Apologetics: Why Can There Be Only One Church?

[TimothyH]

Becuase Jesus Christ had only one body.

Two thousand years ago in ancient Palestine, God entered creation.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:9)
With the advent of Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity entered space and time and walked with us, as one of us.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
And this event happened exactly once. Mary was greeted by the Archangel Gabriel once. She was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit once. She conceived once and gave brith to one God, one Christ, one Jesus. And that Jesus had one body. Not two Christs. Not ten Christs. One conception. One birth. One Christ with one body. And his body is the Church.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church… (Colossians 1:24)
Christ’s body is the Church. This is not a spiritual statement. It is not a metaphor. It is as real as the sandwich you will eat for lunch and as concrete as your driveway. One body, one Church. It can’t be any other way.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Look at John’s words again very carefully. The disciples “Saw his glory”. Christ’s body was visible. The disciples saw Christ with their eyes. The disciple whom Jesus loved leaned on Jesus bosom. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds. The disciples could point to him and say, “There he is.” John the Baptist did just that.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
Jesus was visible, identifiable and touchable. And he had one visible, identifiable, touchable, crucifiable body. And that one visible, identifiable, touchable, persecutable, body is the Church.

Why is there only one Church? Because Christ had only one body. Not two bodies, not ten bodies and not twenty five thousand bodies but one body. Christ had one body and therefor there can be only one Body of Christ, his Church.

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

And his one, visible, touchable, identifiable body is with us still.

-Tim-

 

[Moro_Rock]

Also the Church is the Bride of Christ , and Christ only has one bride .

 

[Yahya_Jr]

Also the Church is the Bride of Christ , and Christ only has one bride .

Yup thats true! There cannot be multiple churches- ONLY ONE CATHOLIC CHURCH!

Ave Maria!

 

[Salvatore123]

Being an orthodox Catholic is so “ingrained” in my life that thinking of there being more than one “legitimate” Church is like thinking there is more than one God.

I just can’t think that way . . .

P.S. - If you have God’s authentic Church that speaks for Him on Earth, why would you want to belong to another?

 

[Monica4316]

There is one Christ, and He has one Body, the Church

 

[teachccd]

There will always be as many Churches as there are answers to Jesus’ most profound question, “Who do you say I am?” But ultimately there is only one Christ with only one message. Those who dissent find themselves following another Christ. It is really sad since their fevency and love is there but their understanding of the truth is distorted. Jesus said that He would bring division and He did…

 

[ESMDHokie77]

Also the Church is the Bride of Christ , and Christ only has one bride .

game, set, match.

So when will a protestant come to this thread to talk about "the invisible church catholic:??

 

[Tiberius1701]

There will always be as many Churches as there are answers to Jesus’ most profound question, “Who do you say I am?” But ultimately there is only one Christ with only one message. Those who dissent find themselves following another Christ. It is really sad since their fevency and love is there but their understanding of the truth is distorted. Jesus said that He would bring division and He did…

Well, to be precise, there will always be as many ecclesial communities as there are answers to Jesus’ question… There’s only one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

 

[Little_One0307]

game, set, match.

So when will a protestant come to this thread to talk about "the invisible church catholic:??

LOL when they do, PM me about it. That will make for some interesting reading for sure.

 

[Tiberius1701]

game, set, match.

So when will a protestant come to this thread to talk about "the invisible church catholic:??

Hehehe. The invisible Catholic Church? Is that when we’re all hiding in the bushes?

 

[vwtaylorii]

You can also look at Jesus pray for us to His Father in John 17 when Jesus said the He pray that we are one like Him and His Father (verse 11 and 21).

 

[TimothyH]

You can also look at Jesus pray for us to His Father in John 17 when Jesus said the He pray that we are one like Him and His Father (verse 11 and 21).

John 17 is so theologically rich.

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. (john 17:20-23)

Our uniity is a means by which the world will know that Jesus was sent by God and a means by which we may be brought to perfection. That is so powerful and one of the greatest arguments in favor of a Church with very real power to govern, an authoritative teaching office, and strong leadership.

It’s also a condmnation of bickering, factions, arguments and jealosy of the type that often split Churches, Catholic and non-Catholic alike and about which Paul warned in Galatians 5:20.

-Tim-

 

[yosephdaviyd]

Thanks Tim

That is true! No Uno Mas in Catholicism!

 

[fhansen]

Because there’s only one gospel.

 

[Little_One0307]

Morning,

I was hoping that someone else would post this reply, but as it has not been posted, I submit the following.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph 813 - The Church is one because of her source: the highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father, and the Son in the Holy Spirit. The Church is one because of her “soul”: “It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that hs is the principle of the Church’s unity.” UNITY IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THE CHURCH [emphasis is mine]

 

[PJM]

=Tiberius1701;7891597]Well, to be precise, there will always be as many ecclesial communities as there are answers to Jesus’ question… There’s only one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Being Precise

Substitute the Word “Faith” [set of common beleifs and teachings] for “church” and does your defination still hold up? What is the Jesus question you have in mind here?

God Bless you,
Pat