The One Body of Christ

By Arthur J Licursi

In 1989 the Berlin wall fell after so many years of the “cold war.” With this the two separated groups of German people were able to become one people. There is also a Biblical precedent for two becoming ONE.

From the time of fallen Adam, all men were of one class with a fallen Sin nature. But then God created two classes of still fallen people when He called Abraham. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2 of a wall that had separated all mankind into these two groups – Israel and the Gentiles.

The Gentiles had been given-up by God at the “ Tower of Babel ,” when the Lord confounded their languages and divided all men across the world. This was to mute their evil intentions. Then, not long after Babel , God called out one man, Abram and changed His name to Abraham. God gave and Abraham’s seed “the Law” – for the children of Israel only. With His act of calling Abraham, God thereby created two people groups;

            1) Abraham’s seed, Israel , who had God’s favor, and

            2) The Gentiles, who were “without hope and without God in the world.”

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past GENTILES in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 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.” (Eph 2:11-12).

“The Law” that was given to Israel , is called “the middle wall of partition.” “The Law” was given only to God’s covenant people – Israel . This was to make them a peculiar people in the world, through whom the Savior would come and He would bless the whole world of humanity with Salvation and His eternal life to dwell in them.

Of course we know that Israel , still being in the line of fallen Adam with a Sin nature, consistently broke “the Law” beyond measure. However, not all was lost to God’s ultimate purposes. Their fall was to expose their need for salvation in Christ, along with ALL men.

Through Israel ’s fall, God was able to demonstrate that ALL men are lost – both Jew and Gentile. This was so He then could have mercy and save ALL men who would come to Him through His provision of Christ’s shed blood at the cross. The cross was necessary to make reconciliation for ALL the sins that spring from Adam’s fallen nature that indwells ALL men – both Jews and Gentiles.

Whatsoever the law saith it saith (only) to them that are under the law, (SO) THAT every mouth may be stopped and ALL the world (Jew & Gentile) may be brought in GUILTY before God.” (Rom. 3:19)

“The Law” did have provision for Israel ’s forgiveness of Sins by faith and by making specified sacrifices. Yet, because of Israel unbelief and breaking “the Law,” Israel had lost its God-given position of being “above all people” (Exo 19:5). Thereby, All men, both Jews and Gentiles, have been placed on the very same level; this was according to God’s purpose. God wanted ALL men to see their need so He could extend His mercy to ALL men.

“For God hath concluded them ALL (Jew & Gentile) in unbelief: (SO) that He might have mercy upon ALL (Jew & Gentile)” (Rom. 11:32).

Thus today All men are needy and on one level…at the foot of the cross. God offers salvation to ALL men through Christ, who died for their sins at Calvary .

Thus Paul wrote;

“BUT NOW, in Christ Jesus, ye (Gentiles) who once were far off are (now) made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who HATH MADE BOTH (Jew & Gentile) ONE (in Christ),

and

hath BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION between us (Jew & Gentile)…

(so) that He might reconcile BOTH unto God in (the) ONE BODY (of Christ) by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” (Eph. 2:13-16)

Though there be outward manmade divisions (denominations) among us today, due to man’s pride, vanity, and the spirit of sectarianism, there is no “Wall” among ALL those of God who simply trust His Son for there salvation and hope. Though it may not be apparent, ALL believers have now in fact been made “One Body in Christ” (Rom 12:5), and this entirely without joining any manmade church expression or sect.

In Christ’s “church, which is His body” (Eph 1:22-23) there are those who were at one time Jews and Gentiles; BUT NOW they are no longer Jews of Gentiles. Paul tells us they are ONE in the new paradigm called “the One body of Christ.”

Thus Paul writes “ye are all ONE in Christ Jesus.”

“there is NEITHER JEW NOR GENTILE, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all ONE in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized (placed) into ONE BODY (of Christ), whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)