One Body

Version 5:1

By Mark Farquharson

Many people see to think that there are multiple groups of believers, that there are multiple bodies. They think that these different groups will get to the kingdom of the heavens at different times. It is thought that some believers will rule over other believers in the future. These groups have a number of names like overcomers, kings, and priests. What is the truth of these claims, it is in the scriptures that the truth is to be found.

One Head and One Body:

Romans 12:4-5 For even as, in one body, we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, thus we, who are many, are one body in Christ, yet individually members of one another." {CLV}

1Corinthians 10:17 For we, who are many, are one bread, one body, for we all are partaking of the one bread." {CLV}

There are many members in the one body in Christ. Believers who are many, are one body in Christ. That is there is one body in Christ. There are not many bodies, there is one body, that has many members.

1Corinthains 12:12-13 For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, thus also is the Christ." For in one spirit also we all are baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all are made to imbibe one spirit." {CLV}

The body is one, it is not two or more, or how many some want to make it. All the members of the one body, being many, are one body. Whether believers Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, they all are spiritually baptized into one body. At no time were there two or more bodies. Some suggest this is future, that there will be one body in the future, but no were does it say this is future. It is not in the future, there is one body now and there was one body back when this was written, there has always been one body. Believers at the time would have taken it to mean that there was one body at that time, not sometime in the future. If it was meant to happen in the future then the writer should have explained that.

Ephesians 3:1-6 On this behalf I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you, the nations" since you surely hear of the administration of the grace of God that is given to me for you, for by revelation the secret is made known to me.... 3:5 in spirit" the nations are to be joint enjoyers of an allotment, and a joint body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the evangel" {CLV}

Paul was for the nations, but his evangel was the same one that was for the Jews. There was never two evangels. There were many secrets, this secret that was being made known is that “The nations are to be joint enjoyers of an allotment and a joint body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the evangel.” The nations are joint enjoyers of a joint body. The body is not separated into different parts, it is a joint body. The nations and the Jews are jointed together in one body.

For more information on there only being one evangel refer to my article: “One Evangel”

Ephesians 5:22-24 Let the wives be subject to their own husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is head of the wife even as Christ is Head of the ecclesia, and He is the Saviour of the body." Nevertheless, as the ecclesia is subject to Christ, thus are the wives also to their husbands in everything." {CLV}

Christ is the head of the ecclesia, the head of the body, He is also the Saviour of the body. There is one body and one head, no believer is the head, all believers are the body. No one should claim to be the head, for Christ is the head. The ecclesia are subject to Christ, they are NOT subject to any person.

Overcomers or Conquers

In the book of Revelation it mentions the word “conquering,” or “overcometh,” or “overcoming,” depending on translation. The one who is conquering or overcoming gets the rewards that are mentioned in these passages in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Those who believe in a future millennium reign, believe that these overcomers will rule over other believers in a future millennium. These ones who have conquered ruling over those who have not overcome or conquered.

As was covered above there is only one head and one body. This rules out there being a separate group of believers ruling over other believers in a coming millennium. Just because the scriptures mention these conquers or overcomers it does not mean they are some other group of believers.

The passages in Revelation mention the rewards that these overcomers or conquers will get, however it does not say in Revelation what you have to do to become an overcomer. It is thought that you have to do more than just have faith, or believe, you have to overcome, then you will get the rewards. But what do the scriptures say you have to do to become an overcomer? It is in 1 John 5, that it tell us what you have to do to become an overcomer or conquer.

1 John 5:1 Everyone who is believing that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God….{CLV}

This tell us who is begotten of God, it is “Everyone who is believing that Jesus is the Christ.” That is all you have to do to begotten of God. That is all believers, all those in the body are begotten of God.

1Jn 5:4-5 for all that is begotten of God is conquering the world. And this is the conquest that conquers the world: our faith. Now who is he who is conquering the world if not he who is believing that Jesus is the Son of God? {CLV}

All those that are begotten of God are conquering the world. What do you have to do to conquer or overcome the world? You have to be begotten of God, there is no other requirement mentioned in the scriptures. Thus since all those of the body are believing that Jesus is the Christ, then they are all begotten of God, and are all therefore conquering the world.

What is it that conquers the world? Our Faith. It is very simple, it is faith alone that conquers the world. You do not have to do anything additional to conquer or overcome the world, you just need faith. Thus the one that has faith is conquering the world. Since all in the body have faith, they are all overcomers or conquers. That means all in the body will get the rewards mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. There is no additional requirements mentioned in Revelation to get those rewards.

Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God are the ones who are conquering, there is no additional requirement mentioned in the scriptures. Once you believe in Jesus Christ you do not then have to do anymore to become an overcomer. All believers who believe in Christ are overcomers, they have overcome, once you believe you are an overcomer, there is no more that you have to do.

Those who do not believe, who do not have faith are the ones who do not get the rewards. This article is not about the rewards themselves, which are mentioned in these passages: Revelation 2:7, 2:17, 2:26, 2:28, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21, & 21:7.

Shepherd and his Sheep:

John 10:14-16 I am the Shepherd ideal, and I know Mine and Mine know Me, according as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. And My soul am I laying down for the sake of the sheep." And other sheep have I which are not of this fold. Those also I must be leading, and they will be hearing My voice, and there will be one flock, one Shepherd." {CLV}

Here in John, Jesus has sheep, that being the believers in Israel, but he also had other sheep, those being the believers from the nations. Both lots of sheep/believers will be one flock, that is they will be one body of believers, with one Shepherd, Jesus Christ. There are not more shepherds, there is only one. By placing some believers over others in the body, you are creating more shepherds. Jesus is the only shepherd and head of the body. All sheep are begotten of God, and are therefore overcomers. The believers of Israel descent will not be a separate flock some time in the future.

One Mediator

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus, {CLV}

There is only one Mediator of God and mankind, that is Christ Jesus. No one else, can be Mediator, of God and mankind. No church or priest is or can be Mediator of God and mankind. You do not have to confess you sins to a priest, who is sitting in a box.

Justified:

Romans 5:1-2 Being, then, justified by faith, we may be having peace toward God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom we have the access also, by faith, into this grace in which we stand, and we may be glorying in expectation of the glory of God."

All believers are justified by faith, there is no other requirement of a believer. All those in the body have faith and are justified by this faith. All those of the body are begotten of God, are conquers, and justified by their faith.

Anyone Believing in Christ gets life eonian:

John 6:47-8 Verily, verily, I am saying to you that he who is believing in Me has life eonian." I am the Bread of life. {CLV}

That is they get life in the future eons that are to come. That is not to say they will not be immortal, they will be immortal, this is an additional benefit. Those who do not believe will be in the lake of fire which is the second death. However they will not be physically dead, it is that they will still be spiritually dead. Those who have eon life will be in the kingdom. It is those outside the kingdom, that will still need to be saved.

Immortal:

All believers in Christ will get a new immortal body when He returns, that is they will be saved spiritually and physically. No true believer in Christ will be left out. All believers in the kingdom will have been fully saved both spiritually and physically.

Believers who are NOT Part of The Body

While there is only one body of believers not all Christians are part of this body. That is out of all the Christians out there in the would not all of them are part of the body. To be part of the body you have to truly believe in Jesus Christ. Most Christians do not truly believe in Christ, they believe in themselves. For they believe that they chose to be saved, it was them that saved themselves not Jesus Christ. There is only one group, one body of believers in Christ. All other Christians who do not truly believe in Christ, are not part of this group.

Addition 1: Putting Back the Barrier Jesus Christ Removed

Before Jesus Christ came to the earth, in old Testament times, believers in Israel had to go to their priests, the priests were the only ones that could then go beyond the curtain and talk to God. In the temple in Israel at the time was a curtain. However God did talk directly to some people during and before this time. The temple was destroyed in 70 AD. Christ removed the barrier, upon his death the curtain torn in half.

Matthew 27:50-51 Now Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, lets out the spirit." And lo! the curtain of the temple is rent in two from above to the bottom, {CLV}

Mark 15:37-38 Now Jesus, letting out a loud sound, expires." And the curtain of the temple is rent in two from above to the bottom. {CLV}

When Jesus died on the cross the curtain in the temple rent in two from above to the bottom, the barrier was removed.

You no long had to go to the priest, you could as a believe go direct to God. However over time some churches decide that you should have to go to their priests, instead of direct to God. This is completely wrong, you do Not have to go to any priest. No matter what any church says, you can still go direct to God. Christ remove the barrier, but some churches what to put it back, they what to be the one between you and God. This is complete wrong.

The Barrier Jesus Christ removed to be put back?

People who incorrectly believe about the role of the overcomers in the future are doing the same thing. They are put the overcomers in the role the priests had in the old Testament. They are putting the barrier back that Christ removed. They are saying that believers who are not overcomers, will go to the overcomers who will be priests or kings. Thus they are putting the barrier back that Jesus Christ removed. No this is complete wrong, you do not have to go to anyone, you can go direct to God. This will not change in the future, Christ removed the barrier, and it is not at anytime in the future going to be put back. They are putting the overcomers in the rule of Mediator, but there is only one Mediator, and that is Christ. In the future kingdom this will not change, overcomers are not going to be come mediators, this role is Jesus Christ’s and only His, this will not change.

Addition 2: Believing Jews NOT Another Group

Some people believe and teach, as fact that the believing Jews are a separate group of believers. They teach that the believing Jews will have a separate role in a supposed upcoming millennium. As I have explained already there is no upcoming millennium reign on this earth. This means that they do not have a separate role in a upcoming millennium. It is important to remember that while there is no millennium reign on this earth there is a coming kingdom. As for the coming kingdom, the believing Jews will NOT have a separate role in the upcoming Kingdom.

Matthew 21:43 Therefore am I saying to you that the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and shall be given to a nation producing its fruits. {CLV}

God took away the Kingdom from physical Israel and give it to spiritual Israel. All believers are spiritual Israel. While the kingdom has transferred to spiritual Israel, it does not mean the kingdom is only spiritual, there is a physical coming kingdom.

There is no distinction between Jew and Greek

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same One is Lord of all, being rich for all who are invoking Him." 10:13 For everyone, whoever should be invoking the name of the Lord, shall be saved." {CLV}

Galatians 3:27 For whoever are baptized into Christ, put on Christ, 3:28 in Whom there is no Jew nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free, there is no male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus." 3:29 Now if you are Christ's, consequently you are of Abraham's seed, enjoyers of the allotment according to the promise." {CLV}

It does not matter if you are Jew or Greek, or slave or freeman, or male or female, there is no distinction, between those who have faith in Christ. This means that the Jews are not distinct from the rest of those who believe.

No Greek and Jew, Circumcision and Uncircumcision

Colossians 3:9-11 Do no lie to one another, stripping off the old humanity together with its practices, and putting on the young, which is being renewed into recognition, to accord with the Image of the One Who creates it, wherein there is no Greek and Jew, Circumcision and Uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but all and in all is Christ." {CLV}

There is NO Greek and Jew, Circumcision and Uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but all and in all is Christ. There are none of those groupings in those who believe, there is just all, that is “all who believe.” The all are one body, there are not different groups, different bodies. In all who believe is Christ, he is in all of them.

Romans 2:28 For not that which is apparent is the Jew, nor yet that which is apparent in flesh is circumcision;" 2:29 but that which is hidden is the Jew, and circumcision is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, whose applause is not of men, but of God." {CLV}

Circumcision is of the heart, that is all those who believe wether from the nations or the Jews, all believers have circumcision of the heart in spirit.

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is availing anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith, operating through love." {CLV}

Neither circumcision is availing anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith, operating through love. It does not help you in anyway, being circumcised or being uncircumcised, there is no advantage in ether.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation." {CLV}

All those in Christ Jesus are a new creation, wether they are uncircumcised or circumcised. It does not matter wether you are a Jew or from the nations, you are a new creation if you are in Christ.

The Promise to Abraham

Romans 4:11-12 And he {Abraham} obtained the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which was in uncircumcision, for him to be the father of all those who are believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be reckoned to them, and the father of the Circumcision, not to those of the Circumcision only, but to those also who are observing the elements of the faith in the footprints of our father Abraham, in uncircumcision." {CLV}

Abraham is the father of the people of the Circumcision {Israel} and the uncircumcision {the nations}. Righteousness is to be reckoned to those of the Circumcision {Israel} and the uncircumcision {the nations}. For there is no difference between those who believe.

Romans 4:13 For not through law is the promise to Abraham, or to his Seed, for him to be enjoyer of the allotment of the world, but through faith's righteousness." {CLV}

It is not through the law the promise to Abraham, but through faith's righteousness. Those who enjoy the promise are those who have faith, it is not to do with the law.

Romans 4:14-15 For if those of law are enjoyers of the allotment, faith has been made void and the promise has been nullified, for the law is producing indignation. Now where no law is, neither is there transgression." {CLV}

The promise is nullified if those of the law are enjoyers of the allotment. If someone can get the allotment by the law, then faith is void. That is if you can do works of the law to get an allotment, then faith is void, and the promise has been nullified. Thus you can not do works of the law to get an allotment, you need faith.

Romans 4:16-18 Therefore it is of faith that it may accord with grace, for the promise to be confirmed to the entire seed, not to those of the law only, but to those also of the faith of Abraham, who is father of us all, according as it is written that, A father of many nations have I appointed you - facing which, he believes it of the God Who is vivifying the dead and calling what is not as if it were -" who, being beyond expectation, believes in expectation, for him to become the father of many nations, according to that which has been declared, "Thus shall be your seed." {CLV}

The promise is confirmed to the entire seed. Abraham is father of many nations, and it does not matter which of those nations you came from, as along as you have faith, you have an allotment. Now the people who came before Abraham who had faith, also have an allotment in the coming kingdom, they don’t miss out because they came before the promise to Abraham.

Removing the Wall between the Jews and the Nations

Ephesians 2:11-2:12 Wherefore, remember that once you, the nations in flesh - who are termed 'Uncircumcision' by those termed 'Circumcision,' in flesh, made by hands -" that you were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world." {CLV}

Before Christ removed the barrier between those of the 'Circumcision,' and those of the 'Uncircumcision', those of the 'Uncircumcision' where guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world. However this changed when Jesus Christ removed the barrier.

Ephesians 2:13-2:16 Yet now, in Christ Jesus, you, who once are far off, are become near by the blood of Christ." For He is our Peace, Who makes both one, and razes the central wall of the barrier" (the enmity in His flesh), nullifying the law of precepts in decrees, that He should be creating the two, in Himself, into one new humanity, making peace;" and should be reconciling both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in it." {CLV}

Christ Jesus razed the central wall of the barrier, between those of the 'Circumcision,' and those of the 'Uncircumcision'. The two {'Circumcision,' and 'Uncircumcision'} he creates into ONE NEW humanity. Christ is reconciling both {'Circumcision,' and 'Uncircumcision'} in one body {they now being one group} to God through the cross, killing the enmity in it.

Ephesians 2:17-18 And, coming, He brings the evangel of peace to you, those afar, and peace to those near, for through Him we both have had access, in one spirit, to the Father." {CLV}

Those of the those of the 'Circumcision,' and those of the 'Uncircumcision' have access, in one spirit, to the Father.

Ephesians 2:19-22 Consequently, then, no longer are you guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the capstone of the corner being Christ Jesus Himself, in Whom the entire building, being connected together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord:" in Whom you, also, are being built together for God's dwelling place, in spirit." {CLV}

Those of the 'Uncircumcision' are no longer guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family. All believers belong to God’s family, are it is one family that is not separated into different groups. The old groups were based on genealogy, but this does not matter anymore. The entire building, that is all those who have faith are being connected together and is going into a holy temple in the Lord. This temple does not have divisions, for all in the Lord are One Body.

One Evangel

There is only evangel, for both Jews and the nations. There is not a separate evangel for the Jews. The only evangel is that of the evangel of Christ. Any other evangel is not another evangel, for it is not an evangel at all. The works based evangel is not another evangel for it is Not an evangel at all.

For more information on there only being one evangel refer to the article: One Evangel

Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2009-2011. First named “One Group of Believers.” version 1 2009. Version 2 with new Addition 1: May 2009, Correction September 2009, Version 3 with new Addition 2: September 2009, Edited 29 Dec 09, Addition 1 updated 12 Jan 2010, Updated 18 & 28 February 2010. Version 4, Articled renamed “One Body” and updated, 8 January 2011. Version 5, with new Overcomers or Conquers section and other minor changes 6 November 2012. Version 5:1 Edited August 18 2018