THE CHURCH OF CHRIST-ITS UNITY
                                      Eph 4: 1-6

               Introduction: The question of the unity of the church is one
           of vast importance, but, due to the presence of denominationalism,
           it is seldom seriously considered today by the average man.  But
           that the church revealed in the New Testament is not a denomina-
           tion is very evident, for the idea of unity both denies and opposes
           the idea of denomination.  It is impossible for both ideas to
           exist at the same time.  Furthermore, no man can read the Bible
           and find in it a single passage that even suggests such a thing as
           modern denominationalism.  However, in considering this lesson,
           let us notice:

           I. THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES
               1. Matt. 16: 18; Eph. 5: 25.  Does one get the idea from read-
           ing these passages that Christ and Paul were speaking about some
           denomination?  If so, which one?  As a matter of fact, no man
           lives who can trace denominationalism any further back than the
           days of Martin Luther, beginning with 1517.
               2. In New Testament times, Christians were known simply as
           members of the church.  No one ever asked to what church an-
           other belonged, for there was only one church then.*
               3. 1 Cor. 12: 12, 13 (Are people all baptized into one body
           today?  Does the present-day practice sound like scripture?);
         Eph. 4: 4; Rom. 12: 4, 5; 1 Cor. 12: 18-20 (Observe that God, not
         man, set the members in the body.) (Cf.  Acts 2: 47.)
             4. But, let us ask, What is the body Eph. 1: 22, 23; 5: 23
         (most people would condemn a man today for having more than
         one wife at a time, but many of them will hold to a theory that
         permits Christ to be married to about two hundred at the same
         time); Col. 1: 18.*

         II.  EVERY ILLUSTRATION IN THE BIBLE EMPHASIZES THE ONE-
                NESS OF THE CHURCH
             1. John 15: 1, 2, 5. Every branch is identical in character
         and fruit. (Cf. 1 Cor. 1: 10.) There never was a vine from
         which there sprang out branches differing in origin, doctrine, and
         practice.
             (1) The branches do not represent different religious bodies,
         that is, denominations, for such things were not in existence at
         the time Christ spoke.  Furthermore Christ said: "Abide in me,"
         not in some branch.
             2. Eph. 3: 14, I 5.
             3. John 10: 16.

         III.  CHRIST PRAYED FOR THE UNITY OF His PEOPLE
             1. John 17: 20, 2 1.
             2. How many professed Christian people help to answer that
         prayer?
              (1) By refusing to stand for anything not taught in the
           Bible, which might serve as a barrier to Christian fellowship-e.g.,
           by refusing to wear distinctive names, and by rejecting any doc-
           trine or practice, not plainly authorized by the scriptures.
              (2) By making certain that our faith and practice include
           everything the Lord requires his people to believe and do.
              3. It is often suggested that "we" merely want others to come
           to us, but such is not the case.  We simply urge every one to take
           his stand upon God's book alone, that is, reject every human creed,
           and eliminate from his practice all things that are not plainly
           taught therein.  When that is done, we will gladly go to them and
           will take our stand with them.
              May the Lord help us to realize the importance of the unity
           of his people and to do all we can to help bring about that happy
           state of affairs.