The LOCALK Body of Christ

[Tom Butler]

On occasion, the scriptures refer to the church in a generic sense. We do the same thing when we talk about the "family."

If we write lamenting the breakdown of the family, or protecting the family, we recognize that only individual families actually break up. An "assault on the family" affects real, individual families.

The idea of the "jury" is just fine. But you want a real jury when the time comes.

The generic use of "church" takes expression only through individual churches. Just as the family is mentioned as a concept, the church is also mentioned as a concept. But they are only concepts, and not real in any way. Only local churches are real.

Only local churches actually meet together. Only local churches are uniquely equipped to carry out the Great Commission. A concept never won a soul to Christ.

 

[Herb Evans]

In the context of a reference to "one body" (Eph. 2:16) Christ is said to have "broken down the middle wall of partition" between believing Jews and Gentiles and "hath made both one" (Eph. 2:14). Does this context of chapter 2 of Ephesians plainly demonstrate that the "one body" is only a local body (one local church)? Are believing Jews and Gentiles both reconciled and made both one in one local body if that one local church has only Gentile members? Is the "one body" of Ephesians 2:16 a different body than the "one body" of Ephesians 4:4 and "his body" of Ephesians 1:22-23?

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

We start here with the local commonwealth of Israel versus the Gentiles plural (11), strangers plural, and aliens plural. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye [plural] who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Then we have the blood of Christ changing the situation. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Then, we proceed to two abstract and generic groups to the abstract and generic one. There is no definite, real wall between the groups; it is a metamorphical partition. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; . . .

Here we are talking about enmity, the commandments, and the ordinances abolished in Christ's body or flesh. -- Herb Evans

. . . for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Such abolishment of Israel's ordinances and the Gentile enmity by His flesh enables Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians to be one instead of two separate visible entities. The Commonwealth of Israel was not an invisible body and neither were the Gentiles an invisible body, therefore the new man result was not an invisible body. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

The Gentile enimity was slain by the cross, and both were reconciled from two groups to one (not every Jew and every Gentile). There may be different interpretations here as to whether the body here is the Lord's physical body or the local church body, but it was the cross that effected it. Now, if an invisible body is argued, when did that invisible body start? At the cross before the resurrection or at pentecost after the cross and resurrection? When? -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Visible Jews and visible Gentiles were preached to. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Both visible saved Jews and visible saved Gentiles (BOTH) have access to the Father. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Visible strangers/foreigners (plural) are fellow citizens (plural) with the saints (plural) and of the household of God (singular) or the family of God (singular). -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

The aforementioned fellow citizens (plural) are built on the foundation of the apostles (plural) and prophets (plural) with Jesus Christ the chief corners stone of the local church's foundation. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

This is not an invisible, mystical temple; it is a metaphor for the local church/temple and the stones are fitly framed TOGETHER not scattered all over the world and in heaven. -- Herb Evans

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Both individually and collectively, this church/temple in metaphor is bulded TOGETHER for a habitation of the Holy Spirit. -- Herb Evans

 

[Herb Evans]

On occasion, the scriptures refer to the church in a generic sense. We do the same thing when we talk about the "family."

If we write lamenting the breakdown of the family, or protecting the family, we recognize that only individual families actually break up. An "assault on the family" affects real, individual families.

The idea of the "jury" is just fine. But you want a real jury when the time comes.

The generic use of "church" takes expression only through individual churches. Just as the family is mentioned as a concept, the church is also mentioned as a concept. But they are only concepts, and not real in any way. Only local churches are real.

Only local churches actually meet together. Only local churches are uniquely equipped to carry out the Great Commission. A concept never won a soul to Christ.

You are correct. Let someone find an invisible, mystical, universal husband or wife in Ephesians except in the generic sense. the husband and the wife find expression in individual husbands and wives. -- Herb Evans