Jesus has ONLY ONE BODY here on earth– and it is the CHURCH.
His BODY is INTACT not DECAPITATED nor amputated nor SEVERED, it is whole and complete (having no spot or wrinkle) - not divided but has MANY MEMBERS.
Each member has its own function. Imagine if the most sensitive part does not perform its responsibility to coordinate with the other parts of the body or it seized to operate in its design, the other parts will feel the pain. [Read 1Cor. 12]
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. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [1Cor 12:12-27]
Jesus came to break every partition, every wall and every barrier that creates division amongst His people. Many churches are trying to separate themselves from everyone else. They identify themselves as being set apart for a purpose which should not be.
There is ONLY:
ONE GOSPEL:
TO PREACH and TEACH JESUS-His death and Resurrection until He comes. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth . . . [Romans 1:16]
ONE MISSION:
TO Win Souls For THE KINGDOM OF GOD - Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
ONE MINISTRY:
The Ministry of Reconciliation. We are all ambassadors of the Living God representing the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment). So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
A branch that is cut off from the other branches will wither and die. The Lord said, “Be ye separate and come out from among them”. Be separated from the world and the things of the world for he who loves the world is the enemy of God. He did not say to be separate from those of the household of FAITH, but rather from the world. We sometimes or most of the time compare ourselves with one another –who is greater or better. Paul’s word of encouragement to everyone, “For I say to every man that is among you, through the grace given unto me, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” [Romans 12:3] Jesus says it this way: “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant”. Matthew 23:11 If you want to be the greatest- then S-E-R-V-E …
Others say I am from this church and you are from that church so there are differences - we try to identify ourselves from amongst ourselves not realizing that we should be ONE as the God Head is ONE: As He Is so are we in this world. We cannot say that we are the “only” church- Christ is not divided-there is UNITY in Him. Elijah at one point said “I am the ONLY PROPHET. . .”, but the Lord said to him, “I have reserved 7,000 other prophets who did not bow down to Baal”. Sometimes we think we are the only one doing the TRUE WORKS of the LORD, but we fail to understand He has other sheep who are obedient to His call and we do not even know it. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. [Romans 8:28]
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of (put the name of the church), that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of (name of your church) and I of (name of another church) and I of (name of other church); and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was (this church) crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of (their church)? Who then is [His Name], and who is [Her Name] but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? [Your Name] have planted, [Other Name] watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [1Cor 1:10-13; 1Cor 3:]
SO, I should say that we should put a STOP to this matter which is not pleasing to the Lord . . . and just FOCUS our eyes to the Author and Finisher of our Faith, the Shepherd and Bishop of our soul. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord what shall this man do?” Jesus, answered Him, “If I will that he tarry till I come, What is that to you? FOLLOW THOU ME!!!”.
We should not seek the Praise of men but the Praise and Approval of God.
Be Blessed.
