Sunday, July 3, 2011

SEVEN ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIANITY: ONE BODY

by J. K. Gossett [Note: This is a reprint from J.K. Gossett's book The Gospel in Newsprint]

“There is one BODY…” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

This one body is the body of CHRIST. It is neither a denomination nor a civil government. It is not a home nor a social club. It is, in fact, the church of Christ, a spiritual entity. This body is the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23). 

THE BEGINNING OF THIS ONE BODY
The church began when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles whom Jesus had prepared and left in Jerusalem (Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4). This beginning was ten days after the Lord’s ascension. Peter called the events of Acts 2 “the beginning” (Acts 11:15). The church, therefore, did not begin with Adam nor with any other Patriarch or prophet of the Old Testament. Furthermore, the church did not begin with John, the forerunner of Christ. Clearly the church originated with the apostle and was begun in the city of Jerusalem on the first Jewish Pentecost after the ascension. Both the prophecies of the Old Testament and the promise of Christ were satisfied with this beginning (Isaiah 2:1-4; Matthew 16:18; Joel 2:28).

THE ONE BODY HAS ONE HEAD
From the beginning until today Christ has been the only head of this body. No man was ever designated the head of the church (body) of Christ. Consider: “And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church…” (Colossians 1:18-19). 

THE ONE BODY IS COMPRISED OF THE SAVED
“And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved” (Acts 2:47 ASV). Reconciliation to God is accomplished in the “one body by the cross” (Ephesians 2:16). Not surprisingly Christ is said to be the “savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). 

THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION
The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. Please read: Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20-22. This one body is the only thing that will survive the second coming of Christ!

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