This sole church is said to be catholic, or ecumenical [universal, world-wide], spread through all the globe, as it were. “Often” (says Calvin) “by the name ‘church’ we designate the entire multitude of men spread about the globe that professes to worship one God and Christ.”

Where can we see the Christian church? Obscured behind many imperfections is the church which Jesus Christ has established on the earth. Diversity and even division does not change the basic spiritual reality that this church is one—composed of many parts, which are bonded together in a whole. In his treatise on The Nature of the Church, newly translated into English, John Brown of Wamphray explains the oneness of the Christian church on earth.

There is only one church on earth.

There is but one church of Christ on earth. “Since there is one God, one faith, one mediator of God and man, Jesus Christ, the sole head of the church, it necessarily follows that the church is also one,” says Beza. “The whole multitude of Christians” (says Zwingli) “that regards itself as believing, being together one believing people, is said to be one church.” Hence this church is called “the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:26, 30), the “kingdom” of Christ (Daniel 7:14), “the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:24, 31, 33, 47), “the kingdom to be delivered up to the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24), “one body” (Ephesians 4:4-5), “the house of God” (1 Timothy 3:15), “the sheepfold” (John 10:16), “the temple” (2 Thessalonians 2:4); see also Song of Solomon 2:2; 4:8-10; 6:4.

The church is catholic, or ecumenical.

This sole church is said to be catholic, or ecumenical [universal, world-wide], spread through all the globe, as it were. “Often” (says Calvin) “by the name ‘church’ we designate the entire multitude of men spread about the globe that professes to worship one God and Christ.” Apollonius says, “We state that an external, universal church, spread throughout all the earth, is described for us in the sacred books…” Let the promises concerning this ecumenical church be considered: Psalm 22:27; 72:8; 86:9; Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 7:14; Zechariah 14:9. Also, the term “church” in the New Testament is most frequently taken, not for some particular church, but for this universal church (Acts 8:3; Galatians 1:13, compared with Acts 26:11; 9:31); thus in 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:10.

The church is an integral whole.

This church is not a genus (properly speaking), but an integral whole: for it is something singular, consisting of many parts joined together. Particular churches are all integral parts of this whole. It is an integral whole, which has parts outside of parts; but, it is evident that particular churches are distinguished from each other, both by location, and by order, and by size. Furthermore, it has its own accidental properties and various mutations, and also its own operations. It is called a “kingdom” (Colossians 1:13), in which there are “children” (Matthew 8:12). It is called a “tabernacle” (Revelation 21:3); a “building” (1 Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 2:21); a “temple” (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 3:17); a “city” (Ephesians 2:19), an “army” (Song of Solomon 6:10); “one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17).

The church is an aggregate whole.

This church is also an aggregate whole, the parts of which are united by means of a bond (Ephesians 4:16), like a city or army. Hence we read of members added to the church (Acts 2:41), and of the joining together of the saints (Ephesians 4:12). Also, the entire edifice, fitly joined together, is said to grow (Ephesians 2:21–22; see also Colossians 2:19).

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