Paul never stated that the Body of Christ began at Pentecost in Acts 2.
James 2 explains what James meant in acts 21.
But since you claim James was mistaken in acts 21, that won’t matter to your doctrine.
The Body of Christ is the NT Church.
Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
The first members of the NT Church were added at Pentecost.
Acts 2
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Paul's conversion occurred several years after Pentecost.
He was not the first member of the Body of Christ.
1 Timothy 1:16 Greek
4413 [e]
prōtō
πρώτῳ ,
[the] foremost
Adj-DMS
The word translated "first" in the KJV is most accurately translated "foremost" or "chief". Paul described himself as the foremost or chief of sinners. The same Greek word is used in 1 Timothy 1:15 .
The NASB renders them accurately.
1 Timothy 1
15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.
16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
I have to disagree. The NT Church or congregation was that which existed after Christ made the new covenant in His blood. Pentecost was the empowerment of that Church to fulfill the great commission.
I have to disagree. The NT Church or congregation was that which existed after Christ made the new covenant in His blood. Pentecost was the empowerment of that Church to fulfill the great commission.
The wording of Isaiah 66:8, fulfilled in Acts 2, suggests that the NT Church was a net new birth that day.
I won't watch videos or go to websites that are posted here, so please don't bother posting them when you respond to me. I have no interest in that. I'm talking to you and having a discussion with you, not someone in a video that I can't talk to here.If you are keen to learn, you can view this to understand the difference.
Of course, you are also free to reject this teaching.
I won't watch videos or go to websites that are posted here, so please don't bother posting them when you respond to me. I have no interest in that. I'm talking to you and having a discussion with you, not someone in a video that I can't talk to here.
So, again, please answer these questions:
What are the requirements for someone to be in Christ?
What are the requirements for someone to be in the body of Christ?
Yes, I share his view. It clearly took some time for Jewish believers, including James, to realize that they were no longer under the old covenant ceremonial law and instead were under the new covenant established by Christ's blood.Read Acts 21:18-25 to understand that Paul was not contradicting himself.
The Body of Christ is a separate group from the little flock. The latter needed to obey the Law of Moses, which includes physical circumcision, even after they believe (James 2:24-26), but gentile believers are exempted by James in Acts 21:25.
Of course, if you also share the same view as SG, about James being mistaken in that Acts 21 passage, then your belief about having no distinction will naturally follow from that view.
Could you provide the verse for that and what that verse means to you?Israel was promised healing and wealth if they obeyed.
In James 2, James is not talking about works of the law when he talks about works. Do you understand that? Otherwise, he would be contradicting Paul when Paul said things like this:James 2 explains what James meant in acts 21.
But since you claim James was mistaken in acts 21, that won’t matter to your doctrine.
What is required to be part of the body of Christ? What is required to be part of the church?The term body of Christ is not equivalent to the term church.
A church is a called out assembly.
The term body of Christ is not equivalent to the term church. A church is a called out assembly.
James 2 explains what James meant in acts 21.
But since you claim James was mistaken in acts 21, that won’t matter to your doctrine.
Martin Luther put it brilliantly, “We’re not saved by faith and works. But we are saved by a faith that works.”
Doesn't come across as very brilliant sounding to me. Comes across as twisting words to mean something they don't mean. "works' is not being used in that sense.
Take Noah for instance. God informed him that a flood was coming and that he needed to prepare an ark, which he did. The building of the ark symbolizing works. What would have happened had Noah decided he did not want to finish the ark before the floods came, that he refused to finish it? Should one then assume faith alone would have saved him, thus he wouldn't have drowned with the rest even if he never completed the ark, but not because God didn't give him plenty of time to do so, but because he simply refused to keep building it until it got built?
And what does James 2 say again?
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
If building the ark symbolizes works in Noah's case, but that he refused to finish it, then relied on faith alone, he too would have literally been dead once the floods arrived. Exactly what James 2:20 indicates---faith without works is dead.
I won't watch videos or go to websites that are posted here, so please don't bother posting them when you respond to me. I have no interest in that. I'm talking to you and having a discussion with you, not someone in a video that I can't talk to here.
So, again, please answer these questions:
What are the requirements for someone to be in Christ?
What are the requirements for someone to be in the body of Christ?
Could you provide the verse for that and what that verse means to you?
Scripture states in James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
What does this mean?
· It is faith alone that saves, but faith that saves is not alone.
· Faith demands an action. It is not just an internal thought or feeling that produces no outward fruit. The genuine internal work of the Holy Spirit demands an outward expression or holy behavior.
· A life of faith brings godly service.
· Faith is dead if it has no visible expression in your life.
· Faith and works function like the sun and heat. They cannot be separated from each other. Good works are what faith produces.
Martin Luther put it brilliantly, “We’re not saved by faith and works. But we are saved by a faith that works.”
No man will ever work their way to heaven by human effort. No one will ever earn it. None us us will ever be good enough. If we could attain unto it: the cross wa a joke and God the Father was a tyrant.