The Body of Christ is a distinct company of believers, predominantly Gentile, that God is calling out in this age through Paul's Gospel of Grace.
It is not Israel, not from the Old Testament program, and not associated with prophecy or the Tribulation. It was revealed only after Israel rejected her Messiah and King, when God raised up Paul and turned to the Gentiles. Members are fellow heirs of the same body in Christ by the Gospel, and they will one day be resurrected and changed.
Ephesians 3:6 — Paul reveals that Gentiles are fellowheirs and of the same body in Christ through the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — Paul calls the future transformation of believers a mystery and declares that they will all be changed.
Paul writes in Ephesians 3:6, 'That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.' In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 he declares: 'Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.' These verses use the language of one body and of a coming change for believers.
Les teaches that the Body of Christ is a completely distinct company of people that God is calling out in this present age. It is revealed only through the Apostle Paul, not in the Gospels or the Old Testament. After Israel rejected her Messiah, King, and Kingdom, God set Israel aside and turned to the Gentiles; the Body is therefore predominantly Gentile and is not associated with prophecy.
According to Les, the Gospels contain nothing about the Body of Christ; it is simply not there. The term and the revelation of the Body come only through the Apostle Paul after his conversion, when the ascended, glorified Lord revealed it to him. In the early chapters of Acts, God continues dealing with Israel, but when Paul is raised up he introduces the Body of Christ.
Les stresses that the Body of Christ is not under law, not associated with the nation of Israel, Judaism, or the temple. It is the total operation of the grace of God, based on the finished work of the cross. Paul writes to Gentile believers who are not under the Law but under grace, and he tells them that they are members of the Body through the Gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Scripture reveals that believers will not all sleep but will all be changed at the last trump. Les adds that this is the change into a resurrected body like Christ's, whether believers have died or remain alive. He explains that when the Body is complete and the last one has been saved, Christ will meet believers in the air, and their souls and spirits will be reunited with their resurrected bodies.
The Body of Christ is the single, united company of true, born-again believers throughout the world. It is illustrated by the human body: people have many different parts—hands, feet, eyes, ears, arms, and legs—yet they do not have many bodies. All the parts belong to one body and function together under the direction that comes from the head and mind. In the same way, believers are individual members of one spiritual Body. This includes every believer, regardless of color, denominational label, whether Jew or Gentile, or whether bond or free. It is not limited to those thought to be especially spiritual or to those who claim some unusual experience. The Body is made up of all believers. Entrance into this one Body comes through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, not through water baptism. Believers have been brought into one Body by the Spirit and made to partake of that one Spirit. This expression is presented as a Pauline revelation and a new term, rather than language used in the Gospels. Although there may be thousands of denominations and cults, Scripture recognizes one Body: the complete composite of genuine believers united in Christ.
Why Only Paul Uses the Term 'Body of Christ' — Bible Study
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Paul's Revelation Introduces the Body
Les explains that the Body of Christ is a Pauline revelation, revealed after Israel rejected her Messiah and King, and it is predominantly Gentile and not prophetic.
Insulated from Israel and the Tribulation
Les teaches that because the Body has nothing to do with the Old Testament or the Tribulation, it must be raptured before God resumes dealing with Israel.
A Mystery of Grace Apart from Law
Les teaches that during this present mystery age God is calling out the Body without law, Israel, Judaism, or the temple, entirely by grace on the basis of Christ's finished work.
Gentiles Fellow Heirs Through the Gospel
Les shows that Paul's ministry reveals Gentiles as fellow heirs and of the same Body in Christ through the Gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, not by law or works.
A Resurrected Body for the Body
Les tells Gentile believers that they have been given a mystery: whether dead or alive, they will be changed into a resurrected body like Christ's.
The Completing and Gathering of the Body
Les describes the completion of the Body: when the last one is saved, Christ will meet believers in the air, and their souls, spirits, and resurrected bodies will be reunited.
Body Introduced After Israel's Continued Dealings
Les notes that in early Acts God continued dealing with Israel, and the term 'Body of Christ' appears only with the revelation given to Paul.
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
This verse directly states that Gentiles are part of the same body in Christ through the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Paul connects the mystery of believers' future resurrection and transformation to the Body of Christ.
Les teaches that although the Body is called out from both Jews and Gentiles, it is predominantly Gentile and is not the nation of Israel. It has no connection to the Old Testament program or prophecy.
According to Les, the Gospels contain nothing about the Body of Christ. The term and its revelation come only through the Apostle Paul after Israel had rejected her Messiah and God set Israel aside and turned to the Gentiles.
When the last one is saved and the Body is complete, Christ will meet believers in the air; their souls and spirits will be reunited with resurrected bodies. Those alive will not sleep but will be changed.
No. Les teaches the Body is called out under grace, not law, and has no association with Judaism, the temple, or the nation of Israel; law and grace cannot be mixed.
Watch the Teaching: What Paul Teaches That You Won't Find in the Gospels