THE LORD’S ONE CHURCH
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
In I Corinthians 12:13, we read one of the most comprehensive messages in all of the Bible. Here we have truth as to who is included in salvation, in this present age and reign of grace and who is excluded: “For by one Spirit were 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.”
We know that in this age and dispensation of grace, the Jews have no priority rights or special spiritual privileges. The gospel of the kingdom is to be preached when the Jews are in favor with God. This means the “rise” of Israel. The gospel of the grace of God is now being preached because Israel is in disfavor with God. This means the “fall” of Israel. (Romans 11:11 - Romans 11:25 - Romans 11:30). However, the majority of the first members of the Body of Christ were Jews. Later on the Gentile converts out-numbered the Jews. But all believers, Jews and Gentiles, were baptized into the Church, called in Ephesians 3:6, “the JointBody.” This is still God’s way for the Jew or the Gentile to become a “Church-member”.
We read concerning Israel, (The Jews), in Romans 11:20 and 23: “because of unbelief they were broken off. “God is able to graft them in again.” “For God hath concluded them all (Gentiles and Jews) in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all.” (Romans 11:32).
There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile in this age of grace. (Romans 10:12). There was a very great difference between the Jews and Gentiles while Christ was in the midst of Israel on earth. (Mark 7:27 - Matthew 15:24 to 28 - Acts 2:22).
Christ on the cross took that difference out of the way (Ephesians 2:13 to 19). And how plain is God’s Word, that whether the Gentile or the Jew is saved and made a member of God’s Church, which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28), it is all by the operation of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. No Gentile and no Jew can join himself to God’s Church. Believing Gentiles and believing Jews are baptized by one Spirit into one Body. God gives the increase. Salvation is of the Lord. He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit. (I Corinthians 6:17). The one Body is called, “the Joint-Body” in Ephesians 3:6.
Note what Christ’s perfect redemptive work on the cross has accomplished for believing Gentiles and believing Jews. That He (Christ) might reconcile both (Gentiles and Jews) in one Body by the cross, “and came and preached peace to you which were afar off (Gentiles) and to them that were nigh (Jews).” (Ephesians 2:16 and 17).
By this Divine operation Gentiles are no longer strangers but fellow-citizens with the saints in the Household of God, and all the believing Jews and believing Gentiles make up the Joint-Body of Ephesians 3:6. (Ephesians 2:19). This is to be the filling-up of Christ, the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Ephesians 1:23 and Ephesians 4:13).
Surely after reading this simple, but profound, truth no person will believe that he can be saved by joining some local assembly, or church organization. “They two shall be one flesh. I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” (Ephesians 5:31 and 32).
God exhorts His people “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is.” (Hebrews 10:25) Peter and John, “being let go, they went to their own company.” (Acts 4:23). Every Christian should have his own company. But no person should think he is going to heaven because he attends irregularly or regularly “church” services. Outside of the invisible Organism, which is quite different from some sectarian visible organization, there is no salvation during this age and dispensation of grace. Read carefully I Timothy 3:15 and 16 and obey the instructions, “behave thyself in the House of God’, the Church of the living God.”
Posted By – Cecil Spivey
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