I think this is the best way to explain when the body of Christ began. I may have been over emphasizing the baptism by the Spirit that puts us into the body of Christ. Paul says that we get in the body of Christ when we believed the gospel.
1 Corinthians 12:13 is explaining how we get in the body, but it is not saying when we got in it. If you are trying to convince somebody when you got in the body of Christ and when the body of Christ began, this may be the best way to go and avoid the discussion of baptism with and by the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:
[2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
[7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
[7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
There we see that the Gentiles were able to be put in the "same body" as Jews "by the gospel". Therefore believing the gospel puts someone in the body of Christ. Also notice verse 7 where Paul said he was made the minister of this gospel that puts people in the body. Here is Paul's gospel and what we know about it.
1). This is what the gospel is.
1 Cor. 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1 Cor. 15:
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Rom. 4:
[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
[22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (faith)
[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
2.) It does not include water baptism.
1 Cor. 1:
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Eph. 2:
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
3.) Finally, the gospel Paul preached was a new revelation, that just by believing on and trusting Christ and His finished work you could be saved (as seen in #1).
Gal. 1:
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
4.) Finally, if we believe that gospel which is the preaching of the cross, then we are "partakers" of that "one bread" which puts us into the "one body".
Eph. 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph. 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
(the preaching of the cross)
1 Corinthians 10:
[16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
[17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
[17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
That is how we got in the body of Christ, BY THE GOSPEL (Eph. 3:6). Paul's gospel started with Paul in Acts 9 so that is when the body of Christ started. The body of Christ cold not have started at any other time or by any kind of baptism.....it is by the gospel which was given by revelation to Paul in Acts 9.
This wipes out the Briders, 2er's, 13er's, 18er's, and 28er's! (leaving us 9er's)
This is unrefutable, unquestionable, undeniable, and we cannot be wrong since we have these verses and points backing us up. (cocky yes, but true 
)
So that yall won't think I am as arrogant as I just sounded, I better quote Phil. 3:13-14
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
(also read 1 Tim. 1:8-16, it also proves the unrefutable Acts 9 position)
1 Timothy 1:
[8] But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
[9] Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
[10] For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
[11] According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
[16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
[9] Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
[10] For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
[11] According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
[16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
The Church biblically includes those before the Birth of Christ.
ReplyDeleteThey are part of the body that gets resurrected just like us. We are not two bodies.
We have been grafted into the Church in the wilderness.
Do we have the Faith of Abraham for novelty? No it is our faith, and life.
Now if you inserted, the word "modern" in your title, then what you wrote is bang on.
For we know by the word of the Lord, that the Church in the wilderness is also part of the body of Christ. Remember that Christ Jesus lead them, and gave them water.
Peter
Well a church is just a called out assembly. By definition Noah and his family could be called a church. But the body of Christ is a spiritual organism and not just a organization.
DeleteFor example, members of the body of Christ have been baptized by the Spirit through the faith of the operation of God into Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and seating in heaven.
1 Corinthians 12:
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[14] For the body is not one member, but many.
Colossians 2:
[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
The body of Christ was not made possible until the His death on the cross according to Ephesians 2:10-17. Being a member of Christ's body was a "great mystery" as well as Christ giving Himself and dying for the spiritual body according to Ephesians 5:22-32. But Christ dying for an individuals salvation is of prophecy. The doctrine that a spiritual body of Christ is created by the cross is a mystery. It is a called out assembly of believers being called out and seated in heaven. The OT saints only went to Abraham's bosom and not exactly seated in heavenly places in Christ as we are (Ephesians 2:6).
Thanks for the comment, have a great week! --Eli "Hoss" Caldwell