I appreciate your comments and the fact that you have taken the time to state your feelings. We all need to respect one another’s feelings, and I feel you have respected mine, so thank you.

I have called this series of articles, “Misconceptions about the church” because so much of man’s thinking is based on a misunderstanding of the unity that God wants and that Christ prayed for. (See John 17). If we claim to believe the bible at all, then we must agree that divisions are wrong and contrary to God’s will. 1 Cor 1:10 says explicitly, “Now I exhort you brethren, by the name of Jesus Christ (this is by the very authority of Jesus Himself!) that you all AGREE, and there be NO DIVISIONS among you, but you be made complete in the SAME mind and in the SAME judgment.” Please consider those words.. It does not get any plainer than that. Jesus Christ want us to united, NOT divided into denominations!

Please consider this.. “Now I mean this, that each of you is saying; I am of Paul, and I am of Apollos, and I am of Cephas, and I am of Christ. Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” V’s 12-13. What’s the difference between saying; I am of Paul, and I am of Apollos, and I am of Cephas; and saying, I am of Luther, and I am of Wesley, or I am of a Baptist faith, and I am of a Methodist faith? Do you see the clear point? ALL divisions are WRONG!

I truly do desire us all to come to “the same mind and the same judgment” When you say that denominations are simply gatherings of people who interpret PARTS of faith and practice similarly; you are exactly right. But that is exactly the problem! God doesn’t authorize us to only believe PARTS of His word alike. And He doesn’t allow us to only practice PART of His commands the same. He commands that we all agree in everything!

The doctrines of the bible are NOT the product of human interpretation. The doctrines of the bible are the very words of God. The problem is that man has always changed the doctrines of the bible because God’s way didn’t suit him. “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God!” 2 Peter 1:20-21. Men have always thought they had a better way. But Jesus said, “In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrine, the commandments of men.” Mathew 15:9. Until we do exactly as God has specified, our beliefs, and our practices, and our worship is all vain and worthless!

The truth about the “church fathers” is that while they did indeed make many defenses of the Christian faith in general, they have always been changing the practices that God has set forth in His bible. Just one for instance.. As early as the year 150 AD, Justin Martyr wrote that the practice of the congregations was to mix water and wine, to use during the Lord’s Supper. That is a corruption of what Jesus had commanded to be used as a symbol of His blood. Jesus took the cup containing the “fruit of the vine” and said, “Drink from it, all of you, this cup is the new covenant in My blood.” Mathew 26:27-28. The fruit of the vine is likened to His blood, not fruit of the vine mixed with water! “Truly I say to you, I shall never drink of the fruit of the vine, until I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” The simple truth is that ‘fruit of the vine” is SPECIFIED by Jesus Himself! Anything other than that is a CHANGE and a CORRUPTION of God’s word.

I say all these things for the sole purpose of allowing us all to see clearly what God’s word says. We need to plead with everyone, please adhere to the word of God! Pay no attention at all to man’s word, because “It is not within man who walketh, to direct his own steps.” Jeremiah 10:23

Thank you so much for your comments and for your desire to know God’s word and His will. May God bless you and your family.

Thanks Michael for your comments. What an honor, I agree. To be the very first ones to ever have been given the gospel! I don’t think many people realize what a great thing the gospel of Jesus Christ actually is. But do you know what? WE have been given the same honor of having the gospel in our possession! We have the word of God, and we’ve been given not only that honor, but we’ve been given the responsibility, to spread that word! Do we realize what we have in our hands? Something so powerful that it can convert the soul! What a responsibility. What an honor! “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to all those who believe.” Romans 1;16. Praise God for our blessings. Thanks again and may our God bless you and your family as you study His word.

Imagine the honor that this bestowed upon them. Being given the gospel of the LORD and being given the permission to preach it. As you mentioned, I do not think that any person in History has been and ever will be granted such an honor.