With so many forms of “Christianity” today, one may ask, “How can I know I have found the church of the New Testament?” This is a valid question, and we can see why some are confused with over 2000 individual religious groups all claiming to be Christians. However, we can say with certainty that it is possible to find the church revealed in the New Testament. As an illustration, consider the following:
I have been married to my beautiful wife for twenty-two years. Let us sup pose I decide to take her on a cruise to celebrate our anniversary. Shortly after boarding a ship filled with more than 2000 passengers, we become separated. My wife is a petite brunette. Suppose every other woman on the ship is a petite brunette; am I to despair that I should never find her among so many others? Of course not. Even though many on board are similar, I can easily find her because she is unique among all others. She has specific characteristics that al low me to easily distinguish between her and all others.
The same can be said for the Lord’s church. Jesus promised, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). Note that Je sus did not promise to build “churches,” but “church” (singular). In Ephesians 5:22–32, Paul parallels the husband and-wife relationship with that of Jesus and His church. As a husband is to have only one wife, and a wife only one husband, Jesus has only one church. In fact, throughout this text, there are twelve references to the church, all of which are singular in nature:
- 5:23—“the church” and “the body”;
- 5:24—“the church”;
- 5:25—“the church” and “her”;
- 5:26—“her”;
- 5:27—“a glorious church,” “she,” and “her”;
- 5:29—“the church”;
- 5:30—“His body”;
- 5:32—“the church.”
If it is possible for me to identify my wife among thousands of other women, though they share some of her characteristics, then it is equally possible for me to find the church Jesus built, though there be thousands sharing some of its characteristics.
