The Unique Church

Jesus' Unique Church
Owen D. Olbricht

Some time ago I interviewed a number of students to determine what they would teach and how they would do as outreach workers for Christ. One young man was reluctant to answer some questions and seemed a little irritated when I asked him what he believed about the role of women in the church, what was to be used in worship, and the requirements of salvation.
Finally, he demanded, “Do you believe that only members of the church of Christ will be saved?”
I paused a few moments, then asked, “Do you know another church Jesus is going to save?”
He did not expect a question but perhaps desired the answer, “Yes,” to which he could respond, “So you believe that you and your little group will be the only ones saved?”
He sat thinking a few moments and then decided to end the interview.

Jesus' Has Only One!

Do you know of another church than Jesus' church He has promised to save? If so, which one is it? Does the Bible mention another church that will be saved?
After Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus promised, “upon this rock I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). Notice He did not say churches. His church is the only one He said He would build. He taught, “And other sheep [the Gentiles] I have which are not this fold [Jewish nation]; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock [church; Acts 20:28] and one shepherd [Jesus; John 10:11].
The purpose of Jesus was to “gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad” (John 11:52). His goal was not to begin all the churches that exist today.
Jesus built only one church of which He is the head (Eph. 5:23). His church is made up of those who believe in Him. “And the believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of men and women” (Acts 5:14).
The believer who were added to the Lord were not added to many churches, for this was not the will of Jesus. In His longest recorded prayer, He prayed first for the apostles, making a request of the Father. “Holy Father, keep through your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as are” (John 17:11b).
Following His prayer for the apostles, Jesus prayed for all who would believe on Him through their word, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one as You Father are in Me and I in You; that they may be one in Us...that they may be made perfect in one (John 17:20,23b).
Jesus does not approve of hundreds of churches that have developed over the past 20 centuries. He will save only His church and not all those men have started.

Jesus Saves Only One

Paul wrote, “Christ is head of the church; and He is Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23). The church and the body are one and the same (Eph. 1:21, 22; Col. 1:18, 24), thus He is the Savior “of His body, which is the church” (Col. 1:24b).
Jesus has only one body into which we are baptized (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:16; 4:4), thus only one church which He will save. His church is the only one He promised to build. It must be the only one He will save.
We enter Jesus' church through believing in Him (Acts 8:12; 18:8), repenting (Acts 2:38); confessing we believe in Him (Rom. 10:10), and being baptized (Cor. 12:13). Following our baptism we must live a new life (Rom. 6:4) and live for Him who died for us (2 Cor. 5:15).
Does the New Testament mention any other church that Jesus will save? If not, you should be a member of His church and not those that men have started.