There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

The Power Of One

According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11^th Edition), the meaning of the word “one” is “being a single unit or thing; being one in particular; being in agreement or union; the number denoting unity.” It is found over 2700 times in the Bible, with the book of Numbers having the most use of the number (inquiring minds wanted to know). Paul uses the number one to establish a clear doctrine of the New Testament church. His letter to the church at Ephesus is a thesis on the church established through the will of the Father. Jesus had promised to build His church, and the apostles had remained in Jerusalem as instructed by the Lord to fulfill that promise. On the Day of Pentecost, the kingdom of God was established, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

The New Testament church grew in number, beginning with three thousand devout Jews as the first disciples, and then Luke writes about five thousand with multitudes obeying the gospel. Luke writes the book of Acts describing the beginning of the church in Jerusalem, spreading to Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. Congregations of God’s people were established in cities throughout the Roman Empire. The apostle Paul was instrumental in spreading the gospel for many years. Six of Paul’s letters were directly sent to local congregations of God’s people (Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica). He also wrote to the churches in Galatia. John describes the seven churches of Asia in the Revelation (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea).

Paul explains in his letter to Ephesus the unity of the New Testament church. Contrary to the religious world today, in the First Century, there was one church. He says there was one body, which is the church, and Jesus was head over all things to the church. Men are heard to thank God for all the different churches, but this is contrary to the pattern of the New Testament. Paul said there was one church because there was only one church. One Holy Spirit established the church and its work of saving souls. Believers in God do not suggest there are two Spirits. There is only one! Through the promise of salvation, there is only one hope because there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life, and no man could come to the Father but through Him. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life because there is only one Lord.

There is only one faith. The world has many faiths, but God said there was only one. Accepting other faiths rejects the one faith established in the word of God. The Bible is the only book that reveals the mind of God. The Book of Mormon, Watchtower, and the Koran are books written by men. There is only one faith, which is found in the name of Jesus Christ and the words of the Bible. Paul preached the pure gospel of Jesus Christ because there was only one faith teaching one baptism. The baptism Paul writes about is water baptism. He emphasizes the necessity of baptism as much as the necessity of one church, one faith, one Lord, one Spirit, and one hope. Some claim to possess the Holy Spirit baptism. Paul denies this, showing there is only one baptism. No one has Holy Spirit baptism today.

The final ‘one’ in the list is that there is only one God. There are religions today claiming multiple gods, and these are all false. God has always been a Jealous God because He demands singular worship from His creation. There are no gods that created this world. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. It is He who sits above the circle of the earth. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (one). United together in the bond of unity is one church, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. There is a lot to say about ‘one,’ and it would be well for all to heed the warnings of adding to the word of God. When you have two or more, you go beyond the will of the Father, and He has one answer for those who refuse to accept the ‘oneness’ of His word.