Response to Planter's Comment on Christian Unity

This is a response to a comment made by Planter on Colton’s post titled Christian Unity. I apologize for the length, but I simply desired to answer this response and supplement Colton’s comments on this topic. The quotation below is one comment I would like to respond to made by Planter. Planter I would love to continue this study if you read this because your quotation below is disturbing in my opinion.
“Paul is not saying in Ephesians that there are multiple groups out there claiming to be churches and that you have to some how figure out out which one is the right one.” – Planter
Quickly in Eph 4:1-3, why does Paul have to remind the Christians at Ephesus to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” if everything is in perfect harmony at Ephesus? The rest of this response will continue with points relating to the question here taking passages from Ephesians and other texts from Scripture.
Let us look at other examples of this because this problem goes beyond singling out the church members at Ephesus. Let us examine Galatians 1:6-9. In Galatia, there were certainly “multiple groups out there claiming to be ‘other’ churches” and leading astray some of the members of the church in Galatia. Paul says in vss. 6-9, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you let, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Obviously, some men are going around Galatia spreading a new “gospel” leading astray members of the church in Galatia. This problem is becoming so bad Paul has to write a letter to the church of Galatia to help them “figure out which one is the right one.” Why? If they are a part of a false church, Paul knows that they will be accursed. If being a part of the right church is not important, why would Paul write to the Galatians warning them of false teachers? We have to be a member of the church Jesus established and not some man-made falsehood. The right one (church) is very important.
Now back to Ephesians. In the church of Ephesus, some of these same problems from without or within the church are perhaps the exact reasons for Paul reminding to the members that there is only one body or one church. In Eph 4:4, Paul said, “there is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.” Our one Lord, Jesus Christ, came to this earth to save us from our sins. The one faith is grounded in the teachings of Christ and the inspired writers of the NT. The one baptism is where we receive the forgiveness of sins and are added to the one body or one church of Jesus Christ.
On to Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. In First Corinthians 1:10-17, Paul is pleading with the members at Colossae to speak the same things, let there be no divisions among them, and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Paul learns from Chloe’s household that there are some serious divisions among some of the members of the church. Some were saying, “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos,” “I am of Cephas (Peter),” or “I am of Christ.” Then Paul asked one of the most profound set of questions I think in the NT when he said, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” Obviously these are all rhetoric questions with the answer of no, no, and no. However, the Corinthians were also struggling with this same issue of unity as the Ephesians. The divisions are so bad Paul has to write this letter to clear up who the people are to follow. Paul wrote instructing them to live in unity and that Christ is not divided, Christ was crucified, and they were baptized in the name of Christ. Divisions in the church cause nothing but problems and will inhibit the church from growing and spreading the gospel.
If not searching out or finding the right church is not essential, then why does it matter if the Corinthian church is divided? Think of this illustration. There is a circle of church’s and in the center of this circle is Jesus. Few examples of beliefs, one church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation, babies ought not to be baptized, and musical instruments should not be used in worship. Another church teaches that baptism is to be done because of salvation, babies ought not to be baptized, and musical instruments may be used in worship. The third church teaches that baptism is not essential for salvation in any way, babies ought to be baptized in dedication, and musical instruments may be used in worship. We have three completely set of beliefs concerning issues and salvation. The question is which church does Jesus agree with? All have conflicting beliefs so Jesus cannot agree with one without contradicting Himself with another set of beliefs. As Paul asked, “Is Christ divided?” If it does not matter which church we are a part of, why does Paul constantly write to churches clearing up conflicting beliefs within the church and issues negatively affecting the church?
Back to the point of examining the Corinthians, let us now turn our attention to 1 Corinthians 12:13. In this part of the letter, Paul has been talking about spiritual gifts, love, and maintaining unity through diversity. Then in 1 Cor 12:13 Pauls writes, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” I find it interesting that Paul reminds the Corinthians just like the Ephesians the body is composed of Jews and Greeks as you said. As Colton pointed from Ephesians 1:22-23 (also see Colossians 1:24), the body is the church. The terms are used interchangeably here referring to the same thing. Similarly to Ephesians 4 Paul says by one spirit we are all baptized into one body (Eph 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:24 – body = church). The repetition of the number one should be noted in these passages. There is only one body or church. We are placed into the body or church through baptism whether we are Jews or Greeks. There is no longer a distinction between Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles).
Closing out. In John 8:32, Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” We can know the truth of the church, salvation, guidance for life, etc in the Word of God. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “…I will build my church…” Notice the word church is singular. Jesus purchased His church with His own blood (Acts 20:28), and the one church where the truth can be found and should be a part of. Luke records in Acts 17:11 that the people of Berea received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. If being a part of the right church is not important, why would the people of Berea be concerned with searching the Scriptures to see if what the people said were so? 2 Peter 2:1-2 warns of false prophets among members in the church. Why should we be concerned with false prophets among the brethren if it does not matter if we are in the right church? In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Why should we use God’s Word to correct others teaching something concerning the church if it does not matter that we are in the right church? In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Why should we be ready to give a defense for the beliefs of the church and its teachings if it does not matter if we are in the right church?
According to Scripture, it is of the utmost importance that an individual is in the right church. Jesus died for the church He described in Matthew 16:18 and established in Acts 2. The right church can be found and is described in Scripture.
- Tyler Alexander