Now, notice, we have five references to “church / churches.” Question: Were these churches the SAME in IDENTIY, in FAITH, in DOCTRINE, in PRACTICE? If they were not, why would Paul refer to them in such a way that you immediately understand that they are of the same faith, doctrine, practice and identity? It would be extremely difficult to avoid the thought, looking at these five verses, that the same churches are present in these various locations—almost impossible to conclude that they are not identical. I maintain, the best way, and, in fact, the only true way, is to see that the individual church and the group of churches were the same as to faith, doctrine and practice, and Paul knew that, the brethren knew that, and when he talked about a church somewhere else, he knew that the brethren would understand about that congregation.

Notice another matter: What about the churches in relation to each other? In verse 4, we read of “…the churches of the Gentiles.” Then, down in verse 16, we read of “the churches of Christ.” Were these different churches? Do you have here two different churches, in the sense of two different denominations? Would the “churches of the Gentiles” be teaching that baptism is immersion, and “the churches of Christ” be teaching that it is sprinkling and pouring?!? Would “the churches of the Gentiles” teach that you ought to take the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week, and “the churches of Christ” say that it doesn’t make any difference whether you take it at all?!? Are they the same people as to their IDENTITY, as to WHAT THEY BELIEVE, what they TEACH, what they DO IN WORSHIP, IN LIFE, IN SERVICE?

And then: What about the churches individually? In verse 1, we read of “the church in Cenchrea” AND “the churches of Christ” [in verse 4]. Was this church in Cenchrea one of the churches of Christ? If so, then you have what we would call today “the brotherhood,” meaning “ALL of the churches of Christ in the world, and then a PARTICULAR CONGREGATION.” So here, in Romans, chapter 16, there is indication that Paul knew of churches, and he wrote of these churches, both individually and collectively, so that one readily understands that they were the same in faith, in doctrine, in practice; and not only did Paul know that, but the readers of Romans 16 would know about that church at Cenchrea and other places, because they know that they were of the same faith and practice and doctrine.

Now, two other passages: 1 Corinthians, chapter 4, and verse 17, and then chapter 7, and verse 17.

1 Corinthians 4:17: Paul said, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus [Timothy], who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” Notice: “everywhere in every church.”

In 1 Corinthians 7:17: “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.”

We have, then, in 4:17, Paul teaching the same thing “everywhere in every church.” And we have in 7:17 that he is ordaining certain things “in all churches.”

Now, this is about Christian conduct, I’m sure. The context indicates that abundantly, but notice the POINT! Paul understands, and will have the Corinthians to understand, that he is teaching the same thing to them at Corinth as he taught the churches everywhere—same content, same doctrine, same practice, same moral responsibilities—in EVERY church!

Now, a question: Were those churches of different doctrines, and faith, and practice? Would one say, “All right, when we are fully mature we will have a pope”? And another say, “Well, we’re going to have elders”? And another say, “We’re going to have a president”? And still another say, “We’re going to have a chairman of the board”?

“Oh, that’s fine!”

No! Paul could not have preached there!! Why? He preached the same thing EVERYWHERE!! Now, they’re not practicing the same thing if they’re practicing these different possibilities I’ve suggested.

How would it have been possible, then, for Paul to have claimed to do the same teaching in all the churches if they were NOT identical in FAITH, in DOCTRINE, and PRACTICE, and therefore, the same in essence? Well, look at the matter of persecution. This becomes one of the most fascinating thoughts to consider about the identity of the church.

In 1 Corinthians 15, and verse 9, Paul is discussing himself, as related to Christ and the apostles, and the resurrection from the dead. Paul wrote in 15:9, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet [not worthy] to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

“What did you do, Paul?”

“I persecuted the church of God.”