PREACHED: ol,3-28-04am

“THE ONE BODY”

1§ References to “One Body…”

A. Rom 12:5. “…we, though many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another…” I Cor 12:12, 13. “For just as the (physical) body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…” Eph 2:15, 16. “…that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two (Jew and Gentile), so making pace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross…” Eph 4:4. “There is one body…” Col 3:15. “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body…”

B. The entire Divine scheme for our redemption is centered on the one body!

1. It seems evident, then, that salvation is dependent upon my relationship to this one body, whatever it is.

C. In fact, unity is impossible outside of the one body.

1. Our spiritual unity with one another is inseparably tied to our common redemptive reconciliation to God in Christ:

a. I John 1:3. “…that which we have heard we proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ…” V 7. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin…”

1) So there is an “if” connected with forgiveness and fellowship!

b. II Cor 5:17, 18. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself…”

1) There is, therefore, no reconciliation to God, nor unity with each other apart from becoming a new creation in Christ!

a) And Paul describes that reconciled place of unity as the “one body.”

2§ What is this “One Body?”

A. Paul who repeatedly made reference to it, tells us clearly that the one body is the church!

1. Eph 1:21-23. “…far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but in the one to come. And he put…”

2. Eph 5:23. “For the husband is the head…”

3. Col 1:18. “And he is the head of…”

3§ Since we have proved from scripture that the one body is the church…how many churches did Jesus intend?

A. If there is one body and the body is the church, the logical conclusion is clear and simple: Christ intended to build only ONE church!

1. Matt 16:18. “…I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…”

2. Rom 12:5. “…we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another…”

a. And the context in Romans 12 is very clear! He is not talking of all denominations forming the one body, but saved individuals with various gifts and talents forming the one body!

1) In fact, you read absolutely nothing in the N.T. about denominations!

4§ How do we determine the qualities or characteristics of this “body” or “church?”

A. One key to understanding is the fact that it is the body of Christ.

1. Each member then is to bear the likeness of Christ!

a. In fact “Christian” means “Christ one” or “Christ like.”

1) I Cor 11:1; II Cor 3:18

B. Another key is found in the language of the Lord Jesus himself, “I will BUILD my church…”

1. The word used means to “build a house.”

a. The same metaphor is carried on by the apostle Paul:

1) I Cor 3:10. “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it…”

a) No skilled master builder, either lays a foundation nor builds the structure, without the blueprints laid out by the Architect!

b) Jesus said, “I will build my church…”; there- fore He is the Divine Architect and His Word is His blueprint!

c) Matt 7:24, 25.

5§ Since one must be in Christ to be in the body, how does one get into Christ?

A. Remember! Paul said, “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation…” (II Cor 5:17)

1. Rom 8:1; Eph 1:3. “Blessed be the God and Father…” 1:7. “In him we have redemption through his blood…”

B. Rom 6:3, 4. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him in baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life…”

1. Notice! Newness of life…becoming a new creation…comes after not before baptism!

6§ The only question left is: Have you been added to the One Body, the body of the saved, the church build by Jesus?

A. Pentecost – Acts 2:38, 41.