2. We are charged to test the spirits, 1 Jn. 4:1  Agree or disagree with truth, 1 Jn. 4:6  Reject error, Gal. 1:8, 9  Expose false teachers & teaching, Rom. 16:17, 18  Destroy the error, 2 Cor. 10:3-5

3. Denominations are fundamentally corrupt, regardless of intentions, Mt. 7:21-23; 15:7-9  Believe, enthusiastic, devoted  Founded & Governed by men  Far from God

5. Shortly after the 1 st century Men fell away from the gospel, 2 Thes. 2:3  Distinguished bishops from elders, Titus 1:5-7  Bishop over multiple churches, Acts 20:28  Head bishop (pope)  Dominated western world for centuries

6. Men protested Roman Catholicism  Martin Luther – Lutherans, 1500s  John Calvin – Presbyterians, 1500s  John Smyth – Baptists, 1600s  John Wesley – Methodists, 1700s

7. No denomination can trace its roots to the Bible  Founded by the wrong person, Mt. 16:18  Established at the wrong time, Acts 2:47  Began at the wrong place, Isa. 2:3; Acts 1:4

8. Non-biblical laws & law-making bodies Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22, 23  Lutheran ∙Small Catechism ∙Large Catechism ∙LCMS Convention

9. Non-biblical laws & law-making bodies Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22, 23  Methodist ∙Methodist Book of Discipline ∙General Conference

10. Non-biblical laws & law-making bodies Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22, 23  Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention) ∙Creed: Baptist Faith & Message ∙National Convention

11. Non-biblical laws & law-making bodies Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22, 23  Latter-Day Saints ∙Book of Mormon ∙Doctrine & Covenants ∙Pearl of Great Price ∙First presidency, council of 12 apostles

12. Unbiblical names, 1 Pt. 4:11  No denominational names in the NT ∙Methodist ∙Presbyterian ∙Mormon ∙Lutheran ∙Baptist

13. Unbiblical names, 1 Pt. 4:11  Biblical names, descriptions of individuals ∙Saints, Phil. 1:1 ∙Brethren, Phil. 3:1 ∙Disciples, Acts 6:1 ∙Christians, Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pt. 4:16

14. Unbiblical names, 1 Pt. 4:11  Biblical names, descriptions of churches ∙Church, 1 Thes. 1:1 ∙House / Church of God, 1 Tim. 3:15 ∙Body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:27 ∙Church of Christ, Rom. 16:16

15. False plan of salvation  Saved or Lost: Calvinists  Baptized = Saved, Believe later: Catholic  Belief = Saved, Baptized later: Baptist  Belief + Baptism = Salvation, Mark 16:16

16. We are charged to test the spirits, 1 Jn. 4:1  Agree or disagree with truth, 1 Jn. 4:6  Reject error, Gal. 1:8, 9  Expose false teachers & teaching, Rom. 16:17, 18  Destroy the error, 2 Cor. 10:3-5

17. Denominations are fundamentally corrupt, regardless of intentions, Mt. 7:21-23; 15:7-9  Believe, enthusiastic, devoted  Founded & Governed by men  Far from God