Many "religious folks" today do not see the importance of realizing what God says. Some do not even know what it means to know what God has said. God repeatedly informs us that we are to study His word (II Timothy 2:15, John 5:39, and Acts 17:10-11). Upon realizing what God desires we then can be obedient to His will (James 1:21-25).

Our subject at hand is not a very difficult subject for the honest Bible student. When we make a statement like "God said", that means God expressed in words. We know that the Bible is God’s inspired word (II Timothy 3:16-17). We do know that men spoke and wrote the Bible as the Spirit guided them (John 16:13and II Peter 1:20-21). Therefore, our subject could be understood like this: God expressed in words that there is only one church. Now, how did God express that? For instance God said: "There is one body..." (Ephesians 4:4). One might state he did not say "only one body". Dear reader when God said there is one body He excludes all others thus there is ONLY one body. One might argue that one body does not mean one church. Yet, God said the body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18). You could easily paraphrase, not quote, Ephesians 4:4 with using the title of our article. To paraphrase is: "a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form." (Webster's New College Dictionary). Using Ephesians 4:4-6: "4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." There are seven one's mentioned in Ephesians 4:4-6. You could state, and be accurate in stating that there is ONLY one body, Spirit, hope of your calling, Lord, faith, baptism, and God. That is the 100% truth. To quote those passages by adding the word "only" would be adding to God's word (Revelation 22:18-19). To make that statement and then site that text would be making an accurate statement then backing it up with scripture. There is a great difference between quoting and paraphrasing then referencing something to support a statement. When God says that there is one of something, that means that there is no other, it is the only!

The fact and subject remains that there is only one church, and an inclusive fact is that the one church is the only saved church. Again, we can make that statement because Christ is going to save His body which is the church (Ephesians 5:23). He is not going to save any other church, for no other church follows His word. The only way to make it to Heaven is to do the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). It is God's will that one be born into the Kingdom which is the church (John 3:3-5 and Colossians 1:13-18). That one church is identified in the Bible as the church of Christ which was promised by and purchased by Christ (Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28, and Ephesians 5:25).

You might ask: "why is this so important?" Well, it is important to understand that there is one church, that the one church is the only saved church, and it is important to know how we can find this fact out? Then you will have those that question statements with motives that may not always be clear, in which it is good to be able to explain how such statements such as, "God said there is only one church", can be supported.

- B.A.Y.

When Joshua spoke to Israel he posed this question: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Christians need to pose that question more frequently to themselves. Who will I serve? Will I follow the mistakes of those before me or will I forsake the traditions and doctrines of men (Matthew 15:7-9) and serve God and God alone?

- B.A.Y.

Webster defines a creed as: "1 : a brief authoritative formula of religious belief. 2 : A set of fundamental beliefs; also : a guiding principle." Most religions today employ some sort of a creed or manual to serve as the additional authority or as a tool of clarification where the Bible does not speak. Is this biblical? God says this: (I Peter 4:11) "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." God also tells us that we must do all things based solely upon His word (Colossians 3:17, II Timothy 3:16, Revelation 22:18-19, II Peter 1:20-21 and Jeremiah 1:7).

For a creed to exist that implies that God’s word is not sufficient. That says that God did not supply us with all that we need to please Him. That is not what God says. God says that He delivered once (Jude 3), that which guides us in life and godliness (II Peter 1:3). It is the word of God that gives life (John 6:63) and guides us (Psalms 119:105). Man does not need to make up the rules as he goes. Man needs to follow the rules God gave or else he cannot be called the servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10-12)!

- B.A.Y.