Yes—every believer is baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, not by water.
In 1 Corinthians 12:13 Paul says, 'For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.' Les teaches that the word 'all' includes every born-again believer, not just a spiritual elite. The Holy Spirit performs this invisible baptism at salvation, placing the believer into the universal Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 — This is the passage Les builds the answer on, showing the one body made of many members and the one Spirit by whom all are baptized into it.
1 Corinthians 12:12 compares the human body to Christ: '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.' Verse 13 then states plainly, '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.' This passage identifies the one Spirit as the agent of baptism and the one Body as the place into which believers are brought. It does not mention water baptism, spiritual merit, or any other condition. The Bible's own wording connects the Spirit's act with the unity of the Body.
Les teaches that the Body of Christ was never mentioned by Jesus or Peter in the Gospels or early Acts; it is a Pauline revelation. He sees in 1 Corinthians 12:12 a picture of the Body like a human body—one body with many members. Then verse 13 becomes the central answer: 'for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.' Les emphasizes that 'all' means every true believer, not just the most spiritual or those who have reached a higher plateau. At the exact moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit places that believer into the universal Body of Christ, which is the composite of every born-again believer from every corner of the globe. This is not a water baptism. No unbeliever enters this Body. Saved Jews and saved Gentiles, bond and free, rich and poor, are all made to drink of the same Spirit and become members of the one Body.
The verse says, '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.' The Scripture itself states that the Spirit is the one doing the baptizing, and the Body is the sphere into which all believers are placed.
Les says it is not just the elite or the most spiritual. Every born-again believer of whatever station in life is included. All believers are baptized into the Body, from the least to the greatest, even those who remain more unspiritual than others.
No. Les asks plainly, 'Does the Holy Spirit baptize with water? No.' Believers are baptized not with water but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism of any kind makes no difference; the Spirit's baptism into the Body is what counts for eternity.
The Body is the universal, complex makeup of born-again believers. No unbeliever is in it. It is compared to a human body with many members—fingers, toes, ears, eyes—all functioning as one body. Saved Jews and saved Gentiles, bond and free, rich and poor, and believers from China, Europe, America, and everywhere else are members of this one Body.
Believers are placed into the Body of Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, not by water baptism. This applies to every true believer, rather than only to people viewed as especially spiritual or as having had some unusual experience. All believers are included in this one Body. The Body is illustrated through the human body. A person has many distinct members—such as fingers, toes, eyes, ears, arms, and legs—yet remains one body. In the same way, believers are many individual members but belong together in one Body whose headquarters is Christ, just as the human body’s actions originate from the mind and head. This Body includes believers throughout the world without regard to color, denominational label, Jewish or Gentile background, or whether they are bond or free. Though there may be many denominations and cults, Scripture recognizes one Body: the composite of true, born-again believers. The phrase “Body of Christ” is presented as a Pauline revelation and as language not found in the Gospels. Entry into that Body comes through the Spirit’s baptism, by which all believers are brought into one Body and made to share in the one Spirit.
Believers are baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at the time they become believers. This baptism is not limited to a spiritually advanced group or to people who have reached a higher level of Christian living. It includes all believers, from the least to the greatest. In 1 Corinthians 12:12–13, the body is compared with a human body that is one body while having many members. In the same way, believers in different places—including China, Europe, and America—are members of the one body of Christ. The church is therefore a called-out assembly whose head is in heaven, with Christ as the head and believers as His body. The Holy Spirit places every believer into that body, regardless of whether the person is Jew or Gentile, bond or free. A person’s station in life makes no difference. Nor does imperfect spiritual growth remove someone from the body. Some believers may be much less spiritual than others, yet they remain members of Christ’s body. Like an injured or imperfect finger that is still part of a person’s body, an imperfect believer is still part of the body of Christ.
Believers are placed into the body of Christ through an unseen work of the Holy Spirit. This is not limited to especially spiritual people or a select group; it happens to every believer. The moment a person is saved, the Holy Spirit baptizes that person into the one body, the universal Church made up of believers from every part of the world. This baptism includes people regardless of whether they are Jew or Gentile, bond or free. All believers share in the one Spirit and become part of the same body. It is an act of God with no outward sign that people can feel or observe. Its reality is accepted by faith because the Book declares that it happens. The body of Christ contains no unbelievers. Although local churches may have unsaved people on their membership rolls, people cannot reliably judge another person’s heart or determine who is saved. God alone knows that. But no unsaved person is ever placed by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s body. The complete body consists of all believers of the Church Age, and it will one day be Christ’s Bride, describing a position rather than sexuality.
The Pauline Revealing of the Body
Les shows that the Body of Christ is a Pauline revelation and that 1 Corinthians 12:12 compares the human body of many members to Christ's Body.
The Spirit Baptizes Every Believer
Les emphasizes that every believer of whatever station, not just the most spiritual, is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body, with Jews and Gentiles, bond and free, receiving the same Spirit.
Not Just the Elite—All Born-Again Believers
Les teaches that all born-again believers are baptized into the universal Body, not a local church, and that no unbeliever enters the Body.
The Spirit's Baptism Counts for Eternity
Les teaches that at the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the Body, making him or her safe for eternity, apart from any water baptism.
Placed into the Body at Salvation
Les explains that by the invisible act of the Holy Spirit, every believer is placed into the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation, wherever in the world they live.
Not Water, But the Spirit
Les says all believers have been baptized by the one Holy Spirit into one body and that the Holy Spirit does not baptize with water.
All the Super Spiritual Are Not the Only Ones
Les teaches that all believers, not just the super spiritual, are baptized by the power of the Holy Spirit into one body.
From Least to Greatest, All Members
Les teaches that believers everywhere are members of the one Body, and all are placed into it at conversion, even those who remain more unspiritual.
1 Corinthians 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.
This verse sets up the analogy of the human body with many members to the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 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.
This is the key verse: by one Spirit all are baptized into one Body, the basis for the entire answer.
At the moment of salvation. Les teaches that the moment a person is born by the work of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit baptizes that person into the Body of Christ.
No. Believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit, not with water. Water baptism, whether in the Jordan River or anywhere else, has no bearing on membership in the Body; the Spirit's baptism is what counts for eternity.
Yes. Les emphasizes the word 'all' and says that even believers who are far more unspiritual than others are still members of the Body.
Watch the Teaching: What Paul Teaches That You Won't Find in the Gospels