Which, One Church Or Many?

In the writings of the apostles the plural form of the word church is frequently used, but this argues nothing against the unity of G.o.d's church, nor in favor of the multiplicity of sects. If all the saved people in the world could be congregated in one place there would be no occasion for using the plural form of this word. Had it been so in the days of the writers of the epistles, the word would have been used only in the singular. But since there was a church or congregation of Christians at Antioch, also a church at Corinth, at Thessalonica, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, etc., to speak of the whole it would be proper to use the plural of church. "The churches of Asia." Please notice there is only one in each city, and the same writer addresses them all.

It does not take a town of so great a size to-day to find seven towering meeting-house steeples, where a.s.semble as many different bodies of believers, termed sects. No one minister addresses them all. No one elder gives orders to all these different sects. 1 Cor. 16:1. No one minister ordains elders in all the separate bodies. 1 Cor. 7:17. The word churches was used to denote the different geographical location of the congregations of the Lord. The minister arguing in favor of the plurality of denominations from the plural term churches as found in the Bible is either ignorant or unfair. A plurality of sects is Babylon confusion.

The plural form is used in the Bible with reference to location and not to bodies having a different faith or belief. The church at Antioch had no contrary faith with the church at Corinth as we find existing between the denominations of to-day. They were separated by geographical distance, and not by difference of belief. Had these different churches come together in one place they could all have listened to Paul preach and said, Amen.

Oneness Of G.o.d's Church.

"The mult.i.tude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul."

Acts 4:32. Can these same words be correctly used when speaking of the believers throughout the various denominations of to-day? "Now the G.o.d of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify G.o.d, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 15:5, 6. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." 1 Cor. 1:10.

By these two texts we learn that the church of G.o.d has but one mind; it has but one mouth, and all speak the same thing. This is beautiful, this is heavenly. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Psa. 133:1. It is only the church of the Bible that enjoys this pleasant unity, and we must never confound this church with the confusive sects. Babylon has as many mouths as there are sects, and they speak contrary things.

"For ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:28. "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Phil. 1:27. "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Phil. 2:2. "For as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Rom. 12:4, 5.

"Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, ... and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." John 10:16. The Savior was here speaking of the Gentiles and the Jews. Before the coming of Christ there was a part.i.tion wall between these two nations, but Jesus came to break down the middle wall of part.i.tion, so there should be neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female: but all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:28. "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. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:12, 13.

The "many members" here referred to are individual Christians, and not the ecclesiastical bodies now extant, as some do ignorantly teach. "But now are they many members, yet but one body." 1 Cor. 12:20. In the fifteenth and sixteenth verses the apostle uses the physical body of man with its dependent members to ill.u.s.trate the one body of Christ. These members work in blissful harmony and are dependent upon each other. A destruction of one member impairs the whole body. This is not ill.u.s.trative of the different denominations; they are not dependent upon each other.

Oftentimes they are opposed to each other, and thrive better when others are destroyed.

"And let the peace of G.o.d rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful." Col. 3:15.

I am thankful that we are called as humble followers of the Lamb, into one body only, where the peace of G.o.d rules in every heart. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of G.o.d." Eph. 2:19. G.o.d has a household of saints here upon the earth where peace rules. A contentious, quarrelsome, divided family is no part of G.o.d's united household. One family in heaven and earth. Eph. 3:15. It is with great reluctancy that we pa.s.s by so many beautiful texts upon this subject, but we will only quote a few more lest this volume swell to too great proportions. "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: ...

neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me." John 17:11, 12, 20-23.

Blessed oneness of G.o.d's own, Like the Father and the Son; One on earth like heav'n above, Bound with cords of perfect love.

O holy Christian band, filled with Heaven's love, Living in sweet accord like angels above.

Divisions Condemned.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them; For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Rom.

16:17, 18. From the apostle they had learned the doctrine of oneness; he now warns them to avoid any contrary doctrine. "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." 1 Cor. 12:25. By consulting your dictionary you will find the word "schism" to be synonymous with the word "sect." "A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject." t.i.tus 3:10. Many translators have rendered heretic, sectarian.

"For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." 1 Cor. 11:18, 19. Heresies and divisions are here spoken of as meaning about the same thing; or rather divisions are occasioned by heresies. If you will look in the margin of your reference Bible you will find this word translated "sect."

In Gal. 5:19, 20 is a number of deeds and dispositions cla.s.sified and called the works of the flesh, and we are told that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d." In this catalogue of evil works you will find the word "heresies." Upon examining other translations you will find it rendered sects. See Emphatic Diaglott.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions [schisms-margin] among you." 1 Cor. 1:10. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in d.a.m.nable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Pet. 2:1. In the German version the words "d.a.m.nable heresies" is rendered "destructive sects." Paul sternly reproves the Corinthians and declares them carnal because of a division that had been manifested among them. 1 Cor. 3:1-4; also 1 Cor. 1:10-13.

Organization Of The Church Of G.o.d.

We will have to go to the dictionary to find a definition of the word "organize," since the word is not found in the Bible. "To arrange in parts; to form in due order; to furnish with organs," is the common definition. While the term "organize" is not contained in the Scriptures, yet the work of organizing G.o.d's church was performed, and his precious truth tells us how, and by whom it was done. "For to one [individual] is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 1 Cor. 12:8-11. Nothing need be plainer. It is the mission of the Holy Spirit to impart unto or bestow upon each member of G.o.d's church such qualifications as will make him a useful and effectual organ in this holy structure.

What is necessary for the building and furnishing of the church of G.o.d is not necessary in the formation and organization of a man-made ecclesiasticism. For man to build what he is pleased to call a church he does not have to furnish it with "a gift of faith," nor "a gift of healing," nor of "working of miracles," nor of "prophecy," nor of "discerning of spirits," nor of "diversities of tongues," nor of "interpretation of tongues." Neither does he require the "wisdom of G.o.d,"

nor the "knowledge of G.o.d." It is true he will require much knowledge and wisdom of the world, but of all the things necessary in furnishing the church of G.o.d, not one of them is necessary in the building of a sect.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Eph.

4:10-12. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of G.o.d, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular, and G.o.d hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1 Cor. 12:27, 28. "But now hath G.o.d set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." 1 Cor. 12:18.

With this as with all other subjects of this work we must be brief.

Who Receives Applicants Into This Church?

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. "But now hath G.o.d set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him." 1 Cor. 12:18. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:13.

By these texts we can plainly see that it is G.o.d by the Spirit that receives members into his church, therefore no sinner can enter there.

What Is The Door?

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:9. "I am the door of the sheep."

Ver. 7. "For through him [Jesus] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Eph. 2:18.

Jesus is the only entrance into the church of G.o.d. He that would climb up some other way is a thief and a robber. John 10:1. We could get into a human organized body without coming in through Christ, but not into the divinely organized body.

"He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; ... behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it."

Rev. 3:7, 8.

Who Is The Builder Of The Church?

Abraham "looked for a city, ... whose builder and maker is G.o.d." Heb.

11:10. Like many other holy men who walked with G.o.d in those ancient days, Abraham looked by faith to the promise that was to come to bring deliverance to the captives. Christ says, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of h.e.l.l shall not prevail against it." Mat. 16:18.

"Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is G.o.d."

Heb. 3:3, 4.

Jesus purchased the church with his own blood. Acts 20: 28. He gave his life for it. Eph. 5:25. G.o.d, or Christ, who was G.o.d manifested in the flesh, built himself a glorious and pure church-holy, blameless, and spotless. It is all his own. He bestows upon it the fond t.i.tle of Bride: "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom." John 3:29.