Unity

Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

This is one of my VERY favorite passages...

A couple others verses (among many) that speak of unity are:

1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Romans 15:5
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus...

Col 1:18 says, "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

If there is ONE body and the body is the church, then there is ONE church. If we are all to be united in mind and thought, why are there so many different denominations teaching so many differing doctrines? This brings up another question:

1 Tim 3:15
if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

If the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth, but none of them agree on what is true, which church is this referring to? How do we know which one is teaching truth and which one is teaching partial-truth or heresy?

Mat 16:17-19
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, andthe gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Christ promised to protect his church from the gates of Hades and he gave this church (and Peter) the authority to bind and loose... If Christ kept his promise, which we know he did, which church did he protect? Which church has this authority to bind and loose?

We are to be united... there is one body, and one church, the pillar and foundation of truth, protected by Christ with authority to bind and loose. Where is this "one" church?

Perhaps the answer lies in taking a serious look at history.