CALLED IN ONE BODY

By Nana Yaw Aidoo

To the Saints in Colosse the apostle Paul wrote; "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Col.3:15).

Notice if you would that the recipients of the epistle are said to have been "called." The idea of "calling" implies that these Colossians prior to their becoming Saints (Col.1:2) were in a place that at the time of writing, they no longer were. According to Colossians 1:13, that place from which they were called was "the power of darkness." It is written that "...the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19) and the only way by which one can be delivered from the power of "the god of this age" (2 Cor.4:4) is if such a one were "called."

To be "called" is to be saved and the means by which men are called by God is the gospel. To the Thessalonians Paul wrote; "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes.2:13-14).

Also, in another place he wrote; "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Rom.1:16). Thus, except a person obeys the gospel from the heart (Rom.6:17; Heb.5:9), which culminates in baptism unto the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Rom.6:3-6; 1 Pet.3:21) he shall in no wise be "called" by God.

Notice also that Paul in telling the Colossians that they had been "called", told them that they were called "in one body." Not only were they called, but they were called into a location. Salvation has and always has had a location. In the Ante-diluvian age it was located in the ark that God commissioned Noah to build. Today, it is located in "the body." Hence, when God called or saved the Colossians, He placed them in the "locus" of salvation, which is the body.

Notice once again that the body is "one." The Colossians were called in "one body." There is a singular body that God in His wisdom places those whom He calls or saves. What then is this body? The apostle Paul wrote; "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church" (Col.1:24). Clearly, the body is the church. Therefore, if God calls or saves men in "one body" and if the body is the church, then it follows that God is saving people in "one church." Of this conclusion there is no escape.

Amidst the multitude of religious bodies, we ask the question; "which church?" Friends, it's the same one that Christ built. Somewhere in Caesarea Philippi, after the confession of Simon Peter our Lord declared; "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matt.16:18). As sure as God cannot lie (Tit.1:2), this church was built and just like Paul told the Colossians that they were called or saved in one body, the inspired historian recorded that; "...the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). And due to the fact that this church belongs to Christ, Paul called congregations of this "one church," "the churches of Christ" (Rom.16:16).

There is only one church in which all who are saved are located. It is the Lord's church, the church of Christ. We quickly note that since the body or church is as one as God the Father is one (Eph.4:4-6), then denominational churches do not in any way form a part of the Lord's church, the church of Christ (see 1 Cor.1:10-13; 3:3-11). One church cannot be as good as another, anymore than one god is as good as another.

Have you been called in the one body of the saved? If not, then please visit a church of Christ near you for further studies on this issue.

God bless us all in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.