12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12–13, NKJV).
Scripture says the body of Christ is His church (Eph. 1:22-23). There is one church, one body, and Christ is its head and Savior (Eph. 1:22; 4:4; 5:23). Christ’s body is composed of those baptized into it. Each sinner is saved and added by the Lord to His church when he follows the Spirit’s teaching in baptism (Acts 2:37-38, 40-41, 47). Without a doubt, Christ’s church is composed of Christians. Each Christian is a member of His body. Yet, the practices and doctrines of men divided the church, producing many denominations (1 Cor. 1:10-13; Rom. 16:17). These denominations now tell us to “choose the church of your choice” and say the church of Christ is composed of churches (i.e., Reformed, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical, etc.), and the important thing is Christ, not the church. Today’s passage denies this offer and explanation. Individuals are “baptized into one body,” churches are not (v. 13). “All the members” of the “one body” are those baptized into it (v. 12-13). The “members” of the “one body” in today’s passage are Christians, not churches (i.e., denominations). A self-serving corruption of this passage’s context concludes Christ’s body is composed of churches (see 1 Cor. 12:11, 14-27, esp. v. 27; Rom. 12:5). Jesus built His church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). Men have built their churches. Of which are you a member? Which one do you suppose prevails against the power of sin and death (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23, 25-27)?
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