Why Should One Believe in Only One Church?

  1. It's BIBLICAL
    1. We read of only one church in the New Testament:
      1. Matthew 16:18 "I will build my CHURCH."
      2. Acts 2:47 "the Lord added to the CHURCH"
      3. Acts 28:22-23 "the SECT everywhere spoken against"
      4. Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18 there is ONE HEAD and ONE BODY
      5. Ephesians 4:4
      6. Ephesians 5:23-32 - 12 singular nouns / pronouns referring to the church
    2. The Bible condemns DIVISION among Christians
      1. 1 Corinthians 1:10 - speak the SAME thing, no DIVISIONS
      2. Romans 16:17-18 those who cause division are to be MARKED and AVOIDED
      3. Galatians 5:20 (ASV) FACTIONS and DIVISIONS condemned as works of the flesh
      4. 2 John 9-11 We cannot fellowship those who bring a DIFFERENT doctrine
      5. Analysis of Galatians 1:6-7:
        1. v 6 "another gospel" - another = heteros = different
        2. v 7 "not another" - another = allo = ally
        3. we cannot be allied with anyone teaching a different gospel


  2. It's BENEFICIAL
    1. Acts 2:42 - Common WORSHIP and FAITH
    2. Acts 2:44 - Common STEWARDSHIP
    3. Acts 2:45 - Common BENEVOLENCE
    4. Acts 2:46 - Common FELLOWSHIP


  3. It is the only BASIS of real UNITY
    1. If only one church was needed in the New Testament, why do we need more than one today?
      1. Have man's needs changed? Hew 6:8, 25-34
      2. Has sin changed? Romans 3:23
      3. Has man's need for salvation changed? Romans 6:23
      4. Can one church not fulfill the commands given by God?
    2. John 17:17-21 Our unity is to be in the likeness of the unity existing between the FATHER and the SON.
    3. Ephesians 4:3-6
      1. We must KEEP the unity of the Spirit, not CREATE some man-made pseudo-unity.
      2. There is one BODY, one SPIRIT, one HOPE, one LORD, one FAITH, one BAPTISM, one FATHER.