9. READ: EPHESIANS 5:21-33
d. How many "wives" (churches) does Christ have?
Answer: Christ has ONE wife--ONE bride, which is the ONE body, which is the ONE church. Christ has ONE church, and the church has ONE head. Notice the "singular" wording in this Scripture reading: THE church, His BODY, THE Savior, (verse 23); THE church, (verse 24); THE church, HER (referring to the church in the singular), (verse 25); HER and HER, (verse 26); HER, A radiant church, (verse 27); THE church, (verse 29); HIS (singular) body, (verse 30); THE church, (verse 32).
The church is ONE. It is to be united IN, WITH, THROUGH and BY Christ. Christ's church is to be in complete unity, to have one heart and one voice, each member of the one church receiving the one Spirit, living for the one hope given us by the One God and Father through our one faith in the One Lord, leading us to obedience by the one baptism, and continuing to live in THE Way by THE Truth to obtain THE life. God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and Christ's church are ONE:
John 17:20-23: [Jesus prays,] "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One: I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me."
Romans 15:5-6: "May the God Who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 4:3-6: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 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."
Ephesians 4:12-13: "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Colossians 3:14-15: "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."