THE ONE TRUE CHURCH

The One True Church

Two theological views of the church have developed through the centuries of the Christian era that have confused the truth set forth in the Scriptures. In the very early centuries, the method of spiritualizing Scripture led to the view that there is just one company of saved people, and that is the church. This meant that the saved of the Old Testament dispensation, as well as the New Testament dispensation, are all to be called by the name "church." This means then that Israel of the Old Testament and the church of the New Testament are the same. This view has been perpetuated through all these centuries and prevails today in Catholic theology and in most of Protestant theology.

Within the past century or more another view has insinuated itself into Protestant circles. It is the extreme dispensational view that the church is only revealed in the Book of Ephesians and is to be identified alone as the body of Christ. Most of the New Testament, therefore, is excluded as having anything to do with the church as the body of people that Christ is saving, beginning with Pentecost and completing at the time of the Rapture. Because these erroneous views persist, it is necessary to be constantly setting forth the truth, lest some well-meaning souls be caught in the toils of error.

The Identification of the Church

The church is the mystical body and bride of Christ, made up of all true Christians of the present age. This group of people constitute one body (Eph. 4:4), which is also called the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-32). This relation is mystical in the sense that it describes a relationship which is real, but spiritual. Every member of the body is joined together and made alive by the Spirit of God (John 3:5), and Christ is the head of this body. In the same sense this group is the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2), This does not identify the church then with any local congregation or outward organization, such as the Catholics and Mormons do, and as many Protestants do at least in their thinking if not also in their pronouncements. Local congregations and visible organizations are made up of people who have made a profession of faith. It is always hoped that all of them are truly saved people. But the one true church is made up of all truly saved people, and this group is to be found in various congregations and visible organizations.

The Origination of the Church

Nearing the close of Christ's public ministry, when it became clear He was being rejected by the nation of Israel, it was then that Christ made a prediction concerning the church. Up to this time there had been no revelation in the Old Testament nor in Christ's ministry. He said to Peter and the Apostles: "And upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). It was quite evident that up to this point the church had not been in view. But at some time in the near future He would begin and proceed with the building of the church. Erroneous theories declare the church was begun in the Old Testament, or in the Gospels, or at the end of the Book of Acts. But the pronouncements of Christ during His post-resurrection ministry lead us to believe this began on the Day of Pentecost. Christ told His disciples to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). On the Day of Pentecost the Spirit came to fulfill that promise (Acts 2:1-4, 33, 38-39; cf. 11:15-16). And Paul insists the building of the church is a work wrought by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:22).

The Composition of the Church

Without distinction, out from all nations, Jews and Gentiles alike, some are called by the Spirit to make up the body of Christ, the church (Acts 15:14; Eph. 2:11-16; 3:6). Each one has been made alive by the Spirit of God (John 3:5). Each one has been added to the church by the Lord Jesus himself (Acts 2:47). This has been done as the Lord has baptized each believer in the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 12:13). While unsaved people may gain entrance into local congregations (Acts 20:28-30; Gal. 2:4; Jude 4) it is impossible for such people to enter the true church. This makes it clear that the true church is no mere organization. It is a spiritual organism set forth under the figure of "the body of Christ," An organization is the joining of parts together externally, but this is an organism which is joined together internally by the Spirit of God, That is why all distinctions disappear. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:27-28).

The Completion of the Church

Inasmuch as the church is set forth as a distinct company of the saved, which was brought into existence at Pentecost and the building of which is proceeding today, it is in point to ask when will this company of the saved be complete? To this there is a definite answer; namely, at the coming of Christ for His own (1 Thess. 4:16-17). This is called the Rapture. In the same passage where the ministry of Christ during this age is set forth (Acts 15:14), so also is the chronology for the completion of the church declared. James declares to the Jerusalem Council in settling the dispute concerning the place of law and grace that not till after the work of grace among the nations is completed will the law of Israel be in force again. Today God is calling out a people for His name: "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David" (Acts 15:16). No one knows when the last soul will be added to the church by the Lord, so everyone should be expecting that any time the Lord may come to catch away His bride.

The Responsibility of the Church

The word "church" in the original Greek means a group of people who are called out to fulfill a purpose. The purpose of this group is to assemble in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, and testimony. Almost immediately this began to happen (Acts 2:42, 46-­47), and it has never ceased. These gatherings were for the purpose of realizing the unity of the new relation (Eph. 4:3) in order that the church might serve as the instrument through which Christ could accomplish His mission in the world (Eph. 1:23). It is through the church that He manifests His moral and spiritual glory (John 17:10, 22-23), and by which both now and into the ages He will exhibit to all intelligences in the universe the wisdom of His grace (Eph. 2:6-7; 3:8-­11). For the members of the church itself, this assembling of the saints provides an intimate fellowship now and through eternity (John 17:21-24).