Who was the FIRST one in the Body of Christ ?

[Dr. Walter]

There is no evidence that the body of Christ existed before the Day of Pentecost, is there?

You cannot separate "the body of Christ" from "the church" and there is plenty of evidence that the church pre-existed Pentecost.

1. The Apostles were appointed before Pentecost (Mk. 3; Lk. 6) and they were set first in the church - I Cor. 12:28

2. The office was functioning and a church buisness meeting was called to fill the vacated office prior to Penteocost - Acts 1:15-22

3. They were habitually assembling with the head of the church from the time of John's baptism - Acts 1:21-22

4. Both ordinances of the church were administered prior to Pentecost

5. Christ is said to be the builder of the Church not the Holy Spirit - Mt. 16:18

6. Christ instructed the church about disciplinary matters before Pentecost using present tense verbs - Mt. 18:15-18

7. Those 3,000 saved on Pentecost were "added unto them" who had been habitually assembling prior to Penteocost - Acts 1:21-22, 2:1; 41-42,47

8. No text in scripture teaches any kind of church began on Pentecost.

 

[adisciplinedlearner]

Most all of these things were preparatory in nature. The groundwork was being laid for the birth of the New Covenant church upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

The body of Christ was a mystery until the beginning of the New Covenant era (Eph. 2:11-22; 3:1-10). There were no Gentiles in one body with the Jews until that time.

 

[Dr. Walter]

Most all of these things were preparatory in nature. The groundwork was being laid for the birth of the New Covenant church upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

The body of Christ was a mystery until the beginning of the New Covenant era (Eph. 2:11-22; 3:1-10). There were no Gentiles in one body with the Jews until that time.

So you imagine falsely. You cannot overturn the evidence so you just assert your error. Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:1-10 refer to the Old Testament prediction of God turning to the gentiles for a people and bringing them in the house of God on the SAME LEVEL with the Jews. This was unheard of since Moses as the Gentiles could be saved but they were treated as second class citizens of God's kingdom and had NO PRIVILEGES of service in God's house - the Jewish temple. However, with the new house of God that Jesus built and finished prior to Pentecost and which was commissioned BEFORE Pentecost TWICE - first time to the Jews only (Mt. 9) and then to both Jews and gentiles (Mt. 28:19-20) - a practice followed by Paul (to the Jew first, then to the Gentile). There was no change of salvation before and after Pentecost (Mt. 7:13-14; Jn. 14:6 with Acts 4:12 and Acts 10:43; Heb. 4:2).

With the giving of the SECOND commission to HIS church in Matthew 28:19-20 there was a change in extent of the commission - all the world and therefore a change of inclusion of membership in the church at Jerusalem to include GENTILES baptized believers as EQUAL members with EQUAL privileges in the house of God.

 

[adisciplinedlearner]

The body of Christ did not exist before Christ's death upon the cross (Eph. 2:14-16). This is just a fact of Scripture.

 

[Dr. Walter]

The body of Christ did not exist before Christ's death upon the cross (Eph. 2:14-16). This is just a fact of Scripture.

That is a MISREPRESENTATION of Scripture. Saints were saved before the cross the very same way they are saved after the cross which is a fact of Scripture:

Rom. 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Heb. 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

So the gospel was not merely read from the Prophets, nor does this mean that the prophets merely confirmed a future gospel that will be preached but it was actually preached and heard then as well as now. So who PREACHED it?

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

So the cross plays absolutely no part in the establishment of the church prior to Pentecost because people were born again (Jn. 3:9) before as well as after the cross and Pentecost just as the gospel was preached before (Jn. 3:16, 36) as well as after Pentecost (Acts 4:12). Indeed, there is no other name given UNDER HEAVEN AMONG MEN at any time before or after the cross or Pentecost wherein there is salvation THEN and NOW than Jesus as "NO MAN" before or after the cross, before or after Pentecost comes to the Father but by faith in Christ (Jn. 14:6)

So you are misinterpreting scripture because you are married to your heresy.

 

[Salty]

Isnt the correct answer Dr. Bob? ! :laugh: :applause:

If I heard the story correctly, wasnt it Rev Mitchell, who encourge him to go....:1_grouphug:

 

[Dr. Walter]

Isnt the correct answer Dr. Bob? ! :laugh: :applause:

If I heard the story correctly, wasnt it Rev Mitchell, who encourge him to go....:1_grouphug:

Salty what in the world have your comments to do with this thread??????

 

[billwald]

I'll vote for Adam being the first.