One Body, One Faith, One Baptism (No. 001D)

Introduction

The one fundamental platform of the faith is simple and straightforward. Not only is there one body, one faith, and one baptism, but the One True God is the God and Father of us all who is above all and through all and in us all. How is it that given that clear statement the Churches of God in the Twentieth and Twenty-First centuries can bounce from one doctrine to the other denying the Pre-existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243) on the one hand and then claiming to be monotheist and yet claiming Christ to be a coeternal and coequal God on the other hand and progressing from the Ditheism (No. 076B) of Armstrong’s doctrines to the Binitarianism and Trinitarianism (No. 076) of the other elements of the Churches of God and in some cases rattling back and forward in irrational polytheist doctrines of their own making. It seems that historically at no time in the last two millennia has there been so much heresy in the Churches of God as there is now. There will be more weeping and gnashing of teeth at the coming of the Messiah than can be imagined and almost at the rate of one to a professed Christian. Remember this position well.

“There is one body, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6)

This is eternal life that they know thee the One True God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent (Jn. 17:3) (see Eternal Life (No. 133); The Shema (No. 002B); and On Immortality (No. 165)).

Christ is one of the Elohim, who are the sons of God, and he was made the subordinate God of Israel by Eloah, his Elohim, as we see in Psalm 45:6-7 and we know that this is Jesus Christ from Hebrews 1:8-9 and he was the Monogenes Theos (B4) of John 1:18 (F043); and see the Summary and Harmony of the Gospels (F043vi). He was faithful to the one making him (Heb. 3:2) as the beginning of God’s creation (Rev. 3:14). This message was given to the Laodiceans because this church in the Last Days was penetrated by agents and became Trinitarian (see No. 170, No. 283; No. 122).

It is important that we understand the Shema (No. 002B) relates to the one True God Eloah or Elahh (Chald), or Allah’ (Arabic) as is also covered in the Shahadah of Islam. See also The Five Pillars of Islam (Q001A) and

http://ccg.org/islam/quran.html.

One Body: The Body of Christ (No. 012B)

One Body refers to the Body of Christ which is the Church of God:

“We have a responsibility to find it and join it and keep the Lord’s Supper with it and preach the gospel of the kingdom of God in and from it and then provide baptism through its organised structure.

The Bible is clear about the Body of Christ as we see.”

1Corinthians 10:15-17 I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

“Thus we who are many partake of one cup and one bread which is of itself the Body of Christ. We are required to examine ourselves in eating and drinking the body. We are required to discern the body for if we do not do that we bring judgment on ourselves.

1Corinthians 11:28-29 Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.

We must identify the correct body and partake of the Lord’s Supper with that body. We cannot take the Lord’s Supper incorrectly and with an unauthorised body of people not properly designated and fitted to perform as the Body of Christ.”

The Church

Questions and Answers on the Christian Faith (No. 003B)

“The church is a body of people that make up the congregation of God. It is not a building. Christ said he would build his church on the rock and God is that rock (Ps. 18:1-2). The church is pastored by elders and deacons, chosen by the brethren (Acts 1:22,26; 6:3; 5-6; 15:22; 1Cor. 16:3; 2Cor. 8:19,23). The Holy Spirit makes them overseers of the flock which is the Church of God (Acts 20:28).

The Church has one commission given to it by Jesus Christ.”

Mathew 16:18-20 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." ²⁰Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

See The Commission of the Church (No. 171).

The apostles preached the same gospel that Jesus received from the Father and which he gave to them.

John 7:16-18 So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; ¹⁷if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. ¹⁸He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

They were commanded to take this message to all the nations.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.

Mark 16:15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

2John 9-10 Anyone who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting;

It was the same gospel message for everyone. People were not taught different gospels and then given a choice.

2Corinthians 11:4 For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.

Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel-- ⁷not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.

“False Religion was established by Satan to destroy the faith once delivered. The process was covered in Wars of the End Part I: Wars of Amalek (No. 141C). These aspects are also covered in the works on the Seven Seals (No. 140). See also Wars of the End Part IV: The End of False Religion (No. 141F).

The Relationship between Salvation by Grace and the Law (No. 082)

The Gospel is the word of truth and is hence the Gospel of salvation, resulting in the sealing of the repentant with the Holy Spirit (see also Truth (No. 168)).

Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, (RSV)

Salvation is obtained from the sacred writings or Scripture. Being inspired by God, Scripture is able to instruct the repentant for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

2Timothy 3:15-16 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (RSV)

One Spirit:

One Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit (No. 117)

“The Holy Spirit:

* is that essence or power of God which Christ promised to send to the elect (Jn. 16:7).

* is the extension of the living power of God. The means by which we become partakers of the Divine Nature (2Pet. 1:4), being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17; Eph. 5:18), hence all Sons of God (Job 38:7; Rom. 8:14; 1Jn. 3:1-2) and co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29; Tit. 3:7; Heb. 1:14; 6:17; 11:9; Jas. 2:5; 1Pet. 3:7).

* is given by God to those who ask (Lk 11:9-13) and obey Him, dwelling in those who keep His Commandments (1Jn. 3:24; Acts 5:32).

* is the comforter that leads God’s servants into all truth (Jn. 14:16,17,26).

* confers the power to witness (Acts 1:8).

* administers gifts as recorded in 1Corinthians 12:7-11.

* has fruits as described in Galatians 5:22-23.

* is not given by measure (Jn. 3:34 RSV; Rom. 12:6).

* is the means by which God can finally become all, in all (1Cor. 15:28; Eph. 4:6).

* operates from before baptism and draws us to God through Christ (Heb. 7:25).

‘The Spirit is the means by which we worship God as stated in Philippians 3:3. Thus it cannot be God as an object of worship and hence equal to God the Father. It is a force which empowers Christ.’

For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

The Statement of Beliefs of the Christian Faith, (No. A1); (see also Shepherd of Hermas (B10) (F067)).

Fruit of the Holy Spirit (No. 146)

“The Holy Spirit is the means by which we are able to understand the Bible, and in the Bible God reveals His directions and plans for us.

The Holy Spirit is the means by which we guard the truth. The central fruit is our ability to first worship the One True God. The capacity of the Holy Spirit to show these fruits is centred on the capacity to worship God the Father.”

2Timothy 1:13-14Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; ¹⁴guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. (RSV)

“The whole structure is joined together through the Holy Spirit in Christ and grows into a Holy Temple and thus we are the Temple of God. We are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:21-22) (cf. also Man as the Temple of God (No. 282D)).

Ephesians 2:18-22 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; ²²in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Thus the Holy Spirit is the means of communicating the power of God among us all and tying us all to God and thus cannot be a separate person, as this is contrary to the purpose for which it had been created among the Elohim as sons of God.”

(Commentary on Ephesians (No. F049))

One Lord:

Consubstantial with the Father (No. 081)

One God and One Lord – 1Corinthians 8:5-6

For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" --⁶yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

The LORD God (Yahovah Elohim) possessed the title of Lord (Adonai) from ancient times. The title applied to the Messiah in Psalm 110:1 is “Adoni” (my lord) and is never used of God. It is always used in reference to a human or angel.

There is only one main word used for ‘lord’ in Greek and that is “kurios” [Strong’s G2962]. The New Testament uses the title Lord (kurios) interchangeably, sometimes referring to the One God, other times referring to Christ.

God the Father exalted Jesus to the position of Lord over the church. Jesus is our adon (lord) according to Psalms 110:1, Acts 2:32-36. He is not Adonai (Lord).

Acts 2:32-36 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear. ³⁴For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, ³⁵till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.' ³⁶Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Psalm 110:1-7 A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool." ²The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes! ³Your people will offer themselves freely on the day you lead your host upon the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning like dew your youth will come to you. ⁴The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchiz'edek." ⁵The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. ⁶He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. ⁷He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.

The references to Psalms 110:1 in the NT affirm the Father is the Supreme Lord God and the Messiah is my lord. Jesus sat down at the right hand of God Himself. God is his Majesty on high; Jesus is a prince of his Majesty.

Hebrews 1:3 He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Acts 5:31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

See God out Saviour (No. P198)

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 10:36 You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Romans 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 14:8-9 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.⁹For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (RSV)

Jude 1:4 For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

One Faith:

See Faith (No. 020).

Faith and Works (No. 086)

One faith is the message of the Word of God.

1Corinthians 2:5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Hebrews 11:1-6 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ²For by it the men of old received divine approval. ³By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. ⁴By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking. ⁵By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. ⁶And without faith it is impossible to please him.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live."

Romans 3:30 since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ²Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

Romans 10:8-9 But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); ⁹because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ephesians 3:17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;

One Baptism:

Repentance and Baptism (No. 052)

The Sacraments of the Church (No. 150)

Born Again (No. 172)

Baptism is the first of two sacraments of the Church; the other being the Lord’s Supper (cf. The Lord’s Supper (No. 103)).

Baptized into Christ

Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

When John was baptizing in the River Jordan, the following is what he told people about Jesus:

Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John baptized in water, but Jesus was to baptize with “the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Acts 1:5 for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

The apostle Peter refers to this promise when he preached to the household of Cornelius.

Acts 11:15-16 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism Ceremony (No. D3)

We are baptised by the authority of God the Father. We are then placed, as betrothed, into the body of the Son. This is through the activity and power of God's Holy Spirit. It is based upon repentance and conversion in response to the calling.

The decision regarding Baptism is a three-part process:

First we must repent, meaning change;

Second we are baptized for the remission of sin;

Third we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:6)

God the Father:

· He is the Supreme Deity of the Universe.

· He is the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens, the Earth and all things therein (Gen. 1.1; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 124:8; Isa. 40:26,28; 44:24; Acts 14:15; 17:24-25; Rev. 14:7);

· He alone is immortal (1Tim. 6:16).

· He alone is omnipotent and omniscient (Isa. 45:5-7,18,21; Ps. 44:20-21; 50:11; 69:5; 94:11)

· He is our God and Father and the God and Father of Jesus Christ (Jn. 20:17).

· He is the Most High God (Gen. 14:18; Num. 24:16; Deut. 32:8; Mk. 5:7), and

· He is the One True God (Jn. 17:3; 1Jn. 5:20).

The Statement of Beliefs of the Christian Faith (No. A1)

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth;

Deuteronomy 4:35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD;

1Chronicles 17:20 There is none like thee, O LORD, and there is no God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

1Chronicles 29:11-12 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. ¹²Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over all. In thy hand are power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

1Kings 8:60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.

Isaiah 43:11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

(cf. No. 198 above)

This text refers also to the position of Christ as the subordinate God of Israel who was anointed with the oil of gladness above his partners in the elohim by his God or Ha Elohim (Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:8-9). And so also:

Isaiah 45:5-7, 18, 22 ⁵I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me, ⁶that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. ⁷I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the LORD, who do all these things.

¹⁸For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

²²"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 63:16 For thou art our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is thy name.

Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.

1Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

1Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time.

James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder.

The Churches of God must repent to live and their ministry will be punished (Jas. 3:1).

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