I remember as a kid walking out of the eye doctor’s office with my first pair of glasses. The clarity of what I saw that day is still vivid in my memory. I remember saying, “Look! The trees have leaves!” Of course, as a kid, I knew that trees have leaves, but it had been years since I had been able to discern individual leaves on a tree from a distance. I had become so accustomed to a vision that was not clear at all that I did not even realize what I was missing.
While the terminology has been different, I have heard individuals coming out of denominationalism say something very similar to the above. The clarity of the simple truth of the gospel was now so vivid to them that new converts to Christ have said things like, “I never realized God’s truth was so clear.” “I had been in denominationalism so long that I had grown completely accustomed to hearing the doctrines of men, without even knowing it. I had no idea what I was missing!” Consider some things the Bible makes so clear.
The clarity of what the Bible says about the essentiality of baptism is so vivid. The Bible says that one must be baptized in order to be saved (Mark 16:16), obtain the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), have sins washed away (Acts 22:16), and enter into Christ (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3) and His kingdom (John 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:13). Denominational doctrines blur this truth, but God makes it so very clear (like leaves on a tree).
The clarity of what the Bible says about the ineffectiveness of faith alone to save is so vivid. The Bible says that “faith without works is dead,” for “a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:14-26). A saving faith is an obedient faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26; John 3:36; Heb. 3:18-19). Denominational doctrines blur this truth, but God makes it so very clear (like leaves on a tree).
The clarity of what the Bible says about the singularity of the church is so vivid. The Bible says that Jesus built His [one] church (Matt. 16:18), purchased His [one] church (Acts 20:28) and is the [one] head of His [one] church (Eph. 5:23). The Bible says that there is “one” church (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23) and that it teaches the “one faith” (Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; 1 Pet. 4:11). Denominational doctrines blur this truth, but God makes it so very clear (like leaves on a tree).
The list of examples could go on and on. The very existence of denominations makes the truth of God very blurry to those who are caught up in their manmade doctrines. God’s plan of salvation is crystal clear. God’s pattern for worship is crystal clear. God’s organization for His church is crystal clear. There are not multiple ways to do any of these things. God’s one way is clear when you put on His glasses to see it His way.