ERVIN WATERS

There are seven unities manifested in this scripture. "There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in ye all." All teach there is one God except the heathen with his polytheism. All admit that there is one Lord (Christ) and one Holy Spirit. And yet the oneness of the body is emphasized equally with these as outlined in this scripture.

Your consideration of other passages pertaining to the one body is now invited. Rom. 12:4-5, "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ." I Cor. 12:12, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body, so also is Christ." Eph. 2:16, "That he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Col. 3:16, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body."

What is that "one body," which is so frequently called to our attention? Col. 1:18, "And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church." Eph. 1:22-23, "And gave him (Christ) to be head over all things to the church, which is his body." Col. 1:24. "For his body’s sake, which is the church." From these scriptures it may be readily understood that the words, "body" and "church," are used synonymously, and, hence, may be substituted for each other or interchanged without doing an injustice to these related passages. "There is one church (body)." Eph. 4:4. "Let the peace of’ God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one church (body)" (Col. 3:16).

Jesus established but one church (Mutt. 16:18). Our Lord shed his blood to purchase but one church (Acts 20:28). He is at present the head of but one church (Eph. 1:22). "And gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body." He is the head of the body (Col. 1:18). How many physical bodies does Christ, or any man, possess? Only one. It is contrary to nature, and would he an monstrosity, for a being to have more than one body branching out from one head. The fanciful imaginations of some men are amazing. His spirit dwells in but one body which is the church. If there is more than one church, Christ has more than one body, but that is contrary to Bible teaching and human reason. Only a rank, blatant infidel would dare the statements thus made.

With apology in the judgment are we going to make for the variety of different churches extant in this land? Somebody is responsible for their existence. I ask you, as a dying man to dying men and women, did the Lord organize about 200 different churches in this land? No. Jesus declares in Jno. 10:16, "There shall be one fold, and one shepherd." Well, who organized them? I believe I can plead, "Not guilty."

It is hard for people to understand that the church about which we speak is not a denomination. I don’t want to be, and am not, a member of any denomination, because God knows nothing about such. When Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18), was he speaking of a denomination? If that is your conception and it was a denomination, which one was it? None will name it and call it a denomination. There are denominations existing. Yes. But they do not have a divine right to exist. Matt. 15:13, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." God did not plant denominationalism and sectarianism, and they, with all their advocates, will be rooted up in the judgment day.

The church is in the world, but it is not of the world. "Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world" (Jno. 15:19). The word, "church," is from the Greek word "ekklesia" (Ek-out of-Kaleo-to call). Therefore, the church is a "called out" body of people. In the New Testament, it means that group of people which the Lord hath called out of the world, and separated unto himself (2 Cor. 6:17), and which is under the authority of Christ. That church is composed of the "peculiar people," "royal priesthood," and the "holy nation" (I Pet. 2:9). It is called a "tabernacle" (Heb. 8:1-2); a "husbandry" and "building" (I Car. 3:8); a "temple" (I Cor. 3:1.6); a "habitation of God" (Eph. 2:22).

When you obey the gospel, you are in the Church of Christ, spoken of in Rom. 16:16. Then, why join anything? Herein is our difficulty. It is the joining that has brought the trouble. We are "added to the church" (Acts 2:47). The Church of Christ is big enough, broad enough, comprehensive enough, to embrace every child of God on earth. "He is the Savior of the Body (church)" (Eph. 5:23). Christ has not promised to save the denominations. Dear friend, if you are not a member of that one body, you are without the promise of salvation. Why not make your salvation sure? Notice this unanswerable argument.

There is but one body (I Cor. 12:20),

But the church is the body (Eph. 1:22, 23),

Therefore, there is but one church.

Again,

The early disciples were members of the same body (Eph. 3:16);

The body is the Church (Cal. 1:18),

Therefore, the early Christians were members of the same church.

Now then, as all the early disciples were members of the same church, teaching and believing the same doctrine, being of the same mind and of the same judgment (I Cor. 1:10; Phil. 1:27; 2:2), they produced that peace and union for which Christ prayed. We can harmonize on the same principles, labor in the same cause, and enjoy the same results. No Opposition was sufficiently strong to stand before the united church of the early ages. The combined opposition of the Jews and Romans melted before it as the snow dissolves before the rays of the morning sun. It is to just such a platform that you are now invited. Before our triumphant army, error and infidelity with all their hosts will bow their beads in shame and disappear forever. May God speed the day when such hopes may be realized. God help us all to be one in Christ, in his body, in his church.