Quote:
Originally Posted by mildred
Could somebody please define the body of christ to me? Are they the TV people or the people with long sleeves....for crying out loud?:  |
The Apostle Paul defines the Body of Christ for us:
1Cr 12:13 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.
According to this, the Body of Christ is God's church, composed of many members all baptized with the Holy Ghost. There is only one Body of Christ. Paul makes no distinction between the Jew or the Greek. We become one in Christ when we are baptized with the Holy Ghost. There isn't a UPC Body here, and a AOG Body there... there is only ONE BODY, and Paul does not list ANY OTHER qualification for inclusion in the Body of Christ other than the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
He further states, rather emphatically, that there should be NO divisions in the Body of Christ along denominational or organizational lines. If he is correct in saying that we are baptized into the Body of Christ through the baptism of the Holy Ghost (and I believe he is), then we are to have the same care for one another, regardless of what organization or church we are affliated with.
1Cr 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.
The following verses also define the Body of Christ, though they are often used to "tack" on membership requirements:
Eph 4:4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Often, the doctrine of water baptism is added as a requirement for inclusion in the Body of Christ by using
Eph. 4:5 which states ".. one baptism...". This is often misapplied for nothing in this chapter speaks of water baptism. The preceeding verse (4:4) makes it abundantly clear that Paul was referring to the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and not to water baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ. Water baptism according to
Acts 2:38 is an intregal part of the Plan of Salvation but nothing in these passages of Scriptures indicates that it is a requirement for entrance into the Body.
Act 2 makes this clear. The believers at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Ghost (added to the Body) and then were baptized in water in the Name of Jesus Christ. They gained entrance into the Body of Christ by recieving the Holy Ghost, then they were baptized in water in Jesus Name. This is also true for Cornelius' household.
In short... all people who are filled with the Holy Ghost are members of the Body of Christ. That, according to Paul's teaching, is the only initial requirement to gain entrance into the Body of Christ.
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