OR THE TOTALITY OF THOSE THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE BODY OF CHRIST OR THE TOTALITY OF THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST

THE CHURCH The word “church” translates the Greek word “ecclesia” which simply means “assembly.” Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.... "But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly...." And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:32, 39, 41)

THE CHURCH Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.... "But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly...." And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:32, 39, 41) We see that an “assembly” can be orderly or disorderly, organized or disorganized, lawful or unlawful.

That which belongs to Christ is His. OF CHRIST Belonging to Christ That which belongs to Christ is His.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST The church of Christ is just that - Christ's church or the church belonging to Christ. It is not a denomination of human origin. It is not A collectivity of local churches. It is THE collectivity of ALL Christians.

IN CHRIST By “in Christ” is meant “in a right relationship with Christ.”

IN CHRIST Remember Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17:20-21? He prayed, “I do not pray for these alone [the apostles], but also for those who will believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

ALL ARE ONE All believers are “one” “in” the Father and Son if, and to the extent that, they are united with them in a right relationship.

ALL ARE ONE The apostle Paul stated, in 2 Tim. 2:10, Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

ALL ARE ONE The apostle Peter said, in Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.”

THE CHURCH IS THE BODY The apostle Paul wrote of Jesus, And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Col. 1:18) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph. 1:22-23)

THE CHURCH IS THE BODY Paul also wrote of Jesus, For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. (Eph. 5:23).

THE CHURCH IS THE BODY Since the body and the church are the same, and Jesus is the Savior of the body, then He is the Savior of the church. That is, the church is the body of the saved, the totality of those who are “in” Christ Jesus. Therefore, whatever puts one “into” Christ Jesus, or “into” a right relationship with Him, puts one “into” the church or body of Christ and puts one among the totality of the saved.

THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph. 1:22-23) The body of Christ is “the fullness of Christ.” Therefore, all those who are “in Christ” are “in the body of Christ.”

THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST One who is “in Christ” is a “new creation.” Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor. 5:17) Therefore, whatever puts one “into” a right relationship with Christ is essential to becoming a “new creation.” If one is not “in” Christ, he is not a “new creation,” not “in” the body and not among the totality of the saved.

THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST One is baptized “into” a right relationship with Christ. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3-4)

THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST One is baptized “into” a right relationship with Christ. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:26-27) Therefore, being baptized is essential to becoming a new creation.

THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16) Therefore, being baptized is essential to being saved.

BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:13) Therefore, being baptized is essential to being in the “one body” or church and the “one body” does not include anyone who has not been baptized. Some say this is Holy Spirit baptism. However....

BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:4-6)

BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY “It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,’ and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, ‘baptism was the door into the church.’ Now it is different.” (Edward T. Hiscox: The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, page 22)

Who says it is different? What about those in every “generation”? BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY Who says it is different? Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." (Acts 10:34-35) What about those in every “generation”?

E PLURIBUS UNUM OF MANY ONE Individually we are many members, but collectively we are one body.

E PLURIBUS UNUM Individually we are many members, but collectively we are one body. In 1 Cor. 12:14-27, we read: For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

E PLURIBUS UNUM Individually we are many members, but collectively we are one body. In 1 Cor. 12:14-27, we read: But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

E PLURIBUS UNUM Individually we are many members, but collectively we are one body. In 1 Cor. 12:14-27, we read: And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

E PLURIBUS UNUM Individually we are many members, but collectively we are one body. In 1 Cor. 12:14-27, we read: And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

THEREFORE... To be “in Christ” is to be “in the church of Christ,” “in the body of Christ” and among the totality of the saved. If one has not been baptized “into Christ” he has not been baptized “into the body of Christ” and is not among the totality of the saved. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).