Over the years, Christian denominations have divided believers and skewed the true gospel message with the doctrines of man. I’ve seen many churches split and even more, followers of Christ fall by the wayside, due to the differences that denominational doctrines teach in contradiction to actual biblical scripture. Questioning the doctrine of any denomination will most assuredly end up with one being asked to leave for fear of causing a commotion within the church. There is a constant battle between people who believe denominational doctrines (the doctrines of man), and those who read and believe straight from the bible, without denominational perversion of the scriptures (its meanings and interpretations).
The denominational teachers could never trap Jesus and when they realized they could not, they began conspiring to get rid of him. This is the same tactic that denominational believers use today.
Luke 20:20, 26-27 – Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor…They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. 27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.
Matthew 22:34-35 – Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
Luke 10:25 – On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The Pharisees were constantly testing Jesus in order to catch him and trick him in his answers. The denominational beliefs of the Pharisees were prohibiting them from believing in Jesus, while the non-denominational crowds were astonished at his teachings.
Matthew 22:33-35 – When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
John 7:31-32 – Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
John 11:45-47 – Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.
As we can see, the non denominational crowds believed Jesus but not the denominational Pharisees. They only wished to arrest Jesus. We see this specifically stated later on in John 7.
John 7:45-49 – Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
The Pharisees and Sadducees (denominations) were constantly testing Jesus. They were trying to trick him due to their unbelief because their denominational beliefs were not aligning with Jesus’ teachings.
Matthew 22:15 – Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.
Luke 11:53-54 – When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.
Matthew 16:1 – The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
Mark 8:11 – The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.
John 8:1-6 – but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
Mark 12:13 – Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.
Mark 3:6 – Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Mark 3:2 – Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.
In the days of Jesus, the denominational followers called Jesus a false teacher and deceiver.
Matthew 27:63-64 – “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
John 7:12 – Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”
John 7:47 – You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted.
This is because he did not interpret the word of God through denominational doctrine. Instead, he received wisdom from the Holy Spirit which went against the denominational beliefs of the time. Jesus, who would not adhere to the popular denominational beliefs was labeled as a teacher from Satan. He was accused of being possessed or that he belonged to another denomination that they felt they could persecute.
Matthew 10:25 – Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!
Matthew 9:34 – But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Matthew 12:24 – But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
Mark 3:22 – And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
Luke 11:15 – But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.
John 8:48 – The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
John 8:52 – Then the Jewish leaders told him, “Now we really know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’
John 7:20 – “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
John 10:20 – Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
These are the same tactics that denominational believers use today . They try to discredit the true Holy Spirit believers of Christ Jesus, who do not subscribe to their denominational beliefs.
The denominational leader’s hate for Jesus was so great that they began to plot how to kill Jesus, since Jesus was speaking against their denominational beliefs and contradicting all of them.
Matthew 12:14 – But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Matthew 26:3-4 – Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
John 11:45-53 – Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Mark 14:1 – Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
Luke 22:2 – and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
Jesus tells us that he will give those of his followers, who refuse to follow denominational perversions, this same wisdom that cannot be contradicted or refuted by denominational Christians.
Luke 21:15 – for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
New American Standard Bible – for I will provide you eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute.
How does he accomplish this?
Luke 12:12 – for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
This is accomplished through the Holy Spirit, which is only given through Jesus’ teachings. Not through the manipulated teachings/doctrine of denominations.
Jesus speaks of denominational teachings as the traditions and commandments of man (the doctrine of man).
Mark 7:6-8 – And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
Matthew 15:8-9 – ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
9Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’
Berean Literal Bible – ‘This people honors Me with the lips, but their heart is kept far away from Me.
9And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.
Jesus quotes this from the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 29:13 – Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Upon hearing the teachings of Jesus, the Rabbis, who made up these doctrines and denominations, were confounded. Even today, denominational teachers remain confounded when they meet someone who follows the teachings of Jesus directly without any denominational perversion. A perversion which is based on human intelligence and not the wisdom from the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 29:14 – Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
Paul states this also:
1 Corinthians 1:19-25 – For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
These men are the ones that believe in their denominational teachings over the teachings of Jesus. Denominational teachings are based on human wisdom (intellect) and traditions, and not the wisdom from above (the Holy Spirit).
Job 12:17 – He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.
Paul states that we are not to pay any attention to these types of men.
Titus 1:10-16 – For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.
The ‘circumcision group” are referring to professed followers of Jesus, who still hold on to denominational beliefs like the Pharisees, over the teachings of the Apostles.
11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Paul explains the qualities of a true man of God:
Titus 1:9 – He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
We must hold firmly to the faithful words as it was taught by the apostles, not the denominational false apostles that came after.
Acts 20:29-31 – I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. By saying “when I leave”, Paul was speaking of his death.
Acts 20:36-38 – When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
So Paul is warning that false teachers will come in the form of denominations, and mislead the people after his death. This is exactly what has occured.
Where did Paul receive his doctrine?
Galatians 1:11-12 – I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Where did Jesus receive his doctrine?
John 12:49 – For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.
John 7:16-17 – Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
Jesus goes on to explain that anyone who tries to understand the scriptures through his own intellect, is seeking his own glory. But he who receives wisdom of the scriptures through the Holy Spirit, seeks the glory of God.
John 7:18 – Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
Jesus was not associated with any denomination whatsoever.
Mark 12:14 – “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”
Neither did Paul associate with any denomination.
Galatians 1:1 – This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
English Standard Version – Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Those who question denominational teachings end up as parihas of Christian society. This is why Jesus warned us of this persecution:
John 16:1-4 – “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,
Matthew 10:16-18,21-22 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:9-12 – Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.
Matthew 23:34 – Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
Luke 11:49 – Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’
John 15:18-19 – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Luke 6:22 – Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
Matthew 5:10-12 – Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
There is however, a persecuted remnant amongst the world searching for the truth.
2 Timothy 3:12 – In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Acts 14:22 – strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
2 Corinthians 4:9 – persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
This group of people belongs to no one, except to God. They don’t identify with any one denomination and they don’t adhere to denominational doctrines so that they can be accepted. Their ‘doctrine’ rests solely on the true teachings and words of Jesus, the Messiah.
The bible refers to teachers of denominational doctrines in the following way:
2 Corinthians 11:13 – For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
When the bible speaks of false apostles, it is referring to the denominational leaders of today. These would be leaders like John Calvin (Calvinist), John Knox (Presbyterian), Robert Brown (Congregationalist), Samuel Seadbury (Episcopalians), John Smyth (Baptist), Joseph Smith (Mormon), William Booth (Salvation Army), Jehovah’s Witness (Charles Russell) etc.
These are the people who have led the very elect astray through their false doctrines, causing division in the church body. As followers of Christ, we are meant to test their teachings like the church in Ephesus:
Revelations 2:2-3 – I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
The Bereans also tested whether Paul’s claims of being an Apostle were true by comparing everything he taught with the biblical scriptures. Paul refers to the Bereans as “noble” minded, not doubters. They are not doubting the word of God. Rather, they are examining whether the Apostle is teaching as per the word of God or not.
We must also constantly test our denominational beliefs against the word of God and the teachings of Jesus. Doing so will certainly prove that much of what we believe according to our denominations does not fully align with Jesus’ teachings.
Acts 17:11 – Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Acts 17:11 BSB – Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Acts 17:11 NLT – And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
Many translations refer to the Bereans as ‘open-minded’ because they carefully examined Paul’s teachings and compared it to the scriptures to see if Paul (and Silas) were teaching the truth. However, in today’s churches, if one were to constantly compare the church’s teachings to scripture, they would be referred to as ‘close-minded’ and ‘legalistic’. But the bible refers to these people as ‘open-minded’ and ‘noble’. Being ‘close-minded’ means to accept denominational teachings over Jesus’ teachings.
Acts 20:29-31 & 36-38 – 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears…36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
This scripture shows us Paul’s fear. He was afraid that once he died, false prophets would arise. They would twist and manipulate sound doctrine and teach it to others, leading them astray and causing division. It is the denominations and their leaders/founders, that have ultimately caused all the division we see in Christianity today.
Jude speaks of this also:
Jude 1:4-6, 11, 16, 18-19 – For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Meaning they manipulate the teachings of Jesus to suit themselves.
Cont’d Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—11Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion…16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
We can see that these false apostles shall create a doctrine to suit their own beliefs and desires.
Cont’d 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Once again, we see that these individuals twist, manipulate, compromise and pervert the grace of God. In so doing, they deny the teachings of Jesus and divide the church. Their doctrines are based on mere instincts and are devoid of the Holy Spirit.
The people that Jude is referring to are the false apostles and these are the leaders of the different denominations.
Luke 17:20-23 – 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them.
Each denomination is claiming that the Kingdom of God is within their sect, but we have been warned not to go.
Luke 21:8 – He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
Each denomination claims to come in the name of Jesus. They claim that the end time is near and to confess Jesus’ name, but our Lord warns us not to follow them.
Matthew 24:4-5, 10-11, 23-26 – Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many…10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people…23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
Every denomination claims that Jesus is the Messiah. They also all claim the Messiah can be found through their doctrine. However, through manipulating Jesus’ teachings, they are presenting a false Messiah through false apostles and prophets.
2 Corinthians 11:4 – For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
We are warned ahead of time, not to be deceived by them.
Colossians 2:8-9 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
Paul is stating not to follow human commandments. He is instructing us that all of God’s characteristics and form are in Jesus only.
We have become too preoccupied by people in our church who speak against denominational beliefs. We convince ourselves that they are deceivers. The truth is that the deception has already taken place through the denomination itself. We may actually be persecuting someone who is speaking the truth as per Jesus but is contradicting denominational beliefs. The Pharisees and other denominations called Jesus a deceiver because he spoke against their denominational beliefs.
Matthew 27:62-63 – The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
Jesus himself warned the disciples of this numerous times.
Mark 8:31 – He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
Matthew 16:21 – From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Luke 23:2 – And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
Matthew 20:19 – and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
The leaders at that time handed Jesus over to the Gentiles. They labelled Jesus as a false Messiah, false prophet and deceiver because he was speaking against their denominational beliefs. These denominational beliefs were the commandments and traditions of man, not God.
We must not trust preachers and teachers who have been ordained by denominations. They are merely teaching the wisdom of man (intellectual interpretation). Their beliefs are in a doctrine that has been formed using their own intellect or a denominational founder’s intellect, instead of wisdom from the Holy Spirit. Jesus called these denominational followers hypocrites.
Matthew 22:15, 16 & 18 – Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians…18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?
In the following verse, Jesus refers to these denominational founders and teachers. As we will see, any speech against denominational teachings or denominational leaders is polarizing and controversial.
John 10:1-21 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
We need to throw away these denominational teachings and declare them as the garbage they are, in order to receive the true Christ Jesus through his teachings, without the perversion of denominational concepts and teachings. Like Paul, who used to be part of a denomination, we must forsake all that we think we know in order to receive Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:4-14 – though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Jesus himself explained that adhering to denominational doctrines or the traditions of man, nullify the word of God.
Mark 7:13 – And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
English Standard Version – thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
King James Bible – Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
New American Standard Bible – thereby invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
Amplified Bible – so you nullify the [authority of the] word of God [acting as if it did not apply] because of your tradition which you have handed down [through the elders]. And you do many things such as that.”
The doctrines of man are merely traditions that have been handed down. They hold no Holy Spirit power, Through their false, compromised and manipulated interpretations, these traditions nullify or contradict the words and concepts in the Bible.
Paul states this also.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 – My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 – For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
Jesus warned the disciples of the denominational teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:6-12 – Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” 7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
8But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Luke 12:1 – Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Mark 8:15 – “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
John the Baptist also understood that denominational beliefs were wrong.
Matthew 3:7 – But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
People also spoke evil about John the Baptist:
Matthew 11:18 – For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
The bible specifically warns us of the dangers of believing in denominational teachings over the teachings of John the Baptist, Jesus and the Apostles.
Luke 7:30 – But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.
Even though denominational leaders consider themselves experts and scholars of the word of God, their interpretations interfere with true teachings. The experts in the law and denominational teachers are one in the same.
Luke 11:45 – One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
Jesus had this to say about such experts and scholars:
Luke 11:52 – 52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
Luke 11:46 – Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
This was the reason why Jesus was put up on the cross. It was because he contradicted and challenged all of their doctrinal denominational beliefs.
Mark 7:1-5 – The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
This occurs again in:
Mark 7:9 & 13 – And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Then Jesus specifically speaks against a doctrine of the Pharisees:
Mark 7:14-23 – Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
This happens again, except this time, the accusation is against Jesus himself.
Luke 11:37-53 – When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,
And again:
Matthew 15:1-20 – Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Jesus specifically states that our righteousness must exceed that of denominational teachings, or we will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:20 – For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Paul refers to his denominational beliefs as merely the traditions of his forefathers.
Galatians 1:14 – I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
He warns us not to follow these deceptive traditions and philosophies, human commands and teachings.
Colossians 2:8 & 20-23 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ…20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Ephesians 5:6 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Colossians 2:18 – Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.
The true deception is the denominational beliefs itself.
Galatians 1:6-9 – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
False apostles who claim to hear from God and have experienced angelic visitations but are contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, need to be declared as ‘accursed’. These men are teaching the doctrines of man.
Galatians 1:10-12 – Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Jesus spoke the truth when he stated that if we disagree with a denomination’s teachings, they will hand you over to their church elders and councils to be questioned, disciplined, shunned and expelled.
Mark 13: 5-6, 9-11, 21, 23 – Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many…9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit…21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
Paul speaks not of the wisdom of man, but the power of God, which is the Holy Spirit. He tells us not to trust in the wisdom of man.
1 Corinthians 2:4-6 – My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
When We Defend Our Denomination Against Others
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 – Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
Paul is speaking against the concept of denominations by stating we should not be following one man’s beliefs. Instead, we should be debating, discussing and studying the word with repentance to see what God’s word is actually saying, like the Bereans did.
Acts 17:11-12 – Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Unfortunately, even with Paul, the denominationally thinking (close-minded) Thessalonians persecuted Paul.
Acts 17:13 – But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up.
We must not rest our beliefs on the teachings of man. It must always be completely based on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. When we accept denominational teachings over the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, we become like the Pharisees. This is exactly what the Pharisees did. They constantly disagreed with Jesus, the Messiah. They didn’t believe him because he contradicted their denominational teachings, doctrine and beliefs.
2 John 7-11 – I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
Denominational leaders/founders have run ahead of the teachings of Jesus. We must not follow them to destruction. Jesus must be found through repentance and the reading of the word of God. Through this, we will receive the Holy Spirit, who will then teach us all things.
1 John 2:27 – And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you remain in Him.
Denominations are the spirit of the Anti Christ.
1 John 2:18-19, 24-27 – Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us…
It is clear to see that these Anti Christs were followers but then they fell away. Through the manipulation of doctrine to suit themselves, holding on to their Jewish denominational beliefs and making denominational doctrines using their own intellect, they went out from the true believers.
As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
But the true believers refuse to manipulate the word of God.
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
It is the Holy Spirit that teaches us doctrine, not other men.
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