Tradition or Truth? Name or New Creation?
📖 Key Text: 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God… rightly dividing the word of truth.”

🔰 INTRODUCTION

The Church today is crowded with names, labels, and movements—yet Scripture reveals one Body, one Head, and one Gospel for this present dispensation.

Dispensational truth exposes a spirit of division built on men and a spirit of unity built on Christ alone.
📖 “Now I beseech you, brethren… that there be no divisions among you.” — 1 Corinthians 1:10

🟡 1️⃣ SOURCE — WHERE EACH SPIRIT BEGINS
📖 1 Corinthians 3:3–4 | Ephesians 1:22–23

A. Sectarian Source — Denominations begin with men
B. Scriptural Source — The Body begins with Christ
C. Spiritual Source — Christ alone is Head
➡ One traces to founders; the other to the Head.

🟡 2️⃣ SEPARATION — WHAT EACH SPIRIT PRODUCES
📖 1 Corinthians 1:12–13 | Ephesians 4:3–4

A. Party Lines — “I am of Paul… Apollos”
B. People Labels — Names replace identity
C. Perfect Unity — One Body in Christ
➡ Denominations divide believers; truth unites believers.

🟡 3️⃣ STANDARD — WHAT EACH SPIRIT FOLLOWS
📖 Colossians 2:8 | 2 Timothy 3:16–17

A. Man-Made Doctrines — Creeds and catechisms
B. Mixed Authorities — Scripture plus tradition
C. God-Breathed Word — Scripture alone
➡ Tradition adds; truth abides.

🟡 4️⃣ SUPREMACY — WHO IS THE AUTHORITY
📖 Matthew 23:9 | Colossians 1:18

A. Elevated Pastors — Titles and hierarchy
B. Earthly Offices — Clergy dominance
C. Exalted Christ — Head of the Body
➡ Men are servants; Christ is Sovereign.

🟡 5️⃣ SYSTEM — WHAT IS PRIORITIZED
📖 Mark 7:7–9 | Romans 16:25–26

A. Rituals — Repeated ceremonies
B. Regulations — Works-based practices
C. Revelation — Mystery revealed to Paul
➡ Religion repeats; grace reveals.

🟡 6️⃣ SIGHT — WHERE THE FOCUS LIES
📖 Matthew 6:19 | Colossians 3:1–3

A. Earthly Blessings — Health, wealth, numbers
B. Visible Success — Buildings and budgets
C. Eternal Blessings — Spiritual riches in Christ
➡ One looks down; the other looks up.

🟡 7️⃣ SALVATION — HOW THE GOSPEL IS HANDLED
📖 Galatians 1:6–7 | 1 Corinthians 15:1–4

A. Mixed Message — Law plus grace
B. Modified Gospel — Works added
C. Pure Gospel — Finished work of Christ
➡ Any addition corrupts; grace completes.

🟡 8️⃣ SPIRIT — WHOSE APPROVAL IS SOUGHT
📖 Galatians 1:10 | 2 Corinthians 5:9

A. Worldly Approval — Popularity and acceptance
B. Religious Applause — Denominational loyalty
C. God’s Approval — Rightly dividing truth
➡ Please men or please God—choose one.

🟡 9️⃣ SUPREME IDENTITY — WHO WE REALLY ARE
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13 | Ephesians 2:15–16

A. Denominational Identity — Baptist, Methodist, etc.
B. Divided Identity — Many labels
C. New Creation Identity — One Body in Christ
➡ We are not denominations—we are the Body.

🏁 CONCLUSION

Denominations organize religion.
Christ forms one Body.
📖 “There is one body, and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
— Ephesians 4:4–5

📣 CALL TO ACTION

✔ Lay down denominational loyalty
✔ Pick up rightly divided truth
✔ Stand only on the Pauline Gospel
👉 Follow Christ, not a camp
👉 Believe Scripture, not systems
👉 Walk as a member of the Body of Christ
📖 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” — 1 Corinthians 12:27

🌟 FINAL THOUGHTS

1️⃣ 🏛️ Denominations begin with men
2️⃣ ✝️ The Body begins with Christ
3️⃣ 🧩 Tradition divides
4️⃣ 🔗 Truth unites
5️⃣ 📜 Rituals repeat
6️⃣ 🔓 Grace reveals
7️⃣ 👥 Men are servants
8️⃣ 👑 Christ is Head
9️⃣ 🧬 We are ONE Body