According to Scripture, the church is the Body of Christ, made up of every saved believer whom the Holy Spirit places into it.
The Greek word ekklesia, translated "church," refers to a called-out assembly, but Paul reveals the church today as the Body of Christ. That body is not the same as a local church's membership rolls, because it contains no unbelievers. Every believer is baptized into this one body by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 — States that all believers are baptized by one Spirit into one body, which is the defining membership of the church.
1 Corinthians 12:12 — Shows the Body of Christ as one body made up of many members.
Acts 2:47 — Shows the Lord adding those who were being saved to the church, connecting true church membership with salvation.
Ephesians 4:12 — Calls believers the Body of Christ, showing the church consists of saints being matured and edified.
Scripture identifies the church as a called-out assembly and, in Paul's writings, as the Body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Paul writes, "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. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body..." This means the church is not a building or a denomination; it is a unified body of people who have been baptized into it by the Spirit. Acts 2:47 says the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Ephesians 4:12 says ministry is "for the edifying of the body of Christ." So the Bible presents the church as the saved people of God—the Body of Christ—not simply those who sit in a church service.
Les Feldick stresses that "very few people understand that the church is the body of Christ" (Clip 1). He explains that the word translated "church" comes from the Greek ekklesia, meaning a called-out assembly (Clips 2, 5). Israel in the wilderness was also a called-out assembly, which is why Les cautions that "whenever you see the word church in the New Testament, it is not always applicable for the Church which is the Body of Christ" (Clip 5). In Paul's epistles, Les says, the called-out assembly becomes something more: "the church which is his body" (Clip 4). Paul uses 1 Corinthians 12 to show that "all, not just the chosen few, but every believer" are baptized into one Body (Clip 6). Les is emphatic that local churches can contain lost people, but "there are no unbelievers in the body of Christ" (Clip 1). The Body of Christ is made up exclusively of those who have experienced salvation and been placed into it by the Holy Spirit (Clips 1, 3). Its Head is in heaven, and believers are the body connected to that Head (Clip 4).
Les explains that the Bible's word for church comes from the Greek ekklesia, which means a called-out assembly. The same Greek word is translated both "church" and "assembly." He applies that concept to Israel in the wilderness as a called-out assembly, while noting that not every use of the word "church" in the New Testament refers to the Church which is the Body of Christ.
No. Les says that he belongs to a local church, but "there are members of my church that are as lost as lost can be, and they are not in the Body of Christ." The Body of Christ contains no unbelievers; a person is placed into it only at salvation, when the Holy Spirit does the placing.
The Bible and Les both point to 1 Corinthians 12: every believer is baptized into one body. Les stresses, "All, not just the chosen few, but every believer. We are all baptized into one body." 1 Corinthians 12:12 says the body is one and has many members, and 1 Corinthians 12:13 says all are baptized into that one body by the Spirit.
Les points out that in Paul's writings the called-out assembly is described as the church which is His Body, with Christ as the Head in heaven. He contrasts this with Peter's teaching in Acts, where Peter does not speak of the assembly as part of Christ. This Body is the group of believers that Paul says are all connected to the Head.
The Mystery Made Known to All Men
Les emphasizes that the mystery of the church was hidden in past ages and is now made known for all men to see, showing that this truth belongs to every believer.
The Church Is the Body of Christ
Les distinguishes the local church from the Body of Christ and confirms that no unbeliever is in the Body; salvation and the Holy Spirit's placement are required.
Ekklesia Means Called-Out Assembly
Les explains that the word translated 'church' comes from the Greek ekklesia and is also translated 'assembly.'
Local Church Members May Be Lost
Les states that many members of local churches are unsaved and therefore are not members of the Body of Christ.
The Church Which Is His Body
Les shows that Paul's called-out assembly is the Body of Christ, with its Head in heaven and believers as the body.
Not Every 'Church' Is the Body
Les warns that the word 'church' in the New Testament does not always refer to the Church which is the Body of Christ; Israel was also a called-out assembly.
Every Believer Baptized Into One Body
Les teaches that all believers—not a chosen few—are baptized into one Body and are connected to Christ the Head.
One Body With Many Members
Les uses 1 Corinthians 12:12 to show that the Body of Christ is one body with many members, and notes Peter did not present it this way.
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.
Shows Christ's body is one body made up of many members.
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.
Shows the Spirit baptizing every believer into the one body.
Acts 2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Shows the Lord adding those being saved to the church.
Ephesians 4:12: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Referenced by Les to show the Body of Christ is built up through ministry to believers.
Ephesians 3:9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Used by Les to show that the mystery of the church is to be made known to all people.
No. Les shows that the Greek word ekklesia simply means a called-out assembly and can apply to Israel in the wilderness as well as to the New Testament church. Paul is the one who reveals the church as the Body of Christ, with Christ as its Head.
Yes. Les is clear that local churches can contain both saved and lost people. Being a member of a local church does not automatically make a person a member of the Body of Christ; that only happens through salvation.
Yes. Les emphasizes that "all, not just the chosen few, but every believer" are baptized into one Body by the Spirit. Every believer is connected to the Head, Christ.
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