Many people believe the Lord approves of almost every church. They say every church has some good in it. The Bible teaches something completely different. It says Jesus approves of only ONE church — His (Matt. 16:18)! The Bible says that Jesus’ church is His body (Eph. 1:22-23). It further states that men are reconciled to God “in one body” (Eph. 2:16). Too, “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4). Just as surely as there is one Spirit, one Lord, and one God the Father, there is one body (Eph. 4:4-6). There are not two Spirits, five Lords, or a thousand Fathers. Likewise, there are not hundreds or thousands of bodies — only one.
Denominations are not that one body. They are not even segments of that body. Why? Because they have different names, organizations, practices, beliefs, and teachings. Therefore, they cannot be part of the one body (cp. Gal. 1:6-7; 1 Jn. 2:19). They are separate institutions founded by men, not God, and will be uprooted (Matt. 15:7-14).
Thus, Jesus approves of only one church, the one for which He died and shed His blood (Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28). If you hope to be reconciled to God and find peace with Him, you must be in that body, the church (Col. 3:15). Outside of the one church, you will not find reconciliation or peace with God. To become a member of the church of which Jesus approves, you must be baptized, at which point the Lord will add you to His church (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:38-41, 47).
Steven F. Deaton
