Are all church members a part of the body of Christ?

[OzSpen]

chessman asked me a valid question: Do you believe each one (that is, each individual) member of the church is now (presently) a part of the body of Christ?' (#748)

Throughout the NT, there are various terms used that are synonymous with 'the body of Christ'. These include reference to the church as '“one body in Christ” in Romans 12:5, “one body” in 1 Corinthians 10:17, “the body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 12:27 and Ephesians 4:12, and “the body” in Hebrews 13:3. The Church is clearly equated with “the body” of Christ in Ephesians 5:23 and Colossians 1:24' (GotQuestions?).

How does one become a member of the body of Christ? 1 Cor 12:12-14 (NIV) states:

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by [with or in] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.​

​

This does not refer to all those who are in church buildings on Sunday. It refers to those who have repented, sought forgiveness and received cleansing of their sins and are thus 'baptized by on Spirit' into the body of Christ.

Oz

​

 

[Who Me]

Do you believe each one (that is, each individual) member of the church is now (presently) a part of the body of Christ?'

This needs clarifying.
Is every person who attends church or who claims to belong to a church a member of that church and is that person also automaticaly a Christian?

I believe that being born white, middle class and christened does not make one a Christian.
So just belonging to a church one is not by belonging a Christian.

Those who are Christian. That is those who seek to live in obedience to Jesus are Christian and therefore are members of the body of Christ.

 

[OzSpen]

This needs clarifying.
Is every person who attends church or who claims to belong to a church a member of that church and is that person also automaticaly a Christian?

I believe that being born white, middle class and christened does not make one a Christian.
So just belonging to a church one is not by belonging a Christian.

Those who are Christian. That is those who seek to live in obedience to Jesus are Christian and therefore are members of the body of Christ.

WM,

You have quoted chessman's question. My response is the OP and it does not include the kind of information you provide in your post.

Please check what I wrote in the OP.

Oz

 

[chessman]

@chessman asked me a valid question: Do you believe each one (that is, each individual) member of the church is now (presently) a part of the body of Christ?

Are you going to answer my question?

 

[stovebolts]

chessman asked me a valid question: Do you believe each one (that is, each individual) member of the church is now (presently) a part of the body of Christ?' (#748)

Throughout the NT, there are various terms used that are synonymous with 'the body of Christ'. These include reference to the church as '“one body in Christ” in Romans 12:5, “one body” in 1 Corinthians 10:17, “the body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 12:27 and Ephesians 4:12, and “the body” in Hebrews 13:3. The Church is clearly equated with “the body” of Christ in Ephesians 5:23 and Colossians 1:24' (GotQuestions?).

How does one become a member of the body of Christ? 1 Cor 12:12-14 (NIV) states:

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by [with or in] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.​

​

This does not refer to all those who are in church buildings on Sunday. It refers to those who have repented, sought forgiveness and received cleansing of their sins and are thus 'baptized by on Spirit' into the body of Christ.

Oz

​

That's pretty much how I see it.

 

[WIP]

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by [with or in] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.This does not refer to all those who are in church buildings on Sunday. It refers to those who have repented, sought forgiveness and received cleansing of their sins and are thus 'baptized by on Spirit' into the body of Christ.

Agreed!

 

[WIP]

Are you going to answer my question?

I thought he did in his opening post.

 

[billybalke]

I thought he did in his opening post.

The answer to the question of this thread is simple, plain and clear. II Thess. 1:7-10 teaches that at Jesus' return He will take vengeance on them that "obey the gospel" vs.8. The gospel is something that can and must be obeyed to be saved. Note
that word obey! To obey is something must do. It is more than belief as some hold. Thus only those who "obey the gospel" are in the church which is the body of Christ. Eph.1:22,23. Rev.2:10 teaches those who are in he body of Christ, the church, must be faithful unto the end to remain in the body of Christ which is the church.

TO BE DEEP IN THE SCRIPTURE IS TO CEASE BEING CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT AND CALVINIST

 

[WIP]

The answer to the question of this thread is simple, plain and clear. II Thess. 1:7-10 teaches that at Jesus' return He will take vengeance on them that "obey the gospel" vs.8. The gospel is something that can and must be obeyed to be saved. Note
that word obey! To obey is something must do. It is more than belief as some hold. Thus only those who "obey the gospel" are in the church which is the body of Christ. Eph.1:22,23. Rev.2:10 teaches those who are in he body of Christ, the church, must be faithful unto the end to remain in the body of Christ which is the church.

TO BE DEEP IN THE SCRIPTURE IS TO CEASE BEING CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT AND CALVINIST

Yes. The OPs last paragraph points this out. True repentance is obedience.

 

[OzSpen]

Are you going to answer my question?

I did, in the OP.

 

[williamt]

True repentance is obedience.

Who has enabled repentance in the life of the once reprobate? Faith, confession, and repentance are a works of God which are enabled in the Elect from regeneration. Such works are the fruit of God in the life of the believer. Praise and glory to God alone:

• Acts 16:14 - One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
• 1 Corinthians 3:6 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
• Acts 5:31 - "God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."
• Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
• Philippians 1:29 - For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should... believe in him
• Acts 18:27 - When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed
• Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
• Romans 12:3 - For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
• 2 Timothy 2:24-25 - And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, [etc.]... God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth
• 1 Corinthians 12:3 - no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.
• 2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence
• Romans 11:36 - For from him and through him and to him are all things.
• 1 Corinthians 4:7 - For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
• John 3:6, 6:63 - "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all."

 

[WIP]

Who has enabled repentance in the life of the once reprobate? Faith, confession, and repentance are a works of God which are enabled in the Elect from regeneration. Such works are the fruit of God in the life of the believer. Praise and glory to God alone:

• Acts 16:14 - One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
• 1 Corinthians 3:6 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
• Acts 5:31 - "God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."
• Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
• Philippians 1:29 - For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should... believe in him
• Acts 18:27 - When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed
• Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
• Romans 12:3 - For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
• 2 Timothy 2:24-25 - And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, [etc.]... God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth
• 1 Corinthians 12:3 - no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.
• 2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence
• Romans 11:36 - For from him and through him and to him are all things.
• 1 Corinthians 4:7 - For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
• John 3:6, 6:63 - "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all."

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. Are you saying that we don't play a part in our repentance? If so, how do you explain what Jesus said here in the following:

Luke 13:1-5 NKJV
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Matthew 4:17 NKJV
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:14-15 NKJV
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

John the baptist also said the same. Matthew 3:1-2 NKJV
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

It seems repentance is an action imparted by us. I also believe, "I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel." Martin Luther

 

[williamt]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. Are you saying that we don't play a part in our repentance? If so, how do you explain what Jesus said here in the following:

Luke 13:1-5 NKJV
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Matthew 4:17 NKJV
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:14-15 NKJV
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

John the baptist also said the same. Matthew 3:1-2 NKJV
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

It seems repentance is an action imparted by us.

Again, of course the regenerate are going to repent. The problem I see here is that so many isolate a particular point or verse and forget everything said elsewhere. The Scriptures should be approached with Sola Scriptura and Tota Scriptura or Systematically in mind. Those verses are of course all true, but we must take into account what must occur first in the natural man. This Ordo Salutis (order of salvation) should bring believers to their knees. God loved His elect that much that since before the foundation of the world God foreknew you. God foreknew you in the same way Adam knew Eve, God knew Jeremiah, God knew the family of Amos (intimate). This directly contrasts those that performed works that God never knew in an intimate way "I never knew you". Matthew 7:23 doesn't say that you "can" know Jesus. Of course those people knew about Jesus and were doing works or being obedient to God but the Scriptures clearly state that Jesus never knew them. Of course Jesus knew all about them so lacking knowledge isn't the emphasis but an intimate knowledge of the believer or His elect was missing. That should cause fear and trembling in all believers ~ which is a fruit of regeneration since we have a heart that only adores God but one that wants to please Him.

God must grant a person repentance. He does this by regenerating a man, putting the desire in man for Himself, drawing the man to Himself. In other words, God saves us from Himself, by Himself, for Himself.

 

[OzSpen]

The answer to the question of this thread is simple, plain and clear. II Thess. 1:7-10 teaches that at Jesus' return He will take vengeance on them that "obey the gospel" vs.8. The gospel is something that can and must be obeyed to be saved. Note
that word obey! To obey is something must do. It is more than belief as some hold. Thus only those who "obey the gospel" are in the church which is the body of Christ. Eph.1:22,23. Rev.2:10 teaches those who are in he body of Christ, the church, must be faithful unto the end to remain in the body of Christ which is the church.

TO BE DEEP IN THE SCRIPTURE IS TO CEASE BEING CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT AND CALVINIST

Billy,

Let's look at the context of 2 Thess 1:8-10 (NIV),

8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.​

These verses do not teach that at Jesus' return,l 'He will take vengeance on them that "obey the gospel" vs.8.

This verse states clearly that 'he will punish' or take vengeance on those who do not know God AND do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. It is obvious that unbelievers do not know God an do not choose to obey the Gospel.

Those who 'do not know God ... will be punished with everlasting destruction (v. 9) and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might'.

The Thessalonian believers suffered persecution at the hands of both Jewish and Gentile officials who were not believers (see Acts 17:5-9; 2 Thess 1:6).

I , as a Christian believer, no matter how often I sin, will never ever suffer from the vengeance of Jesus and suffer everlasting destruction. Why? As long as I continue to endure in my faith, Jesus paid the price for my sins, once and for all (Heb 10:1-18).

As a result of my faith in Jesus alone for salvation, I have been declared righteous before God. I have been 'justified by faith' (Rom 5:1; Gal 3:24). Justification means to be pronounced or treated as righteous. By justification, all genuine Christians 'have been declared innocent of all charges justly brought against those who "sin and fall short of God's glory" (3:23)' (Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, p. 298).

Therefore, it is impossible for me as a born again believer to experience the vengeance of God at Christ's second coming.

Oz

 

[OzSpen]

Again, of course the regenerate are going to repent.

William,

I understand that this is a Calvinistic perspective that God's regeneration with a believer precedes repentance and faith.

What do the Scriptures state?

This is what happened while Paul and Silas were in prison at Philippi and the jailer asked,

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31 ESV).​

Was this a true or false statement? Is it possible for reprobate sinners to believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved?

Nowhere in this context do I read Paul and Silas saying, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, but you won't be able to do that until Jesus regenerates you'.

Romans 5:1; Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:24-25; John 3:6-7; and Titus 3:5-7 demonstrate that faith is prior to regeneration.

According to Jesus, recorded in Luke 13:3: “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (ESV).

To avoid judgment (perishing), this verse says that the condition is NOT regeneration first, but repentance. So, for anyone to experience salvation, repentance is required. This is a consistent message of Scripture (eg Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22; 17:30; 26:20). These verses do not enforce the theology that regeneration must precede faith.

Oz

 

[williamt]

I understand that this is a Calvinistic perspective that God's regeneration with a believer precedes repentance and faith.

Actually it is not. This is Protestant theology 101. Reformed take the 5 Solas out much further.

But you're not interested in edification. And I'm not here to listen to you repeat and convey the same heretical doctrine on your soapbox.

 

[OzSpen]

Actually it is not. This is Protestant theology 101. Reformed take the 5 Solas out much further.

William,

I provided exposition of Scripture to demonstrate Exposition 101 that the Bible teaches that repentance and faith precede and lead to regeneration.

But you're not interested in edification. And I'm not here to listen to you repeat and convey the same heretical doctrine on your soapbox.

This is flaming me and I do not appreciate this kind of ridicule. Have you not read in the Bible how to treat other Christians? Try the fruit of the Spirit!

The 5 Solas do not include 'Regeneration precedes faith alone'. 'Faith alone' means just that!!

Oz

 

[stovebolts]

But you're not interested in edification. And I'm not here to listen to you repeat and convey the same heretical doctrine on your soapbox.

Hi williamt ,
I don't believe we have conversed, so I hate that the first time we cross paths I have to remind you that 1. We are not a debate forum.
2. Please do not use that type of language. If you do, I will remove your access to this thread. If you persist with the inability to bridle those types of remarks, I will remove your access to the Theology forum.

Your a smart man and can figure out the rest.

I do hope you don't take offense in my words. Please, feel free to continue but an apology to Oz really is in order.

Thanks

 

[chessman]

I thought he did in his opening post.

Was he answering yes or no then to my question based on Paul’s statement in 1 Cor 12 in your opinion?; “Do you believe each one (that is, each individual) member of the church is now (presently) a part of the body of Christ?”


His first paragraph was a quote from Got Questions. His second, a question not an answer. His third, unrelated to my specific question.

 

[ezra]

This does not refer to all those who are in church buildings on Sunday. It refers to those who have repented, sought forgiveness and received cleansing of their sins and are thus 'baptized by on Spirit' into the body of Christ.

actually this is a recycled question only those born again are the body