When people hear me say, “Jesus has only one church” it must sound very narrow-minded. I understand their feelings and take no offense to their criticism because it’s likely that they haven’t investigated the Bible. My responsibility as a preacher is to explain that the “body” and the “church” are one and the same.
- “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18).
- “…and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23).
- “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4) and “there is one God” (4:6). In view of this information, how can I believe otherwise?
- “Reconcile both unto God in one body” (Eph. 2:16). If I love the word of God, I have no choice except to believe.
- “Baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). If I respect God’s word, I am not at liberty to believe otherwise.
- “Yet but one body” (1 Cor. 12:20). This expression is saying that there is ONE and ONLY ONE body. I have no choice but to accept this truth.
The body is the church. There is one body, thus I am forced to conclude there is one, and only one, church. Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). He never promised to do more. Investigate and find this “one true church” and become a part of it by your obedience to the gospel.