What Is the Body of Christ?

Direct Answer

The Body of Christ is the one body of all believers, with Christ as the Head, and every believer is placed into it by the Holy Spirit at the moment of belief.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, the apostle Paul compares the Body of Christ to the human body, which has many members yet is one body. Les Feldick emphasizes that every believer — from the least to the greatest, from any nation — is a member of this one Body and is connected to the Head, Jesus Christ. Entrance comes through the Holy Spirit's baptism at the moment of faith, not through water baptism or any human ceremony.

Key Scriptures

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 — Paul directly defines the Body of Christ using the human body illustration and states that all believers are baptized into it by the Holy Spirit.

What Does the Bible Say?

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 states that the human body is one even though it has many members, and all those members belong to one body. Paul then applies this illustration to Christ: "so also is Christ." Verse 13 explains how a person becomes part of this body: "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."

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Body of Christ?

Les Feldick teaches that the Body of Christ is like the human body: one body made up of many members, with every believer connected to the Head, Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that this one body includes every believer — whether in China, Europe, or America — not just the spiritual elite or those who claim a higher experience. According to Les, the moment a person believes the gospel, the Holy Spirit automatically and immediately places that person into the Body of Christ. He calls this an act of God that believers never feel and that has no outward manifestation; the only way they know it has happened is because the Book says it did.

How Does Someone Enter the Body of Christ?

Les Feldick teaches that entering the Body of Christ begins with believing the gospel. The Holy Spirit then automatically and immediately places the believer into the Body of Christ at that moment. There is no human registration, no ceremony, and no water baptism involved; the Spirit Himself performs the baptism. This is a silent act of God — believers never feel it happening and there is no outward manifestation; they know it happened because the Bible says it did.

Is the Body of Christ Only for the Most Spiritual Believers?

No. Les Feldick repeatedly stresses the word "all" in 1 Corinthians 12:13. Every believer — not just the spiritual elite, not just those who claim to have arrived, and not just the most mature — has been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. Even believers who are unspiritual are still members of the body.

What Does the Human Body Illustration Show?

Paul uses the human body as an illustration: one body has many members — ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes — yet it is one body. Likewise, the Body of Christ is one body with many members, and every member is connected to the Head, Christ. The mind or head controls every part of the body and directs it, just as Christ is the Head from whom the whole body receives direction.

Is the Body of Christ Visible or Invisible?

Les acknowledges that some people ridicule the idea of the Body of Christ as an invisible entity, but he says Scripture teaches it, especially in Paul's writings. Christ is the Head in heaven, and believers are the Body still here on earth.

From the Teaching

What Paul Teaches That You Won't Find in the Gospels

them that perish, that is the lost, what? Foolishness. I�ve even had people ask me here in the Bible Belt, what does something that took place 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem have to do with me? Everything! It has everything to do with us, because here is where God has His controversy with man.

Every Believer Connected to the Head

Les compares the Body of Christ to the human body and explains that every believer is connected to the Head, Christ, who controls every facet of the Body.

One Body Includes All Believers Worldwide

Les stresses that believers in China, Europe, and America are all members of the one Body, emphasizing the word 'all' rather than a spiritual elite.

The Holy Spirit Places Every Believer in the Body

Les teaches that the Holy Spirit has baptized every believer into the Body of Christ, from the least to the greatest, and that this is not a physical act.

Spirit Baptism, Not Water Baptism

Les clarifies that the baptism in 1 Corinthians 12:13 is performed by the Holy Spirit, not with water.

Invisible Body Entered at the Moment of Faith

Les says the Body of Christ is an invisible entity with Christ as Head in heaven and believers as the Body on earth; entrance happens automatically at the moment of belief, not by any human ceremony.

A Silent Act of God at Salvation

Les explains that the Spirit's baptism is an act of God believers never feel and of which they have no outward manifestation; they know it only because Scripture declares it.

One Body With Many Members

Les uses the human body illustration of many members — fingers, toes, eyes — belonging to one body, and applies it to all believers being placed into the one Body of Christ.

Bible Verses

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 establishes the human body analogy that Paul applies 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 verse explains how every believer enters the one Body — by the Holy Spirit's baptism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water baptism how you enter the Body of Christ?

No. Les Feldick teaches that the Holy Spirit baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ at the moment of belief. Water baptism is not this Spirit baptism and no preacher can baptize someone into the Body.

Is the Body of Christ only for especially spiritual believers?

No. Les repeatedly emphasizes the word 'all' in 1 Corinthians 12:13. Every believer, from the least to the greatest, is placed into the Body by the Holy Spirit, even those who are unspiritual.

How does a person know they are in the Body of Christ?

The Spirit's baptism is an act of God that believers never feel and for which there is no outward manifestation. Les explains that believers know it happened because the Bible says it did.

What does the Bible say about the Body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 says the body is one with many members, so also is Christ, and that by one Spirit all believers are baptized into one body.

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Watch the Teaching: What Paul Teaches That You Won't Find in the Gospels