Fellow Heirs

In just a moment, we’ll discuss “Fellowheirs of the Same Body.” But for now let’s do a bit of catching up. It”s been a while since I’ve posted to the blog. I’ve taken some much needed time off. So, I thought I’d return with a brief post What have I been doing in that time? Recently, I’ve been involved with a new radio broadcast with Don K. Preston, “Two Men and A Bible” on A.D. 70.net. The show is receiving quite a response. We highly recommend you check it out. There are downloads available.

Our subject today answers the questions of whether the church was temporary and whether it remains valid today. We focus on the word ‘heir” and “inheritance.” For a text, we would like to turn your attention to Ephesians 3:5-6.

We are told that the church is an accident, resulting from the Jews rejection of Christ and the postponement of the kingdom of God. Here are three quick points to refute such an idea.

First, the church is the inheritance of both Jew and Gentile. According to Ephesians 3:6.

“That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.”

To be a fellow-heir means that the Gentiles were co-destined with Israel to enjoy the same inheritance. If we look at the text to find out what they were heirs of, we are told it is the body, not separate or different, but the same body. According to Ephesians 1:22-22, the body is the church. Further, there is but one body, Eph. 4:4.

Fellowheirs Keep the Unity

Regarding this body, Paul urged the saints to keep the unity of the Spirit. Again, that unity was that Jew and Gentile would be heirs of the same body.

Eternal Inheritance

Now what is the nature of the inheritance God promised to Israel? Was it not an “eternal” inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled and which fades not away? So, we must see the church, i.e. that of which they were fellowheirs as incorruptible (incapable of decay or dissolution or termination. Yet, we are hearing a neologism regarding the church, that it is temporary and is replaced by the kingdom. This is erroneous to the core.

You Have Come to Mt. Zion

In Hebrews 12:22-23, Paul catalogs the inheritance of the saints. He says they had come to Mt. Zion (another name for the kingdom and house of God). He uses several parallel names for it in apposition. It is also called:

The heavenly Jerusalem
The city of the living God
An innumerable company of angels
The general assembly
The church of the firstborn ones
God (His Presence)
Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant
The blood of sprinkling far better than that of Abel
The kingdom, (v. 28)

Now all the above represent that to which the saints were coming at the time, but to which they arrived in A.D. 70. Not a single one is temporary. All are synonymous to the inheritance. Observe that the church makes the list. God joined them together, and let not man put them asunder. The church cannot be separated from the inheritance which fades not away and is equal to the kingdom.

Fellowheirs of the Same Body

Why were both Jews and Gentiles fellowheirs of the same body. Note that salvation is of the Jews, and thus if Gentiles are saved, they are saved in the promise God gave Israel. That means the church, i.e. the promise of the Spirit is Israel’s salvation, not an afterthought, postponement or failure.

That God promised it from the beginning is evident. See Gal. 3:7-9, 3:13-14. Paul says the Scripture forseeing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham saying, In you all families of the earth shall be blessed.” (See Gen. 12:3). Thus, God’s promise to Abraham included Gentiles all along. And if Gentiles are saved in the body, then God’s promise to Abraham is the promise of saving the Gentiles in the body of Christ, i.e. the church.

But that means that God’s promise to Abraham is the promise of Israel’s salvation. Since both the remnant of Israel and the Gentiles received it in the first century, there was no postponement. See Romans 11:7. The elect (remnant of Israel) and the Gentiles obtained what Israel sought, i.e. the kingdom.

Is the New Covenant Only for Judah and Israel? (allthingsfulfilled.com)
The Acceptable Year of the Lord (allthingsfulfilled.com)

Hepzibah says:

April 21, 2010 at 8:35 pm

Mr. Bell, You yourself quoted Gal. 3:13-14 that Christ became a curse. If Christ's body was cursed, how could it last forever? It had to change into something else. Why would God give the illustration of the Bride and the wife if the church was not to be transformed into something perfect; the kingdom? 1Cor 15:36-37 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

The church was sown corruptible and came up a different body; incorruptible i.e. the kingdom. Why are you trying to prove that the church still exists when God's kingdom is here? Sholdn't you be talking about how you live in God's kingdom today?

ATF says:

May 1, 2010 at 2:32 am

I agree with you to a point. True, Christ was made a curse. True Jesus said except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but if it dies, it bring forth much fruit. That means it changes as you state. However, I disagree when you claim that because the body of Christ was transformed that it was jettisoned into obliteration. Please take a moment and study 1 Corinthians 15. The text says, "how are the dead [ones] raised up and with what "BODY" do they come. And to repeat the quote, "You do not sow the body that shall be." What's Paul's point, is not a different body, not a different plant. There is both continuity and discontinuity. The same seed that was planted rose in a different form, yet it was the same identity, otherwise that is not "resurrection."

Now, here is the point. Everything in 1 Cor. 15 which is affirmed for resurrection is parallel and equal. That means that to be made alive, resurrected, and raised in glory equals "in Christ." But, what do we find right in the very text you are attempting to use to deny the body of Christ as the result of resurrection. "It is being sown a "natural" (psuchikos) body. It is being raised a "spiritual" pneumatikos body. (1 Cor. 15:44). There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Now, I suppose in your view you would read this, as there is a natural body, and there is not a spiritual body.

Yes, I agree that the kingdom is in verse 50, but it is parallel to incorruption, immortality and the spiritual body, i.e. all of which refers to Christ! Further proof is Hebrews 12, which is parallel. They have come to the "church/Mt. Zion/the city of the living God/to Christ/the New Covenant/God, etc. " not away from it, as they likewise were receiving the kingdom. Christ is "the resurrection" and "the life" (John 11;25-26), therefore he is the the spiritual body and the kingdom. The reason it is Christ's spiritual body is because all are raised in Him. Now, would you be so kind as to tell me how you explain away the spiritual body in 1 Cor. 15:44?

preteristaynrand says:

April 26, 2010 at 4:15 pm

So , with that being said , what about today's mainstream Protestant ministers and board members and congregations who deny these views based on preterism. Are these people in the body? If so, are Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses as well? Catholics? Or are you implying that the body does not necessarily refer to physical church attendance, but rather, spiritual newness in Spirit and Truth? Thanks .

ATF says:

May 1, 2010 at 2:00 am

According to the texts cited in the post regarding the body, none referred to a local assembly, but to the spiritual body of Christ, i.e. to Christ himself. Individuals who by faith (implying obedience) join themselves to Christ, become members of Him, i.e. of His body. A local church is simply a "group" or gathering of "members" who have joined themselves to the body, i.e. to Christ. I believe it is incorrect to call a single member, or a group of members meeting locally, the body of Christ. It is no more the body of Christ than one member or local assembly is the kingdom. I believe we must exercise caution and patience before excluding people based on whether they agree with these views or not. I also believe that heresy involves an attitude and intent as well as doctrine. The church at Corinth had many members with imperfect knowledge, (doctrine) especially related to eschatology, for "some" among them denied the resurrection of the dead (ones) and did not have the knowledge of God." Yet they were called the church of God and saints. (1 Cor. 1:1-2) I also believe that when Paul corrected their understanding, he expected them to adhere to it. That being said, I do believe that when the deity of Christ is denied, and worship of a man or a woman is placed above or equal to that of Christ, the scriptures are very clear in such matters.

Fellowheirs of the Same Body?

Fellow Heirs