1) Our starting point is going to center around the word “churches” in Romans 16:16.
a) In Mt. 16:18 Jesus said He would built His “church” (singular) instead of plural (churches).
b) Why would Jesus say “church” in Mt. 16:18, but one of His apostles say “churches” in Rom. 16:16?
2) Some would have us believe that that “churches” (plural) refers to all the various denominations.
3) If this explanation is true, then Romans16:16 means, “All the denominations of Christ greet you.”
4) This explanation is perplexing because there were no denominations in the first century.
5) The various groups in our county and elsewhere are not anywhere close to 2,000 years old.
a) In more than 35 places we find the word “churches” (plural) being used in the New Testament.
b) Luke (Acts 15:41) says Paul did some traveling and tried to “strengthen churches.”
c) Were these “churches” various denominations or something else?
d) In Acts 16:5 we have a definite article – READ Acts 16:5.
6) The churches (plural) were “strengthened.”
7) This fact is supplemented by an additional piece of information: They were strengthened in THE FAITH.
8) When we study the word “church” from the perspective of it being plural, we find other things.
a) 1 Cor. 7:17 – READ
b) Paul said he “ordained” some things.
9) Paul “ordained” certain practices.
a) This means Paul gave orders or commands to be followed.
b) Notice how this idea is further expressed two verses later in verse 19 – READ
10) The “ordained” things and the “commands” are other ways of describing “the faith” in Acts 16:5.
11) 1 Cor. 11:16 – READ
12) Custom is one more way of saying the congregations of Christ’s church were following some type of pattern.
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14) The modern concept of denominationalism and varying beliefs is not what we find in the Scriptures.
15) 1 Cor. 14:34 – READ
16) If there were no other verse in the Bible about women preachers, this passage would be enough.
17) There was no divinely authorized “custom” for the matter described in 1 Cor. 11 and such was also true here.
18) Two chapter later (1 Cor. 16) we find the word “churches” being used once again.
19) Paul said he gave “order to the churches of Galatia.”
LET’S SEE WHAT WE FIND IN GALATIANS 1.
1) Gal. 1:22 – READ
2) Notice the connection between the word “churches” and “in Christ.”
a) If a group of people are going to part of the “churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16), will they also not be IN CHRIST?
b) How can we be “of Christ” (in fellowship with Him) if we are not first “in Christ?”
c) Gal. 3:27 – baptized into Him.
3) We cannot get into the Lord or be part of His church unless we are properly baptized.
4) One of the unique things about Jesus’ church is found in 1 Thess. 2.
a) In 1 Thess. 2:14 Paul again referred to the churches (congregations) in Judea being “in Christ.
b) In this verse Paul also used the word “imitators.”
5) A religious group might say, “OK – we will do several of the things described in the New Testament.”
6) This is great, but this does not go far enough – we need to “imitate” the one church built by Christ.
7) We try to imitate in every way the plan God has given for the New Testament church and Christian living.
