THE BIBLE SPEAKS DAILY (22nd of DECEMBER, 2024).


TODAY'S TOPIC: ARE ALL CHURCHES THE BODY OF CHRIST?
TODAY'S VERSE: 1Corinthians 3:10-11

"...According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ..."

Often, during the course of a Bible class in the home of one who is not a Christian, I sought to kindly and firmly impress upon the mind of the unbeliever, the absolute necessity of being a steadfast and faithful member of Christ's Body. Usually, in 75% of all cases, the response will be something like:
"Well, I am a Methodist, that is, a Member of the Methodist Church, and I believe that I am a Member of Christ's Body, because all churches are apart of the Body of Christ". 
 Or, it may be worded like this: 
"You know, I believe that there is only one Body, because I am a Baptist, a Member of the Baptist Church, is a part of which the Body of Christ consists."

Friends, nothing is further from the truth! 
Simply stated, the Bible does not teach that: 
"All Churches are a 'part' of the Body of Christ". 
Now that the Bible does not teach this doctrine, why should you believe it? 
Please, carefully observe the following reasons why:
"All churches do not 'make up' the Body of Christ."

1. When one obeys the Gospel of Christ by: 
a. Hearing the Gospel (John 6: 44-47),
b. Believing the Gospel (Acts 15:7),
c. Repenting of sins (Acts 3:19; 17:30),
d. Confessing faith in the Lord (Rom. 10:10; Matt. 10:32), and 
e. Immersion in the water, by the name of Jesus Christ, in order to receive the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16). 
f. The Lord adds him (i.e., the individual) to the Body of the saved, Worldwide (Acts 2:41,47).

 Hence, Christ's Body is composed of individual Members, not composed by the individual Churches (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27). 
Being composed of individual Members, one must think of the "Brotherhood," not a "Churchhood" (1 Pet. 2:17).

2. "All Churches are not a part of the Body of Christ" because, all Churches (Denominations) are not named, nor reffed to, as a Body of Christ, in the Bible. 
To be right, a Church must be named in God's word. It must be described in and authorized to exist by the inspired word of the living God! 
a. Paul said to do "all in the name of Christ" 
Colossians 3:17.
b. Peter said,  "...If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  1Pet. 4:11. 
c. We must give the Book, the Chapter, and the verse for all we believe and practice, as a Christian. 
Please permit me my boldness, Friends, this is a very serious matter! 
Where is the verse of the Scripture which mentions the Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, or Pentecostal Churches, and etc. as a Body of Christ? 


3. Another reason why "all Churches are not a 'part' of the Body of Christ" is that Jesus Christ did not build many kinds of Churches. 
The Body which was built by Jesus Christ is peculiar: 
a. A peculiar Name (Romans 16:16);  
b. A peculiar pattern of Worship: Singing, Colossian 3:16, Ephesians 5:18-18; Praying, 1Timothy 4:1-4; Giving, 1Corinthians 16:1-2, 2Corinthians 8:12, 9:6-8; Preaching, 2Corinthians 4:2; Lord's Supper, mainly to remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Corinthians 11: 24-26.
c. A peculiar Leadership system (Ephesians 4:11); 
d. A peculiar manner of entrance, as enumerated above.
e. A Congregational pattern was seen in the Bible, and not a Denominational pattern of Church organization.
f. The peculiar Body of Christ has a peculiar mission on the Earth: Evangelism, Matthew 28:18-20; Edification, Ephesians 4: 11-16; Provisions for the Needy, Galatians 6:10. 
The Body of Christ has no authority to establish any other kind of institution, or organization.

Basically, we must be able to understand that Jesus Christ built His Own Church. Which we can read and study from the Bible.
Men also built theirs (Matthew 16:18; 15:9-14). 
Those which were built by men cannot possibly be a "part" of that, which the precious, unique and Begottened Son of God established.

4. Lastly the Bible plainly says, 
a. "...there is One Body"  Ephessian 4:4. 
b. "...I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the Church..."  Colossian 1:24.

If there is only one Body, made up of Individual Members (as proven from the Bible verses), then there cannot be One Body made up of about 200,000 kinds of Churches (Denominations)! 
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church which He built (Eph. 1:22-23). 
This is the only reason why the Church of Christ has never had an Earthly Headquarters. 
No Human Being has ever assumed the Office of a General Overseer or Chief Superintendent, etc. This Office is exclusively reserved for the Founder of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter was never the Head of the Church. Peter didn't build the Church of Christ!

 Friends, please pardon me my boldness, do your Church have all these qualifications, from the Bible?
Friends, "all Churches are not a 'part' of the Body of Christ!

The major scriptural identity of those who constitute the Body of Christ are:
a. Bible alone is their main authority in religion. 2Timothy 3:16-17.
b. They were added to the Body of Christ, by Jesus Christ Himself. These individuals never joined the Church, but were added to the Church, the Body of Christ. Acts 2:47.
c. These individuals wear the Name of Jesus Christ. Acts 11:26.
d. Jesus Christ is their only One Hope of Eternal Salvation. Acts 4:12.

Read and study your Bible daily, meditate on it and be determined to do all the commands of the Gospel of Christ, for your salvation!

TODAY'S PRAYER.
My Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of the life I am living today.
I appreciate You, my God, for all your daily provisions for all my needs.
My Father, I hope in Your salvation, for my Soul.
Help me to do Your Will always, and help me also to obey You at all times.
Kindly heal the Sick and provide for the Needy among us, AMEN.

credits: Ron Daly; Benson Omole.

For questions and comments, please contact us on:
+2348060066660; +2347069554486; +2347070020042.
Or, benoomole@gmail.com; omolebenson@gmail.com 
Listen To Us On:
a. FRCN PROGRESS FM ADO EKITI 100.5, every Thursday by 6.30pm (Local Time).
b. FRESH FM ADO EKITI 106.9, every Friday by 6.30pm.
This work is under the oversight of the Elders of the Church of Christ, Ekute Quarters Ado-Ekiti Ekiti State, Nigeria.

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