What is the real New Testament church according to Paul's teaching?
The real New Testament church is the Body of Christ—that consortium of every born-again believer, whether Jew or Gentile, black or white. All are placed into the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation. This true church has no earthly headquarters; its headquarters is in heaven.
Les explains that the real New Testament church is the Body of Christ, made up of every born-again believer, Jew or Gentile, black or white, all placed into Christ at the moment of salvation. He notes that the Body of Christ, the true church, has no earthly headquarters—denominations may have headquarters, but the true church's headquarters is in heaven. In the Antioch setting, Paul never claimed to be the only one, only the first or leader, with others like Barnabas, Simeon, Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene following. The Holy Spirit, not the Antioch church, sent Paul and Barnabas out to the Gentile world, showing God's providential control.