THE CHURCH IS THE BODY & THE PLACE FOR SALVATION
There are many disputes in the religious world today. There always have been, but one stands out among them because it goes to the core of everything the Word of God stands for: the way to salvation. The Bible has spoken clearly on the matter of salvation, but there are those who would rather devise their own schemes in the hope that either there is no God, or that He will change His mind. There are others who feel that it does not matter what anyone believes because a God of Love will save all of His creation. What does the Bible say on the subject?
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
This verse states unequivocally that Jesus said He would build His church. It tells us several things at once: (1) that there will be a church; (2) that Jesus will build it; (3) that it will be His church; & (4) that a confession of faith will be one of the staple requirements. Here are some additional passages that speak to the church of Christ:
Acts 2:47
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
This portion of the verse is one that sets the church of Christ apart from all man-made religious bodies: the Lord adds people who have obeyed the gospel command of baptism (Acts 2:38-47). Since the word "church", from the Greek word "ekklesia" (which means the called out), is found often in the Bible, we want to focus on the verses that show that there is only one church for which Christ died. This means that there are no other known churches in which one might find the salvation that Christ offers. Please read these carefully so that you will understand exactly what the Bible says concerning Christ, the church, & salvation.
Col. 1:18-20
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.Ephes. 1:22-23
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.1 Cor. 12:12
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members
of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.Notice hear how Paul states that there is only one body, which the preceding passages tell us, is the church.
1 Cor. 12:20
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
The next verse establishes that Christ is the saviour of the body, the church.
Ephes. 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Ephes. 4:4-6
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.The Ephesian epistle explains it best here when it sets forth the concept of oneness that cannot really be in dispute. It says that there is one body (which we saw earlier refers to the church), that there is one Lord, one faith (or system of belief), one baptism (not several types, only one which is acceptable to God).
We might conclude with what Thomas B. Warren said so simply: the Bible only, makes Christians only, and the only Christians.