The Word of God says,
"There is one body" (Eph. 4:4), not two, nor three, but one—only one.
That "one body" is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:23); that is, every
true Christian is to Christ what a man’s foot, hand, etc., is to that man (1
Cor. 12:12-27). Nowhere in Scripture do we read or find the idea of a Baptist,
a Methodist, a Presbyterian, or any other body. The only thing found there is
the one body of Christ, formed by the "one Spirit" of God. The
relationship therefore of all true Christians is that of fellow-members of the
one body of Christ—a divine relationship entered into at conversion by the
Spirit’s baptism, and consummated in the glory of heaven to which the Church is
destined.

Christians assuming any other
relationship than this with one another, associating themselves together on any
other principle than this, are therefore sectarian. They form another tie than
that which God has formed, and by which He binds all His children of this
dispensation together.

But the members of that one body
are scattered all over the earth. They cannot assemble together in one place.
They therefore assemble in any locality convenient to those who live in that
locality. There may be "two or three," or two or three hundred or
thousand; Christ, the Saviour and Head of the Church, has pledged Himself to be
present in the midst of them thus assembled (Matt. 18:20). He is their Center
of assembling as the ark was of old the gathering-center of Israel. He is also the attractive Object of all their hearts—every one rejoicing in the presence,
through faith, of the Lord Jesus. These local churches, or assemblies, are, of
course, even as the persons who compose them, "one body in Christ, and
every one members one of another" (Rom. 12:5). If new converts be received
in one locality, they are received there on behalf of the whole Church of God. They are thus introduced into her fellowship — her fellowship, mark,
not her membership, for they were already made members by the baptism of
the Holy Spirit. Should one move where he is unknown, a letter of commendation
gives him full access to all privileges throughout the fellowship. If one walks
in evil and is put under discipline in one place, he is under discipline in the
whole Church until he repents.

All these local assemblies are,
for their doctrine and their practice, primarily responsible to the Lord,
inasmuch as "Christ is the Head of the Church" (Eph. 5:23). Should
any of these local assemblies fall into evil doctrine or practice, He may visit
them with judgment, as in 1 Cor. 11:26-32, or take away its candlestick
altogether as threatened in Rev. 2:5. They are also responsible to one another,
for all are "members one of another" (Rom. 12:5). No local assembly
can act for itself alone. Its actions affect all others, bind all others, and
render thus all others responsible with it. It must therefore, when questioned,
be open in the fullest way to investigation, as it is accountable to all the
rest. The sense of this responsibility toward one another produces wholesome
care in all that is done in each place.

But some one may say, This is
all very true, and sound doctrine, and in accord with all Scripture, but
Christendom is full of divisions and parties, unsubject to each other, which
abound with persons who are in nowise subject to Scripture or to the Lord. What
then are you going to do? Walk apart from them, and, by scriptural teaching and
godly labor after the fashion of the apostles, form a fellowship on the
principle of the whole Church of God, to practice among themselves what the
whole Church should practice. It may be small and weak, and cause opposition
and contempt, as in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah when they were building
afresh upon the old foundations; but it will please God. The mere attempt will
please Him. Faithful labor at it He will bless; and when the Lord returns He
will manifest that every "living stone" which had been set on the old
foundations had been set in a place of special blessing—blessing for eternity.