One Body

By Clifton Angel
    Paul wrote to the congregation at Ephesus: "There is one body" (Eph 4:4). No argument can be made against the meaning of “one;" however, many differ on the "body". In an attempt to be tolerant of every person's beliefs, many have subscribed to a "Let's agree to disagree” type of Christianity. Many settle with, "Choose the church of your choice." Therefore, the "one body" is interpreted to mean a collection of all the varying denominations of "Christianity" no matter their teachings, beliefs, or practices. May I challenge that interpretation and conclusion?    The "one body" is most assuredly referring to the church which belongs to Christ. We know this by considering Ephesians 4:4 in light of Ephesians 1:22–23 and Colossians 1:18. Furthermore, we cannot deny the singular possessive pronoun Jesus used when He said, "I will build my church" (Matt 16:18). Therefore, if the "body" is the "church," there must be only "one church.”    Some agree to these passages and still conclude that various denominations make up the "one church.” 1 Corinthians 12:12–30 shows this cannot be the case. The context of these verses are concerning the miraculous abilities entrusted to human beings in the first century church. Such abilities are not given to us today (1 Cor 13:10); however, the principles still stand. God desires those with various personalities, desires, and abilities to work together for the same purpose, as the same “body.”     Paul is referencing people and not whole groups/churches as the "members" of the "body" (1 Cor 12:28). Consider verses 24–25: "God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” If my left foot is headed in one direction and my right foot another, they are not working together for the same purpose—and that would be painful! Likewise, if a group of people are teaching that you are saved by personal belief without the need for baptism and another group of people are teaching that you are saved by submitting to immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins, these two groups cannot be working together for the same purpose; therefore, they cannot make up the same body. Furthermore, if one group of people teaches that baptism is sprinkling which is administered soon after the birth of a child and another group of people teaches that baptism is full submersion of an individual who has matured to an age of understanding, these two groups cannot be working together for the same purpose; therefore, they cannot make up the same body.    Paul wrote, "There is one body" (Eph 4:4). Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt 16:18). Are you a part of the "one body"—the one church—which we learn of in the pages of the New Testament?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/