Is there a right or wrong denomination or church?

Let’s assume that you are referring to Christian denominations. It still has to make a difference even if we assume that each “Christian” denomination understands the basic concept of salvation, which many do not.

Their concept of salvation must follow the example of salvation by grace through faith. It cannot promote access to heaven through “good works”. Salvation should lead to good works, not result from good works.

· Ephesians 2:8-10 HCSB For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-- (9) not from works, so that no one can boast. (10) For we are His creation--created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Their doctrine must be based on the Gospel as presented by the Messiah and His apostles and prophets in the revealed Word of God – not some uninspired human.

· Colossians 2:8 HCSB Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.

Their doctrine must neither add to nor detract from the Holy Scriptures.

· Matthew 15:3 HCSB He answered them, "And why do you break God's commandment because of your tradition?

· Revelation 22:18-19 HCSB (18) I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. (19) And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.

For example, there are many “culturally Christian” churches that either implicitly or explicitly deny the use of the Old Covenant, effectively eliminating two-thirds of the divinely inspired Word of God.

· Matthew 5:17-19 HCSB "Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (18) For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. (19) Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

· Luke 24:27 HCSB Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

· 2 Timothy 3:16-17 HCSB All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Second, even if the denomination gets the doctrine of salvation right, there is so much more than just “making it by the skin of your teeth!” If Christ died in order to pay the penalty of my sins; if He would rather go through death than be separated from me in eternity, then I owe Him all my allegiance. I owe Him such a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to repay it. I want to live in such a way as to please Him in everything I do. I need to move from the “milk” (i.e. the simple Gospel) and onto the “meat” (the more advanced life principles that govern our walk with Christ). In order to do that, I need to determine which church’s teachings are more closely linked to the Scriptures and tie myself to that church.

· Colossians 2:6-7 HCSB Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

· Hebrews 5:12-14 HCSB For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God's revelation. You need milk, not solid food. (13) Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. (14) But solid food is for the mature--for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

Notice that I used the word church and not denomination. There is no biblical teaching for the existence of denominations. In fact, there is some biblical teaching that could be taken as a condemnation of “denominationalism.”

· 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 HCSB (10) Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. (11) For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe's household, that there are quarrels among you. (12) What I am saying is this: each of you says, "I'm with Paul," or "I'm with Apollos," or "I'm with Cephas," or "I'm with Christ." (13) Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul's name?