There shall be One Fold – One Body

“Joh:17:20-22: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them

also which shall believe on me through

their word;That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art

in me, and I in thee,that they also may be one in us: that the

world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory

which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even

as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they  may be made

perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou

hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. “

(visible  and one throughout the successive generation of

 believers ‘for the world to see’)

Jesus created ‘one church’; ‘one fold’ (Jn 17:20-22). St. Paul spoke of ‘one baptism’ one lord’ one faith, one body (church) (Eph 4:4,5). Jesus wanted others to be added to this ‘one fold’, (Joh:10:16) not create other folds. This fold shall be one throughout successive generations and visible for the ‘world to see & know’ their oneness and love. St. Paul said ‘we are all baptized into one body by he same Spirit. That there are many members but one body. That there should not be schism or division in this body and that the Lord has set some in this body the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1Co:12:11-13, 20, 25, 28:)

Then, what of those splinter groups who left the parent church?

1Co:11:18, 19: For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I

 hear that  there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For

 there must be also heresies  among you, that they which are

 approved may be made manifest among you.

 They went out that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Not that the approved may become part of an ‘invisible church’ but that they (the approved) may be made manifest or seen i.e.visible.

‘They went’ from among us’, because they 'were not of us'

1Jo:2:18-20: Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard

 that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists;

 whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out

 from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us,

 they would no doubt have continued with us: but

they went out, that they might be made manifest

 that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from

 the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Then how can there be many different churches and invisible churches.

We know of, and have solid written evidence of, the beliefs of even tiny heretical groups from the first century to the present. These include:

Gnostics - Who believed matter was evil
Montanists - Who forbade marriage and anything worldly
Marcionites - Who rejected the Gospels as false
Monarchianists - Who denied the reality of the Trinity
Arians, - Who said Jesus was not fully God but a creation.
Pelagians - Who denied Original Sin and the need for Salvation
Donatists - Who refused to readmit Apostate Christians
Collyridians - Who sacrificed to Mary
Nestorians - Who said Christ had two personhoods.
Apollinarians - Who said Jesus was not truly human.

And many, many more. But of any group holding Protestant beliefs we have no trace whatsoever. And what does the Bible say of these man-made groups or any other group. Any group preaching a gospel different from the One church is accursed. (Gal 1:8,9).

And the fate of the false churches Jesus had foretold in Mt 7:15-20

M't:7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's

 clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them

 by their fruits. Do men  gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree

 bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring  forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that

bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Also,                       M't:15:13: But he answered and said, Every plant, which my

                                heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

As foretold, the little sects of old times are no more, and the protestant and Pentecostals have reached nowhere but into division and more division. As for the Catholic church, as the Lord foretold of His church on earth in Mt 13:31-32, the Catholic church that was sown a grain grew and has become a tree for all nations to find the love of the Lord.

M't:13:31, 32: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The

 kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man

 took, and sowed in his field (the world) : Which indeed is the least of

 all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and

 becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the

 branches thereof. (not something that can be hid)

Psalms:127:1: Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain

 that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh

 but in vain.

The only church seen and known to all, of being in succession to the One and only church instituted by Christ Himself is the Catholic church.