Who Was the First Member of the Body of Christ?

 

 

 

Was it one of the 120 in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, or was it later? I have read many different and various articles that claim as many different conclusions. I’m going to give mine and I believe that I am in good company – the Scripture.

 

First of all we need to distinguish what church we are talking about.

 

It is my belief (presently) that the Jerusalem church began on the day of Pentecost which included all who were in the upper room waiting for the Holy Spirit as promised by the Lord to His Jewish followers.

 

When we read the Four Gospels and the Jewish Epistles and the Book of Revelation we find no mention of the body of Christ or members of the body of Christ. No, not one single hint about the called out grace church who make up the body of Christ.

 

As we have been laying the foundation for this article we have shown the two different programs, peoples, and gospels – now it is only logical that we add the two different churches; both the Jewish church and the Gentile church believing in Jesus for Salvation – one believing in His name under law, the other believing in the finished work of the cross under grace.

 

 

 

There are distinct differences in each.

 

 

 

In review:

 

 

 

The Gentile church:

 

 

The Gospel of Grace – believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins; He was buried, and rose again.

 

Inheritance – heaven

 

Will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air

 

 

 

The Jewish church:

 

 

The Kingdom Gospel – believe that Jesus is the Christ, Israel’s Messiah.

 

Inheritance – the earth

 

Will recognize Jesus as King of Israel at Second Advent

 

 

 

Let’s follow the Scripture to find the body of Christ.

 

 

 

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

 

1Corinthians 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.

 

1Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

 

Ephesians 3:1-9 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

 

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you–ward:

 

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

 

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

 

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;

 

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

 

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.

 

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

 

 

Ephesians 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 

Ephesians 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

 

Colossians 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

 

Colossians 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

 

Romans 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

Romans 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

 

Ephesians 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

 

Ephesians 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

 

Ephesians 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

 

Colossians 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

 

Colossians 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

 

Colossians 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

 

Colossians 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

 

1Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

 

 

 

I make note – Paul the Apostle was the only apostle given the Gospel of Grace.

 

Peter didn’t understand the Gospel of Grace that Paul taught.

 

Paul the Apostle was the only one who spoke of the body of Christ and its members.

 

Peter, James, John, and Jude shared not one word on the subject.

 

The church was a mystery not known to the twelve, but only revealed to the Apostle to Paul.

 

The Gospel of Grace church is a parenthetical mystery revealed to Paul and explained in his letters.

 

 

 

The mystery that was hid in God was His divine purpose to make Jew and Gentile a brand new man – the church, which is Christ's body, formed by the baptism with the Holy Spirit –

 

 

 

The Gospel of Grace church is knitly formed together when the Holy Spirit places a brand new creation into the body of Christ. Neither male nor female, bond nor free, Jew nor Gentile…but a brand new creature –

 

 

 

1Corinthians 12:12, 13 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. 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.

 

 

 

It is only when the believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ that the earthly distinction of Jew and Gentile disappears. Peter did not teach this. James did not teach this. Jude did not teach this. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John did not teach this.

 

 

 

Ephesians 2:14, 15 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

 

Colossians 3:10, 11 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

 

 

Do you see what the above verse tells us? We – the body of Christ are a unique personage. We are renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created us. Remember the article I wrote that our spirit never died because of the fall – but that our spirit experienced spiritual darkness – it no longer had the capacity to retain God in knowledge, we were far from God i.e. separated. Well, now our spirit is renewed and can now retain the LIGHT of God and we are completely and eternally connected to Him through Jesus Christ the Lord.

 

 

Because of all that is prepared herein – I can only conclude that Paul the Apostle was the first new man thus Paul was the first member baptized into the body of Christ.

 

 

 

The revelation of the mystery was foretold to the Peter, but not explained by Christ to Peter.

 

 

 

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

 

 

The mystery of the one new man was later committed to Paul.  In Paul’s writings alone we find the doctrine, position, walk, and destiny of the called out body of Christ.

 

 

 

The Kingdom Gospel believers were Christ’s disciples i.e. followers.

 

The Gospel of Grace Believers are members of the body of Christ.

 

The language of the two is entirely different.

 

The Kingdom Gospel believers had to wait until the day of Pentecost before they received the Holy Spirit.

 

The Gospel of Grace Believers are immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit the moment we believe.

 

The Twelve Apostles walked with, lived among, and ate with Jesus before and after His death and resurrection – they were instructed to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom under law to Israel.

 

 

 

The glorified Lord Jesus came to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus; instructing him over the course of three years to preach the Gospel under grace to the Gentiles whereby all are saved in this dispensation – one new man, Jew and Gentile without distinction. 

 

 

 

The body of Christ will take part in the resurrection/rapture at the end of this dispensation of grace; the one new man with Christ Jesus as its Head will be caught up together at the resurrection/rapture.

 

 

 

The Kingdom Gospel under law will again be preached during the first half of the seven year tribulation by the two witnesses.

 

 

 

If what I have presented here is Truth then Peter and the eleven, and the other followers of Jesus saved under the Gospel of the Kingdom will not be resurrected until all the Kingdom Gospel believers who die during the tribulation are resurrected. That is unless Peter et al did at last embrace Paul’s Gospel of Grace Doctrine – but I find no real evidence that they did as the Kingdom Gospel followers of Jesus were looking toward the Kingdom where Yeshua would reign as King from Jerusalem. They were looking toward their earthly inheritance as promised to their fathers – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not toward a heavenly inheritance. It was not until Peter knew his death was approaching that he realized he would not see the Kingdom of heaven come to earth.

 

Remember the prayer the Lord gave to the Kingdom believers – which has been coined the Lord’s Prayer – but in fact was a prayer for Jewish believers. Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. This is a prayer for the Kingdom of heaven to come to earth when Christ will rule with perfect justice. The meek of Israel i.e. the saved are promised that they will inherit the earth not heaven as is promised to the Gospel of Grace church.

 

In closing, Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles was the first new man thus clarifying him as the first member of the body of Christ; it is only in the Pauline Epistles that the body of Christ receives Gospel of Grace Salvation, instruction, teaching, and doctrine. You may scour Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter’s two letters, James, John’s little Epistles, the little letter written by Jude and the Revelation written by John and you will not find Salvation through believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and you will not find any mention of the body of Christ with its unique members. 

 

I believe it is safe to say that all who believe in Christ unto Salvation either under the Kingdom Gospel or the Gospel of Grace are saved but only the Gospel of Grace Church are baptized into the body of Christ a whole new creation. Therefore, I conclude that the Apostle Paul and all who are called unto Christ’s Gospel as presented to Paul by the glorified Lord Jesus are the members of the body of Christ…and these members corporately will be caught up at the end of this age of grace…

 

There is no separation of the body of Christ at the resurrection – we are the body of Christ and when the body of Christ is redeemed from this earth the entire body of Christ will be caught up together to meet the Lord Jesus in the air – the Head of the body.

 

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: