Universal body
Many today deny that they believe in the theory
of a universal church, invisible church,
but readily admit that they hold to the doctrine
of a universal, mystical body of Christ of which all the saved are a part.
It is taught that the moment a person is saved,
that person is put into this mystical body by a spiritual baptism.
The verse they stand on for this doctrine is 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.
However, the context of 1 Corinthians 12 clearly indicates
that the local church is the body of Christ.
Verse 27 Now ye are the body of Christ,
and members in particular.
Ephesians 4 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
There has been more than one kind of baptism,
but for this present time, there is only one kind.
What is that one kind of baptism for the New Testament church?
Baptism in water, of course!
As I see it, those who hold to the universal body concept
are also holding to the universal church concept
whether or not they want to admit it.
I believe the problem is a failure to properly understand and apply
the symbolic terms God uses in His Word.
We need to realize that God is the author of all language,
and that He does not use words carelessly.
He knows their meaning, and uses them consistently.
There is a definite distinction between a body and a family.
As we consider this distinction,
keep in mind that the body and the church are one and the same.
- 22 And hath put all things under his feet,
- and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
- 23 Which is his body,
- the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
- 18 And he is the head of the body, the church:
- who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;
- that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Body (church) of Christ
1. Christ is the head of the body (church).
2. The body (church) demands location (assembly).
3. Baptism qualifies us for membership. (Acts 2.41)
4. We are members of the body (church). (1 Corinthians 12.27)
5. Function of the members is the key. (Ephesians 4.16)
6. Members can be put out of the body (church). (1 Corinthians 5.13)
7. The body (church) functions with the authority of Christ, the head.
(Mark 13.34 1 Corinthians 5.4)
8. The body (church) assembles regularly. (Hebrews 10.25 1 Corinthians 14.23)
9. The body (church) has organization. (1 Corinthians 12.18)
10. The body (church) can be offended. (1 Corinthians 10.32 1 Corinthians 5.6)
11. The body (church) needs nourishment. (Colossians 2.19 Acts 20.28)
12. The body (church) needs to be edified. (1 Corinthians 12.14)
13. The body (church) can lose its heavenly recognition. (Revelation 2.5)
14. The body (church) will give account to God. (Revelation 2.4)
15. The members of the body (church) know and care for one another.
(1 Corinthians 12.20-27; 1 Thessalonians 5.12-13)
Family of God
1. The Father is the head of the family. (Ephesians 3.14-15)
2. The family can be scattered.
3. The New birth makes us a part. (John 1.12-13)
4. We are children of the family. (Galatians 3.26)
5. Relationship in the family is the key. (Galatians 4.6)
6. We can never be put out of the family. (Ephesians 1.5,10,13,14; Romans 8.15-17)
7. There is no earthly function for the family of God.
8. The family does not assemble at this time. It will one day. (Ephesians 1.10)
9. The family has no organization (only relationship).
10. The family cannot be offended.
11. The family cannot be nourished.
12. The family cannot be edified.
13. The family can never lose its recognition. (Matthew 18.10)
14. The family does not give account to God (only individuals). (Romans 14.12)
15. There is no way we can know but a few of the family of God.
There are some good Baptists who, by a misuse of the symbolic terms,
consider a universal body of Christ to be the family of God,
but they need to realize that the term, "body of Christ"
is a term reserved in the Scriptures for the church.
(I should not have to add "local".)
The symbolism of "body" just does not fit in with the symbolism of "family."
Also the symbolism of "body" will not fit in with a universal, invisible concept,
either "body" or "church."
Thus, if we will rightly divide God’s Word and its use of terms,
the only kind of "church" we will see will be local and visible,
and the only kind of "body" we will see will be the same (local & visible)
for the Scripture declares in Ephesians 4
that there not only is one kind of "baptism"
but that there is also only one kind of "body."
We can not have it both ways!
