Did the body of Christ begin at Pentecost?
No. The body of Christ did not necessarily begin at Pentecost, because Pentecost was strictly a Jewish holiday with a Jewish message. It began later, when the gospel went to Jew and Gentile, especially at Antioch, where believers were first called Christians, and Paul preached Christ's death, burial, and resurrection by faith alone.
Les explains that he is convinced the body of Christ did not necessarily begin at Pentecost. Pentecost, he notes, was strictly a Jewish holiday with a Jewish message. He places the body's beginning later, when the gospel began going out to Jew and Gentile, especially at the church at Antioch. There, in Acts chapter 11, believers were first called Christians. Les ties the body of Christ to when Paul began preaching Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and salvation by faith alone without the law. As men and women believed that message, the Holy Spirit baptized or placed them into the body of Christ. He acknowledges many will disagree, and invites searching the Scriptures.