Q. What is The One True Church?
A. Eph 1:22,23 "AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS (Christ's) FEET; AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS; TO THE CHURCH,WHICH IS HIS BODY". The One True Church,is therefore not composed of any one of the well over 1,2OO visible,earthly, man-made churches, in view today, but is a heaven based, invisible Divine Living Organism, called "THE CHURCH,WHICH IS HIS (Spiritual) BODY".
Q. How many "churches",i.e. how many "religious bodies" is God building?
A. Eph 4:5 "THERE IS (ONE) BODY--", i.e. There is only "ONE" True Church.
Q. Is this "ONE BODY", i.e. "ONE CHURCH", to be one of earthly, corporate unity? Or solely that of a heavenly,spiritual unity?
A. Solely that of a heavenly,spiritual unity,e.g.Eph 4:3 "ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE (heavenly) UNITY OF THE SPIRIT,IN THE BOND OF PEACE"--as follows: Eph 2:6 "AND HATH (now,positionally) RAISED US UP TOGETHER,AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER,IN HEAVENLY PLACES,IN CHRIST JESUS:Col 1:13 "WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS,AND HATH (now,positionally) TRANSLATED US INTO THE (heavenly) KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON". Eph 1:3 "--WHO HATH (already) BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES,IN CHRIST".Note: Positionally speaking,the saved are (already) saved,sainted,and seated in
the heavenlies,(in) Christ's One Body. One need seek no other "church body".
Q. Who alone grants one "membership" in Christ's One Body?
A. 1 Cor 12:18 "BUT NOW HATH GOD SET THE MEMBERS,EVERY ONE OF THEM,IN THE BODY".
Q. When does the God granted "membership" in Christ's One Body occur?
A. 1 Cor 12:13 "FOR BY ONE SPIRIT ARE WE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY--" Note: The foregoing (Holy Spirit administered baptism), is but one facet of the unique present day ministry of The Holy Spirit Comforter,3rd Person Holy Trinity; whose unique ministry did not commence,until Christ's ended,at Christ's Ascension at Acts 1:8-11. "Membership" occurs at the moment of one's salvation.
Q. What is the foregoing Baptism of The Holy Spirit?
A. It is the one and only permissible "ONE BAPTISM",set forth in Eph 4:5. It is not that of "a second work of Grace",proclaimed by so called Pentecostalists. One does not receive The Baptism of The Holy Spirit--"on the installment plan", in this present Dispensation of Grace. The Baptism of The Holy Spirit,of 1 Cor 12:13,is fully described in Rom 6:3-1O,as being the (waterless) "baptism of
death" experienced by Christ Jesus at Calvary; "WHEN HE WHO KNEW NO SIN,BECAME SIN FOR US",i.e. when Christ Jesus became completely immersed in the overflowing "flood waters" of God's wrath,e.g. Ps 69:1,2, 88:6, 89:4 Hos 5:1O, Lam 3:54.55. The moment one receives Christ Jesus as their personal Saviour,one is "reckoned by God",to have (literally) shared in Christ's foregoing death,burial,and res-
urrection at Calvary,i.e."KNOW YE NOT,THAT SO MANY OF US AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST,WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH? THEREFORE,WE ARE BURIED (WITH HIM),BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH--"--"AND RAISED AGAIN (WITH) HIM,TO WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE" In this dispensation,of The Mystery Church of Eph 3:1-1O, Rom 16:25,26,we are not to be "water baptized" (like) Christ Jesus,in Jordan,but Holy Spirit "death
baptized" (with) Christ Jesus at Calvary! Christ Jesus foretold of this,His pending (second baptism),i.e. His "baptism of death",in Luke 12:5O.
Q. But cannot one also be "water baptized",i.e. to "show the world" that one has been (symbolically) slain,buried,and resurrected (like) Christ Jesus?
A. No. Water baptism is one baptism; Holy Spirit "death baptism" is one baptism. Paul clearly states,in Eph 4:5,that there is only "ONE (permissible) BAPTISM". Those who promote "TWO BAPTISMS", i.e. One water baptism,plus One Holy Spirit "death baptism, have no scriptural authority for doing so; regardless of any and all well sounding arguments to the contrary.
Q. How many faiths does God permit in The One True Church?
A. Eph 4:5 There is "ONE FAITH".
Q. What is that "ONE FAITH"?
A. Gal 1:6-9 "I MARVEL,THAT YE ARE SO SOON REMOVED FROM HIM THAT CALLED YOU INTO(THE GRACE OF CHRIST), UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL,WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER. BUT THERE BE SOME THAT TROUBLE YOU,AND WOULD PERVERT (THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST). BUT THOUGH WE,OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN,PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE HAVE PREACHED UNTO; LET HIM BE ACCURSED. AS WE SAID BEFORE,SO SAY I NOW AGAIN; IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT YE HAVE
RECEIVED; LET HIM BE ACCURSED".
Note: Paul identifies the "ONE FAITH",of the " ONE BODY", as being "THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST",i.e. as being totally apart from "the works of the law". Like "oil" and "water", one cannot "mix" God's Grace,and God's Laws. Add one "work of the law",to either obtain salvation,or to retain salvation once received--and one does not "get it". See Gal 3:1-1O, where Paul called the Galatians "BEWITCHED FOOLS", for even thinking such a thing. See also Rom 11:5,6. Paul,sums up "the Grace message" of the "ONE FAITH", in the following verses; Eph 2:8,9 "FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED,THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS A GIFT OF GOD; NOT OF WORKS; LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST". Titus 3:5 "NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE,BUT ACCORDING TO HIS
MERCY HE SAVED US--". Gal 2:16,21 "KNOWING THAT A MAN IS NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW,BUT BY THE FAITH OF CHRIST JESUS--FOR BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT". "I DO NOT FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD; FOR IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW,,THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN".
Gal 3:1O-12 "FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW,ARE UNDER THE CURSE. FOR IT IS WRITTEN; CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT CONTINUETH NOT IN (ALL) THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW,TO DO THEM. BUT THAT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW,IN THE SIGHT OF GOD,IT IS EVIDENT; FOR THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH,AND THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH--". Rom 11:5,6 "EVEN SO,AT THIS PRESENT TIME ALSO,THERE IS A REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE; AND IF BY GRACE,THEN IS IT NO MORE OF WORKS; OTHERWISE, GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE. BUT IF IT BE OF WORKS, THEN IS IT NO MORE GRACE; OTHERWISE,WORK IS NO MORE WORK".
To sum up this "Grace message" of the "ONE FAITH", Paul is simply stating---that it is Christ Jesus,plus nothing,that equals salvation--i.e.--Rom 1O:9,1O "THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS,AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD--THOU SHALT BE SAVED; FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS,AND WITH THE MOUTH, CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION". All forms and degrees of "churchianity" or "religiosity" are missing from the foregoing "Grace message",and those who "add" any such "requirements",are said by Paul to be "ANATHAMA-MARANATHA";---"ACCURSED OF GOD",Gal 1:6-9.
Note: Although The Magna Charta, and The U.S. Constitution are said to grant "the freedom to worship,according to the dictates of one's personal conscience", the Holy Bible grants no such freedom,i.e. as follows: Eph 4:5 "THERE IS "ONE CHURCH", and it's "ONE FAITH",and it's "ONE BAPTISM". Prov 14:12 "THERE IS (A WAY) WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN; BUT THE END THERE-OF ARE (THE WAYS OF DEATH)". Or as Christ Jesus so stated, in Matt 7:13,14 "ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE; FOR WIDE IS THE GATE,AND BROAD IS THE WAY,THAT
LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION,AND (MANY) THERE BE THAT GO IN THEREAT; BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE,AND NARROW IS THE WAY,WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE,AND (FEW) THERE BE THAT FIND IT". In context,Christ Jesus plainly states; that (most) religious, "church goers" will be lost,and that only (the few),of the "ONE FAITH",will ever find eternal life. When it comes to "the one way of salvation",God is very "narrow minded". Jesus said; "I AM (THE) WAY; (THE) TRUTH,AND (THE) LIFE; NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME". So much for those countless millions who "COME BY" Confuscius, Bhudda, Mohammed, the Ayatollah, the ex-virgin Mary, Rev (?) Moon,etc,etc.
"In Conclusion"
All 1,2OO plus,earthly,man-made,visible curches in view today are forbidden in Holy Writ,as Paul plainly sets forth in the following related verses:
1 Cor 1:1O,13 "NOW I BESEECH YOU BRETHREN,BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS; THAT YOU ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING,AND THAT THERE BE NO (denominational) DIVISIONS AMONG YOU; BUT THAT YE BE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER; IN THE SAME MIND,AND IN THE SAME JUDGEMENT"--"IS CHRIST DIVIDED", i.e. Is Christ's "ONE BODY", divided into the 1,2OO plus "different religious bodies" in view today? Does one have the
scriptural authority to say; I am A Baptist; I am A Lutheran; I am A Seventh Day Adventist; I am A Mormon; I am A Roman Catholic; etc,etc, ad infinitum?
No---said Paul again,in 1 Cor 12:25 "THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISMS",i.e. no denominational divisions,in Christ's "ONE BODY". That the well over 1,2OO (major) "different churches" in view today, do present an undeniable picture of "universal religious confusion", is a self evident token, that God is not their author; for as it states in
1 Cor 14:;33 "GOD,IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF (any such) CONFUSION"--be it "religious"--or otherwise.
Harry T. Wellington
Box 1
Pine,AZ.85544
928-476-3513 or FAX (same #)
or via E-MAIL harryw@cybertrails.com