The Body of Christ, the One New Man Part 1

The Body of Christ, the One New Man

Part 1

What is the Body of Christ?

1.     The Body of Christ is the general assembly of the saints in Christ Jesus, created as One Body, out of Jews and gentiles, where there is no distinction; chosen by God in Christ before the foundation of the world; called out by God through the gospel of Christ, who responded to God by trusting Christ Jesus as the All-Sufficient Saviour, and are regenerated [made a new creature, new man], and baptized [placed] by the Spirit of God into One Body [into Christ]; and together gather regularly to worship the Lord, to study God’s Words and to serve one another and other people.

2.     The Body of Christ is also the Church/Assembly in a place or a locality, such as a house, or any building.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians and told them “Now ye are the Body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Yes, he wrote to the local assembly/church in Corinth and told them “Ye are ‘THE’ Body of Christ”. He didn’t say “Ye are ‘A’ Body of Christ” but rather “Ye are ‘THE’ Body of Christ. It means that any assembly or church that gathers in Christ or wherever that church is assembling in, that local assembly IS “THE” Body of Christ.

When Did The Body of Christ Begin?

The Body of Christ was “CHOSEN in Christ before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).  So before the world began, the body of Christ was already chosen by God in his mind. The foundation of the world may mean the creation of the heaven and earth in Genesis 1:1 or the birth/beginning/foundation of  the nation of Israel (The law era), which is also called “the world”.

Before the law was given or before the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth of Genesis 1:1, or before the establishment of the nation of Israel in Exodus, the body of Christ was already in God’s plan, but as a mystery, hidden from the sons of men, manifested in due time.

The body of Christ is also called “THE ONE NEW MAN” or “THE NEW CREATURE”. It means that there was “THE OLD CREATURE” or “THE OLD MAN” or “THE FIRST MAN”.

We know that the “FIRST MAN” was “ADAM” (1 Corinthians 15:45). The beginning/birth of the “BODY OF CHRIST” or “THE NEW MAN” is the same as the beginning of Adam, the first man.

There are only two kinds of people: (1) IN ADAM and (2) IN CHRIST (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Adam and Christ are the “TWO MEN” – the “OLD” and the “NEW”. When we say “ADAM”  we are talking of the “FIRST MAN” – the “HEAD” of the “FIRST” creation (Genesis 1:28). And so “CHRIST” is the “LAST ADAM”, the “NEW MAN”, the “HEAD” of the “NEW” creation, the body of Christ (Colossians 1:18).

Adam was “FORMED” by God from the “dust of the GROUND [EARTH]” (Genesis 2:7).

Christ, the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15), died and was buried in “the heart of the EARTH” (Matthew 12:40), but after three days he “ROSE AGAIN” from the dead, ascended into heaven and sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3).

The “LAST ADAM”, Christ is “THE LORD” from “HEAVEN” and “HEAVENLY” in contrast with the “FIRST MAN”, Adam which was “RULER” on “EARTH” from the “dust of the GROUND [EARTH]” and was “EARTHY”.

The “LAST ADAM”, Christ is “HEAVENLY” and as is the heavenly, such are “THEY” also [the body of Christ] that are “HEAVENLY” (1 Corinthians 15:48).  The body of Christ, therefore, as Christ is, was “FORMED” by God NOT out of dust of the earth but “OUT OF HEAVEN”.

God “BREATHED” into Adam’s nostrils “THE BREATH OF LIFE”.

After Christ died and was buried, the “SPIRIT OF GOD” raised up Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11).  So also the body of Christ which was “dead in trespasses and sins” was “QUICKENED” by the “SPIRIT OF GOD” (Ephesians 2:1) together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).

Adam, the first man became “A LIVING SOUL” (Genesis 2:7). The last Adam, Christ was made “A QUICKENING SPIRIT” (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Also, the Body of Christ, which is IN CHRIST, the Head is “A QUICKENING  [life-giving] SPIRIT”.

When did the body of Christ begin?  Did it begin when Christ was born on earth?  No! Its formation began at the cross and by the cross!

Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Colossians 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

And the body of Christ was born not on the day Christ was born but on the day Christ was “BORN AGAIN”. He was born again at his resurrection.

Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

So the formation of the body of Christ began at the cross of Christ. When Christ was buried, the body of Christ was buried with him. When Christ was raised up from the dead, the body of Christ was also raised up together with him.

Romans 6:4 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.

When Christ ascended up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God, the body of Christ also ascended up and sat down at the right hand of God, in heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Even before Pentecost, there was already the body of Christ, which is “THE ONE NEW MAN”. Pentecost is not the beginning of the Body of Christ Church, but rather it was the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The death of Christ was “THE END” of his existence as “FLESH” and of “THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH” (Hebrews 5:7), and “THE BEGINNING” of “HIS TRANSFORMATION”.

Take note: THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST are “THE CENTER” of the “GOSPEL”.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ DIED for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was BURIED, and that he ROSE AGAIN the third day according to the scriptures:

Therefore, this death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ are also the “BEGINNING” and “TRANSFORMATION” of the “BODY OF CHRIST”

Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

You may say, “Hey! The “PHYSICAL” body of Christ is different from the “MYSTICAL” or “SPIRITUAL” body of Christ”.  If that is your view, then, it means there are “TWO BODIES” of Christ. But it is not what the Bible teaches.  It says that “WE” are “MEMBERS” of “HIS BODY”… and of “HIS FLESH” and of “HIS BONES”. That’s very clear! Yes! Oh yes! We are members of that “PHYSICAL” body of Christ which is also the “SPIRITUAL” body of Christ.  This “SPIRITUAL” PHYSICAL body of Christ is NOT the “NATURAL” and “EARTHY” PHYSICAL body of Christ. Why did I say that? Because that “EARTHY PHYSICAL BODY” died, and what “ROSE” from the grave was the “SPIRITUAL HEAVENLY PHYSICAL BODY” of Christ.  It is the transformed body, the heavenly, immortal, incorruptible body which knows no death. And “WE” are “MEMBERS” of that “SPIRITUAL HEAVENLY BODY” of Christ.  WE [the body] and CHRIST [the head] ARE “ONE”.  

Yes, it is the same person. Before his death, and after his death, it is the same person, the Lord Jesus Christ. But that earthy body which was corrupt in nature was mortal and it died. Then afterwards God transformed that body. He changed that body from mortal to immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible, from earthy to heavenly. Its nature changed from weak earthy flesh from the ground into being powerful heavenly flesh from the heavens. Where is the earthly body of Jesus? It died and was no more. It was changed; therefore it is no more the same body. Jesus Christ’s body is A BRAND NEW BODY. To Jesus Christ himself first happened what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Yes! “OLD THINGS” [old, earthly, natural, mortal and corruptible body] passed away; behold , “ALL THINGS”  are become “NEW”. He has now a NEW HEAVENLY, SPIRITUAL, IMMORTAL and INCORRUPTIBLE BODY.

Paul the Apostle and the Body of Christ

How about others (particularly our brethren from the Mid-Acts dispensationalists camp) who teach that the Body of Christ began at the salvation of Paul in Acts 9 or in his commissioning in Acts 13?

Only Paul the apostle among the New Testament writers wrote about “the Body of Christ” church. The “MYSTERY TRUTH” of the “BODY OF CHRIST” was “REVEALED” to Paul “FIRST”.

Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Ephesians 3:5 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;

But the body of Christ was not “FORMED” in Paul, but rather it was “FORMED IN CHRIST”.

The “BODY OF CHRIST” was “UNKNOWN” to the 12 apostles such as Peter and John, and even to the prophets of old.  But Christ in “DUE TIME” revealed the mystery to “PAUL THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES” first, the mystery that “IN HIMSELF [CHRIST]”, “IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH” he made the “ONE NEW MAN” (Ephesians 2:15) “Created in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10).

Colossians 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Ephesians 2:15-16 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; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

These scriptures teach that:

1.     Christ reconciled the twain – the Jews and Gentiles “THROUGH DEATH” and “BY THE CROSS”.

2.     Christ reconciled them “IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH”, into “ONE BODY”.

3.     Christ made “IN HIMSELF” from both (Jews and Gentiles) “ONE NEW MAN”.

At the cross, at Christ’s death, in the body of his flesh, Christ began making the ONE NEW MAN, the Body of Christ.  Just as a baby was conceived first in the womb “buried in the watery and dark womb” for nine months,  and after that “sees the light” of a new life when it was born, so is “THE BODY OF CHRIST”.  At Christ’s death, the BODY OF DEATH died, and was buried under the dark womb of the earth. The law of commandments was abolished. The handwriting of ordinances that was against us was blotted out and was nailed to the cross. The devil that had the power of death and his works were destroyed. The days of the flesh ended.  After three days, at Sabbath day, the seventh day [which symbolizes God’s rest of his creation; God’s completed work], Christ rose from the grave.  1 Corinthians 15:42-44 narrates what happened to Jesus:

 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

It is a NEW CREATION. It is a NEW LIFE. At this very day, when Christ was risen, the CHURCH, which is “HIS BODY” was “BORN”!  Just like a baby, it was conceived first, buried in the womb and after nine months was born!  It is the same with the earth of Genesis 1. The earth (the land) was “under the waters” and after that from under the waters “the land appeared”. Read my note about it “The Creation of the New Heavens and The New Earth. Visit this link: https://www.facebook.com/notes/marthy-c-austria/the-creation-of-the-new-heavens-and-the-new-earth-part-2/604371876244150

The body of Christ died, the earthly body, and it was buried for three days. Afterward, the body of Christ rose again, now a heavenly spiritual body, with flesh and bones.

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Of this “NEW BODY, FLESH AND BONES” we are “MEMBERS”:

Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

There was no “BODY OF CHRIST” church when Christ was still alive on earth with the body of death. That body [earthly] must die and he must be clothed with a “new” body from above. And that is the beginning of the “new creation”.  The body of Christ church was “FORMED” at the cross of Christ, in the body of his flesh through death and began its existence at the resurrection of Christ. “Let there be light! And there was light”. It happened at the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the creation of Adam:

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

1.     God “FORMED” man.

2.     God “BREATHED” into man’s nostrils “THE BREATH OF LIFE”.

3.     And man became “A LIVING SOUL”.

God formed the body first, from the dust of the ground. It had no life yet.  In case of the children of Adam, God formed them first in “the belly”, “from the womb” (Isaiah 44:2,24; Jeremiah 1:5). Before men were born they must be formed first in the belly. After nine months, they will be born and that is their “birthday”.

After “forming” man, God “breathed” his “SPIRIT” the “BREATH OF LIFE” into the “BODY”. And the result, man [the body, dead soul] became “A LIVING SOUL”. He is now “living”, he has now “life” in his body.

The same with the Church, the BODY OF CHRIST. It was formed first “in Christ’s death at the cross”, buried in the womb of the earth, and after three days, as Christ rose from the dead with “A BRAND NEW BODY”, the church, the BODY OF CHRIST was born. “It saw the light for the first time”. That’s the beginning of the church.

Romans 6:4 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.

 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

At the cross, the body of Christ was formed and at the resurrection, the body of Christ was born as “A BRAND NEW SPECIES”, but the apostles of Christ “DIDN’T KNOW” it.  Later it was “REVEALED” to the Apostle Paul in God’s perfect time according to his eternal puspose.

Jesus said in John 2:19 “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.

The Jews mistakenly thought that Jesus was talking about the temple of Jerusalem which was built for 46 years. But Jesus was speaking about “THE TEMPLE OF HIS BODY” (John 2:21).

This temple is the “BODY OF CHRIST”:

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The Body of Christ is the tabernacle of God, the temple of God where God dwells.

Ephesians 2:21-22 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

“Do you mean to say that Peter and the apostles were members of the Body of Christ?”  Yes! Of course. Why not?

Talking about the church, the body of Christ, Paul said:

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

How can apostles “edify” the “BODY OF CHRIST” which was not existing? So there must be “THE BODY OF CHRIST” existing even before Paul, in order for the “apostles” before Paul to “edify” the body of Christ.

In Ephesians 3:6 Paul  the apostle talked about the mystery: “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel”.

How can Gentiles be members of the “SAME BODY” if that body was not existing? So there must be “THE BODY OF CHRIST” existing before Paul, to the same body the Gentiles would be members of.

So the teaching that the “BODY OF CHRIST” Church began with the salvation and the commissioning of the Apostle Paul is not a valid Scriptural teaching.

Before our brethren from the Mid-acts camp say that we don’t understand the mystery of the body of Christ and the distinctive ministry of the apostle Paul, let me continue with my presentation according to the truths of the Scriptures “rightly divided”.

I believe that the Body of Christ is a mystery, that was hidden and kept secret from the sons of men, but now is “A REVELATION” revealed “FIRST” to the apostle Paul [God’s chosen vessel], then to “his holy apostles and prophets”, “to the saints” and finally to be preached to “all men” and “all nations”.

I believe that only in the writings of the apostle Paul can we find the doctrine, walk and destiny of the body of Christ.

I believe that Paul is our apostle, the apostle of the Gentiles and God gave him a distinctive and unique ministry that the 12 apostles.  And to him was given “the dispensation of God” to fulfill the word of God. To him was entrusted to “FULFILL” or make complete the “Word of God”. He was the last writer of the Scriptures. When he wrote his last epistle (which I believe is the epistle to THE COLOSSIANS), the Holy Scriptures, the written revelation of God was “COMPLETED” and all the spiritual gifts of the Acts period ceased.

I believe that to Paul was given “the dispensation of the grace of God” for “THE GENTILES” and we are under this dispensation. We are not under the dispensation or the economy or the age of the Jews, their temple and law. But we rather are under the dispensation of the grace of God, which is not under the law, no ordinances, no temple, no sacrifices, no Judaism.

Yes, Paul is unique, but the Body of Christ did not begin in Paul, but the Body of Christ began “IN CHRIST” even before Paul.