Many religions, one body?

Let us read a question of a nonmember and the answer of the editor in the Pasugo:

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE teachings of the Bible is that all religions that believe in Christ, like the various Protestant groups to name some, compose the Church of Christ mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Remember that this Church is also referred to by the Holy Scriptures as the "body" of Christ (Col. 1:18). The analogy is so purposive to indicate that as a literal body is made up of many parts, the Church built by Christ, though only one, is composed of many religious groups believing in Christ.

Ma. Cecilia Conception
Los Andes, Chile

Editor's reply:

To begin with, we are glad to know that you too believe that Christ built only one Church (Matt. 16:18) the name of which is Church of Christ (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). Concerning this Church, the Bible moreover teaches that the true believers in Christ are baptized into this "one body'' (I Cor. 12:13) and that outside it, there is judgment (I Cor. 5:12-13)

The Bible however negates the opinion that all religious organizations compose this singular Church of Christ. Proclaiming one of the characteristics of this body or Church of Christ, Apostle Paul stated, thus:

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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." Eph. 4:4-6

Notice the unity in the one Church— members share "one hope of [their] calling", believe in "one God/' receive "one baptism. and uphold "one" or the same "faith" Not allowing the members of the one true Church to be divided especially in faith, the Bible prescribes, "there should be no schism in the body" (I Cor. 12:25,Ibid)

"that there should be no schism in the body, but [that] the members should have the same care for one another." 1 Corinthians 12:25

This important quality of the Church can hardly be seen among various Protestant groups and other Christian-professing religions when taken as a whole. Viewed collectively, these religious organizations cannot be said to be truly united in faith and religious convictions. Though their members may all be professing faith in Christ, they nonetheless uphold different—and oftentimes opposing—creeds, set of doctrines, biblical interpretations, and religious practices. Concerning the belief about God, for instance, some denominations teach that Christ and the Father are one and the same, while others uphold that Christ is distinct from the Father.

Demonstrating that these religions do not have one or the same mode of baptism, some do immersion while others, pouring (effusion), and still others, sprinkling (aspersion). Some churches even bestow baptism on the infants, and worse, on the dead. As these religions make contradicting doctrinal claims, they cannot be all true, much less compose the true Church of Christ.

The Bible itself clarifies for us the composition of the Church of Christ In the one body or Church, what are many are the members not the organizations:

"Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body even though it is made up of different parts. In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink." I Cor. 12:12-13

Take note that the "Jews or Gentiles" and "slaves or free'' who are referred to as "many parts" of the body in the verses were the members of the Church of Christ during the apostles' time.

Therefore, the "many parts" composing the body or Church refer to the "many members" and not to "many religious groups" Then, again, these members, though many, have one hope and one faith, complimenting one another as one body.

As Apostle Paul further elucidated:

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another" Rom. 12:4-5

"Now indeed" as the Holy Scriptures itself concludes, "there are many members, yet one body." I Cor. 12:20

source: Pasugo Issue January 2011 studyiglesianicristo.com

Protestants and "Born again Christians" in different sects, denomination and non-denominational believe that they are still one body in Christ even though they are many.

I wonder, how can they say that they are "one body in Christ" where in the first place each of them have different beliefs? For example, there are protestants who do not believe in Trinity while many believe in it. There are protestants who believe this and that while others do not. What i mean here is, how can they claim that they are ONE IF they are not united in their beliefs? Again, ill quote:

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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." Eph. 4:4-6

The bible said that THERE IS ONE BODY, only ONE BODY and we all know what Christ mean here is the church as Christ as the head of the body:

"He is also head of the body, the church..." Col. 1:8

Christ is also the SAVIOR of the body:

“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.” Eph. 5:23

Meaning, it is the church which Christ built will he save on the Judgment Day. But, did Christ built churches? Let us consult the bible, Christ himself said:

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Mat. 16:18

Clearly above, Christ said "I will build my church", he did not said "I will build churches" or "I will build many churches that are mine". What church will Christ save?

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of christ which he purchased with his blood.” Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation

Christ will save his church, or Christ's church or the Church of Christ. Lamsa T. is accurate in the said verse because it is Christ and not God who has blood for him to purchase the church, and it is Christ and not God who died in the cross for our sins.

It is mentioned in Eph. 4:5 about:

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism;"

Again and again, how can they claim that they are ONE BODY in Christ IF not all believe in Trinity, and do not believe that Christ is God? While others have their own understanding about their God. How can they have "ONE LORD"?

How can they have "ONE FAITH" if every church or Christian religion in Protestantism have different beliefs to each other?

How can they have "ONE BAPTISM" if other do IMMERSION, while others do AFFUSION and ASPERSION?
The Church of Christ is described as "one new man":

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace," Eph. 2:14-15

This "one new man" is composed of two parts: Christ as the head, and members/church as the body:

"He is also head of the body, the church..." Col. 1:8

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another" Rom. 12:4-5

As a man, you have the head and ofcourse the body. Christ is the head and the body are members, not CHURCHES.

"Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body even though it is made up of different parts. In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink." I Cor. 12:12-13