Among the ancients (Jacob as an example) and those of a not to far distant past, men paid monies, gave something of value when he asked for a woman’s hand in marriage. If a man had beautiful daughters his bank account was greatly enhanced, it was the way some families kept “soul and body together”. No man of stature would dare approach his future father-in-law without such a handsome fee. It was a way of assessing the value of the love he had for her. Christ bought His bride with His life’s blood. No higher price could be paid. Her value, in His sight, was without equal. This being true, Christ had as many brides as He had life’s with which to buy Her!! He married His bride before He created the heavens and the earth, but made an announcement of it to all mankind in Jerusalem, AD 33, at 9:00am on Sunday morning. Again, He married only ONE bride.
To make it so plain that none could misunderstand, Christ also called her His body. He did not mean to give some the understanding that it was some one else’s body, The bride’s body becomes the property of her husband upon marriage. “And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 I find that hard to misunderstand, but some do not, they think if it says ONE it is just kidding or that all religious bodies make up His complete body and their church is a part of that make-up. This may sound plausible until we come the verse which reads: “but now are there many members, yet but ONE body.” (emphasis mine) 1 Corinthians 12:20
In first Corinthians 12, all know Paul is discussing the relationship amongst the various and diverse members of the human body; does any think there is more than ONE body under discussion? He talks about the eye, hand, feet, head, ear, but they are ALL apart of just ONE BODY. (If you cannot see this, you are in need of serious help and this article may not help you!) “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.” 1 Corinthians 12:18 He concludes with the fact (undisputed by any and everybody) there is ONE AND BUT ONE BODY!! If this is not satisfactory and you want more proof, read Romans 12:4. “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 members one of another.” How can that be misunderstood? In First Corinthians 12: 12-13 Paul writes: “For as body is one, and has many members and all the members of that ONE body: so 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.” You cannot think this is describing everybody that has a body, it describes ONE AND ONLY ONE, it is that ONE that people must be baptized to be saved to enter!
Ephesians 2:16 reads: “And that He might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” I purposely left out what would make this verse satisfactory to the Devil and any denominational preacher IF the Holy Spirit had so done, they would have been agreeable. Christ made us reconciled to God in ONE body!! The body is His Church, He has only One, for her He paid the last true measure of devotion, His life’s blood, and for her He is returning!! I will cite the verse correctly: “And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” This verse defines, dates, and distinguishes this body from any other—Christ reconciled (brought two warring parties, God and the sinner) by the church that came into existence in the first century—no denomination started, then!!
