One in Christ

The church of our Lord Jesus Christ is one. 

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, there is “one body and Spirit,” just as there is also one hope, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph. 4:4–6). Jesus taught of this essential unity during His earthly ministry. In John 10:16, speaking of bringing Gentiles into His fold, Jesus says that “there will be one flock, one shepherd.” Later on during what is called his High Priestly Prayer, Jesus asks of the Father that all who would believe in Him would be one, just as He and the Father are one (Jn. 17:20–21).

And so the church is one, united not just by a common faith in Christ, but united in Christ Himself—for He is the head of the church and we are all members of His one body (Col. 1:18). Christ is the ultimate source of our unity. And yet while our oneness is a fundamental attribute of the church that can never be denied, it is still something that we must always strive for and maintain at the same time. To do this we must avoid unnecessary divisions and conflicts which strike at and strain our fellowship and unity. 

And it is here at our Lord’s Table where we find a means of grace toward that end. It is here in this sacrament called communion, where God’s people all partake together as one. For this table is the Lord’s and this table is one. It stretches across the earth and across time, and at it sits the Lord and His one Bride. And so as we partake of this bread and wine week after week, the Father delights in continuing to answer Christ’s prayer—that all who believe in Him would be made one in His perfect love.

So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.