32. The One Body

Sermon 32 The One Body

Ephesians 4:4

In the church, as an organized body there must be--- 1. The head....................................Christ 2. The Spirit....................The Holy Spirit 3. Blood....................The blood of Christ 4. Members.............................Christians 5. The Law of Life.....The New Covenant 6. The Name..............The church of God

With these six principles before us we ask, is the church of Christ ever recognized as being a body? If yes, whose body is it? Who is its head? Who are its members? What are its laws? When was it brought before the world as such and what are its objects in view?

In Ephesians 1:22-23, we learn that the church is the body of Christ, and that Christ is the head. So this proposition needs no further discussion.

We now ask how many churches, or bodies, has the Son of God on the earth? Paul plainly says, "There is one body" (Ephesians 4:4). This one body, he tells us, is the church? We, then, of necessity, conclude that there is one, and only one, church of divine origin.

As almost all organizations on earth have some head, either human or divine, it is a matter of serious thought, that every intelligent person should ask himself: Is the church of which I am a member of human, or of divine origin?

If divine, let us thank God and take courage. If human, let us remember that Jesus said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up" (Matthew 15:13). No intelligent man or woman can plead ignorance, nor offer excuses wily he or she is not a member of the church of Christ, rather than of some human organization. Every church, whether human or divine, has its standard of measurement by which all its members can measure themselves, and know to what church they belong. A few illustrations will make this clear: A church claims to be founded not upon divine authority, but upon the experience of a long series of years. If a man wants to be a member of this church, he can ask himself, do I believe the twenty-five articles of religion? Am I trying to live up to them? His answers to these questions will easily decide for him whether or not he is a member of that body. Another man may have a different standard containing only eighteen articles of faith, and find out whether or not he is a member of the church founded upon that standard. But a third man, seeking for the truth, wanting nothing but the word of God, takes none of these standards of measurement, but simply clings to the word of God as his only rule of faith and practice. In so doing he becomes a member of that one body we read about in the Bible.

But we now come to examine the regular order.

1. When did Christ become the head of the church? Paul tells us that it was when God raised Him from the dead. (Ephesians 1:20-22). Then, if you, or I, belong to a church that claims an organization prior to the resurrection l of Christ ret member, it is not the church of Christ, but it is of human origin, and does not contain the blessings of salvation nor eternal life.

......2. When was the Spirit given? James teaches that the body without the Spirit is dead. This being true, when did the body of Christ receive the Holy Spirit to make it alive? Not when Christ was on earth, as He taught that the Spirit had not been given, because he had not been glorified (Jno. 7:39). Also He taught the apostles that they must wait for the Spirit before they could work in His name (Luke 24:49). In Acts 1:4-5 we find them waiting for the Spirit. In the second chapter we read of its coming. Then all were filled with it and spake as the Spirit gave them utterance. This was the first time the church of Christ was ever recognized as a live, active body, with power to receive members and preach the gospel to all the world, promising salvation in the name of the Son of Cod. From this time on we find the Lord adding to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).

3. At this time it was proclaimed to the world that Christ had been crucified, had shed His blood for our sins. As we expect forgiveness only in the shed blood of the Son of God, no one can go further back than the time when He shed His blood and established His church without introducing the blood of bulls and goats, for they were the only shed blood then; and by them we can never claim to be justified.

4. All members are component parts of the body to which they belong, and the body must contain all the parts. Each member must perpetuate its life from the body of which it is a member. No member can live when cut off from the body; neither can a man live a Christian life outside the church of Jesus Christ. Just as well talk about a live finger, a living foot, a strong arm, or a growing limb, when cut off from the body, as to talk about a child of God outside the church of Jesus Christ. These members are all Christians, nothing more, nothing less; brethren in Christ, governed by the law of the Spirit; members of His body, doing the work He has commanded us to do.

5. Law of Life. All living bodies, whether natural or spiritual, are brought into existence by a process of law, and are perpetuated by principles of law. To this rule there can be no exception. So it is in becoming members of the church of Christ. We are all made members—are made free—by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). This law is sometimes called the new covenant, claimed to be established upon better promises than the old (Hebrews 8).

The law of the Spirit teaches me that I must hear the gospel of the Son of God; must have faith in Jesus; must repent of my sins; must confess Christ before men; must be baptized to arise and walk in newness of life. After this I must "live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world" that I may finally enter into that rest that remains to the people of God.

6. What church should this be, and what name should it wear? Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18) Luke says that God added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47). To which church did the Lord add them? Paul says it was the church of God at Corinth, (1 Corinthians 1:2) and churches of Christ in Asia. Nowhere did he ever write a letter to the Mormon, Campbellite, Baptist or Methodist churches. Then, if we are members of any of these institutions, let us remember they are founded by man—not by God.

Can we not go back to the fountain head, believe the same things, obey the same commands, and let the Lord add us to His church, as He did people nearly nineteen hundred years ago ? If we can, will it not be better to do this and let the Lord add us to His church, and serve Him, than it will be to spend our time and usefulness in a church not found in the word of the Lord. Remember our zeal, earnestness, and work will do us no good if not on the right foundation. The foolish, as well as the wise man built his house, (Matthew 7:21) but he was not careful as to his foundation. Then be wise and build on the one foundation that will never fall and finally with God you shall forever dwell.