In 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34, King Josiah discovered the book of the law. He gathered the people together and "Read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Jehovah" (2 Chronicles 34:30). The King made a promise to keep all of God's commandments. The law of the Lord was lost but now found in the temple.
A much needed lesson today is for men to realize that the law of God can be REDISCOVERED but not REVISED! God's laws have long been settled (Psalm 119:89). "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). "...The scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Thus, man does not have the God-given liberty to tamper with them (Revelation 22:18-19).
The law of God is currently lost in many churches of Christ. How?
1) Mechanical instruments of music are allowed in the worship of the living God. IT IS NOT AUTHORIZED in worship taught in the New Testament (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). You will note that the action commanded is "SINGING". Not only is it specified as singing, but the things accomplished by the singing are named. The instrument can never "TEACH," "ADMONISH," or "SPEAK". In our worship we should strive to please God, not ourselves. And that means worshipping as He directs.
2) By accepting Denominational baptism. It is impossible for one to hear another gospel; the words of God mingled with the doctrines of men, and of it obtain the one faith (Ephesians 4:5). Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), Paul was commanded to wash away his sins by submitting to baptism (Acts 22:16), that gets one into Christ (Galatians 3:27), that gets one into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), the one church (Ephesians 4:4), where we are reconciled back to God (Ephesians 2:16), where Christ is the head and the Savior (Ephesians 5:23). "If one is taught error on a dozen matters, and yet that religious group baptizes for the remission of sins, is the person, 'added to the Lord's church' at the same time he takes up membership in the particular denomination he's joining?” Related to this is the fact that in the preaching of the gospel, things of the kingdom are to be proclaimed (Acts 8:12). But, if one is taught a dozen errors regarding the kingdom, is his baptism somehow still proper in the sight of God? I THINK NOT! You cannot be taught incorrectly and baptized correctly. Nor can you do something for the wrong reason and get the right results.
3) Saying denominations have New Testament Christians within their ranks and should be fellowshipped. First division has always been condemned by God. The very word DENOMINATION means a named or designated division. But this is in direct conflict with Jesus' prayer (John 17:22). Unity was God's aim and His desire. Likewise, denominationalism is in direct conflict with Paul's statement to the church of Christ in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10). Here is a passage that says denominations are not even to exist. The Bible clearly reveals that division is condemned by the Judge of this universe.
False doctrine is also condemned by God (Romans 16:17-18). John also spoke the words of God when he warned us that, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11). Division is condemned, false doctrine is condemned, those that teach these false doctrines are to be rejected (Titus 3:10-11) and not fellow-shipped (Ephesians 5:11). So where does this leave the "Denominations'"? I think the answer is plain to all.
The churches which practice and believe these things and many other far off ideas have lost the "LAW"!