again!
Some years ago, I asked one of the youth what would he tell someone if they asked about his belief. The person said he would tell them he belonged to “Such and Such” church. I told him in this sense the church was a denomination, and the proper thing to say was “Iam born-again, and a member of “Such and Such” church. It is improper to use a denominational church as one’s belief. The reason is denomination means a particular group with different beliefs.
From the internet -Related: Denominationalism "tendency to divide into sects or denominations, inclination to emphasize distinguishing characteristics as opposed to general principles" (1845).
Early splits [division] - synopsis
The early church, which spans from the start of Jesus' ministry, in A.D. 27, to A.D. 325, was divided primarily based on geography. Worship styles and interpretations of Jesus' teachings varied based on regional cultures and customs, according to Bruce Gordon, a professor of ecclesiastical history at Yale Divinity School.
But there were also major breaks, or schisms, over Christian theology during this time. One of the most notable early schisms, the Arian controversy in the early fourth century, divided the church on Jesus' relationship with God. Arius, a priest from Alexandria, Egypt, claimed that because Jesus was "begotten," or brought about by God, he was a lesser divinity than God. But Athanasius, an Alexandrian theologian, claimed that Jesus was God incarnate.
Denominations explode- synopsis
The Reformation — instigated by a number of events, most notably Martin Luther's 95 Theses — emphasized a personal faith. This movement was in reaction to the fact that interpretations of the Bible, grace (spontaneously given love and mercy from God), the absolution of sins and entry into heaven were all mediated through priests in Catholicism. Luther and his followers claimed that the Bible, not a church hierarchy, was the ultimate authority over all people, including priests and the pope, and that several ecclesiastical practices, such as granting indulgences (paying the church money to be absolved of sins), were corrupt.
The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is a foundational belief in Christian theology, representing the moment when the divine became human for the purpose of redemption, revelation, and example123. It signifies that God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, who was truly God and truly man2.
Now that some history is known, let’s get back to “Jesus Gives New Life, Not a Denomination.”
Since denomination can mean split or divide, is Christ divided? For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
Even though there are many doctrinal beliefs, the foundation of true Christianity (being born-again) should be about Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14).
If the LOVE of God/Christ is in us, it should overrule any doctrinal disbeliefs.
Remember this- Catholics, Baptist, Methodist, or any other denomination will get anyone into heaven. You must be born-again!
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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