Chapter I: One Church in Bible

On the board tonight I have an outline of the lesson and the Scriptures which shall be used. I would like for you who are interested to write these Scriptures down, that you may give them further study. Search the Scriptures, as the noble people of Berea did, to see whether these things are true. There are many Scriptures which show that there is only one church in the Bible. Here are a few of them listed under No. 1. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, referring to the confession that Peter had just made, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” He used the singular form of the word. He didn’t say “my churches,” but “my church.” Therefore, Jesus Christ built only one. He bought and paid for only one with his blood, and he has only one tonight. “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4). There is “but one body” (1 Cor. 12:20). That body is the church. “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23). Since there is but one body, and that body is the church, then it naturally follows that there is but one church. Only one church in the Bible, and more than 200 in America! Therefore, we must face the question, “Which Church Is Right?”

Please remember that this is no more my problem than it is yours. I’m not to blame for all these churches’ being in the world! I did not start them. None of you started them. We found them here when we were born into this world. They are here. We are not responsible for their beginning. Some of you may be responsible for helping to keep them going, but we found them here, and we have found that in the Bible there is only one. To decide which one is right is as much your problem as it is mine.

You may think that tonight I shall undertake to prove that the group of people with whom I am associated is the right group and that all the others are wrong. Well, I’m frank to say that I believe I’m right. If I didn’t, I would change! Some people think they are criticizing me when they say: “Oh, well, you just think you’re right and everybody else is wrong.” I believe that’s a compliment. Of course I believe I’m right! If I didn’t, I would change. A man who continues in a way which he does not believe to be right is a hypocrite! For one to teach what he sincerely believes is not conceit but sincerity. It’s not egotism but honesty. Not only do I believe that what I teach is right, but I stand ready to change it whenever anyone can show me wherein it is wrong. But I promise not to make a prejudiced or biased approach to this question.