How Many Churches Does God Have?
Every description of the divine church shows its oneness: “Other sheep [Gentiles] I have, which are not of this fold [the Jews]: them also I must bring… and there shall be one fold [church], and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
We have seen that Christ is “the head of the body, the church.” (Colossians 1:18) Therefore, as there is but one head, there can be but one body.
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5)
“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. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit…. But now are they many members, yet but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13,20)
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” (Ephesians 2:14-16)
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
These scriptures prove positively that there is but one true church, just as there is but one God, one true God. Since we are called of Christ into one body, the call to join various bodies must be of the antichrist.
Again, the church sustains the same relation to Christ that a wife does to her husband.
“And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.” (Hosea 2:19-20)
“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” (Romans 7:4)
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2)
“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom.” (John 3:29)
“For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” (Isaiah 54:5)
The idea of Christ having more than one wife (church) is repugnant to the Bible, and a slander on the Son of God.
“Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” (Ephesians 3:15)
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)
From these and other scriptures, we see the church is God’s family, or household. And, since a man can have only one family, it follows that God has but one church. It would be an awful reflection on the holiness of God to have many wives and separate rival families, and they of the “nude and lewd” character Bishop Foster ascribes to the modern sects. Therefore the multiplicity of sects, falsely called churches, are not God’s church.