INTRODUCTION: Paul pleads “to keep…” (Eph. 4:1, 3). Seven things are mentioned in connection with this plea. We are examining the one body.
BODY:
First, let us see what the word ONE means: 4:4-6.
1) One is single in number. Check any dictionary!
2) Jesus said to the rich young ruler: “one thing…” (Mark 10:21)
3) Judas Iscariot was called “one of the 12” (Mark 14:10)
4) One of two was taken and the other left (Luke 17:34-36)
Second, let us see what the “body” is:
Body (Greek, “soma”) means “the body” (as a sound whole, Strong’s, p. 134);
“The church which is His body” 1:22-23; Col. 1:18
“Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular” 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30.
The body about which Paul speaks is the body of Christ, the church.
Third, let us now observe that there is only one body or church:
We have seen that one means only one when used with God, the Lord, and Holy Spirit, the body: Eph .4:4-6
We have seen the body is the church – Eph. 1:22-23.
We, therefore, conclude that there is only one church, since the body is the church.
Let’s emphasize this by other passages: Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13, 20; Eph. 2:16; 4:12; Col. 3:15. Note the body is singular! The not a. See also 1 Cor. 12:15-16, 18-19, 22-25, 27.
Other passages emphasize but one church: “My church” (Matt. 16:18); “the church” (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:4; 15:9). Again, we see the one church idea in the parallel between Christ and His church and husband and wife: Eph. 5:23-33; 2 Cor. 11:2.
Fourth, the idea of one runs throughout the Bible:
1) One fire – Nadab and Abihu – Lev. 10:1-3 – Only one acceptable!
2) One water – Naaman – 2 Kings 5 – Only one acceptable!
3) One God – Elijah and Baal – 1 Kings 18:36-39 – Only one!
4) One God – Athenians – Acts 17 – Only one acceptable!
5) One God – Daniel – Daniel 6 – Only one acceptable!
6) One God – Solomon – 1 Kings 11 – Only one acceptable!
7) One God and Savior – Hosea 13:4 – Only one acceptable!
Other descriptions of the body emphasize the oneness of the body or the church. Again, let us remember that the body is the church.
Paul called the body (church) the “house of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15). Note: House (singular), not “houses” (plural)
There is no exception to the foregoing statements about the “one body,” the one church.
“Churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16) refers to a number of identical churches in various localities, not to different churches teaching different things. See also verses 17-18.
Being doctrinally one is imperative: 1 Cor. 1:10; John 17.
Fifth, some object to the one church idea:
1) It is “narrow-minded”
- What about one God, one fire and one water?
- Some may think that God’s way is too narrow.
- It is right, for it is God’s way, narrow or not.
- Some agree with one church idea, however, it is universal, made up of all denominations:
- a) The universal church idea promotes division, which Christ condemns: 1 Cor. 1:13; see Jesus’ prayer – John 17
- b) The universal church idea includes a number of plans for salvation. Christ proclaims only one: John 10:1; 14:6; Eph. 4:5
- c) 1 Cor. 12 proves false the theory of the all-inclusive church idea.
2) Some say, “If there is only one church, what happens to all in denominations, and not in the one church?”
- Jesus said, “Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13).
- Being religious is not enough, for many such persons will be lost: Matt. 7:21-23.
3) “But many in denominations are honest and sincere.”
- Prov. 14:12; 16:25
- Paul was most sincere, but he had to leave an abolished system for the right one (Acts 23:1; 26:1-2; esp. ver. 9).
- Search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11-12)
- Eliminate churches which do not teach the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11), but add to and/or subject from His will (Rev. 22:18-19).
Conclusion:
- There is one body – Eph. 4:4.
- Jesus has promised to save His body – Eph. 5:23.
- Jesus has not promised to save anyone out of His body.
- Question: Are you in that body?
- We can only respect Jesus by being in His church.
- You can enter the body of Christ right now by believing (Heb. 11:6; John 8:24), repenting of your sins (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus Christ as God’s Son (Rom. 10:9-10), and being baptized into Him for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:27).
- If you are a member of that body, but have become unfaithful, you can return to your first love now (Acts 8:22-24; James 5:16; 1 John 1:8-10).
the late Wayne E. Holland
a sermon preached at:
Hiawassee, GA (09/29/1985)
South Boston, VA (09/08/1991)
Roxboro, NC (06/23/2002)
