THE NARROW WAY (3)

Introduction:

A. The claims of Jesus fly in the face of our increasingly tolerant society
(Jn. 14:6; Mt. 28:18).

B. “One way is as good as another” is false unless Jesus was mistaken or deceived in His claims (Hb. 10:21).

C. Jesus mentions but two spiritual paths (Mt. 7:13-14, 21; 2 Cor. 2:11; Jn. 8:44; Acts 23:1; 26:1; 17:11).

I. There Is Only One Church Mentioned in the New Testament.

A. Those who obeyed the gospel in the first century did not join the church or join the church of their choice (Acts 2:38, 41, 47).

B. There is only one church that is comprised of all who have been saved and, thereby, added to the church by the Lord Himself (Is. 2:2-4; Dan. 2:44; Mt. 16:16- 18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23).

C. We cannot praise God for all the different churches (Jn. 17:20-21).

II. The One Church Is the Body of Christ.

A. Just as the body has only one head, so also the church has but one head, Jesus
(Col. 1:18; Mt. 16:18).

B. “So that” is expressive of purpose—that He will first place in everything
(Eph. 1:22-23).

C. The body receives its directives from the head.

III. The Body of Christ Finds Unity in His Word.

A. The unity of the body is only possible to the extent that its members cooperate with one another in carrying out the directives of the Head (1 Cor. 1:10;
Rev. 22:18-19).

B. How do we all agree? (Eph. 1:22; 1 Pet. 4:11; 1 Cor. 1:10).

Conclusion:

A. There is one church, the body of Christ, which finds its unity in His word.

B. “But there are good people in all churches!” (Acts 10:2; 11:14; Mt. 19:17;
Rm. 3:10, 23).

C. “Have you been baptized for the forgiveness of your sins?” (Mk. 16:16;
Acts 2:38).