ANSWER: In Ephesians 4:4, the Bible says that there is only “one body.” In Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18 & 24, we learn that the “body” is the church. Therefore, if there is only “one body,” there is clearly only one church. This church is the church of the Bible and is the only church that is of divine origin. All others are of men and will eventually fail (Psalms 127:1). Neither is there salvation to be found in them (Acts 4:12). The only church in which one can be saved is called in the Bible the “ church of Christ” (Romans 16:16). It is the church that Christ promised to build (Matthew 16:18); the church that He died to build (Acts 20:28); and the church to which baptized believers were added on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:47). It is that body of believers, called out from this world, who look only to the word of God for their worship practices and conduct of life. It is the church of Christ!

The head of the church (the one Body) is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22). Each congregation is self-ruling and overseen by a plurality of elders, independent of all other congregations. By this we understand that there is no higher governing body on this earth. Each congregation answers only to Jesus Christ and His Word! Deacons are to serve the congregation under the oversight of the elders. Evangelists are to proclaim the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5). A religious group without this prescribed organization cannot be the church of the Bible! A religious group with an earthly headquarters staffed by people with unscriptural titles such as“Archbishop, Cardinal, and Pope” cannot, therefore, be the church of the Bible!