There is only one church today, and that is “the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) of which the risen Christ is “the Head.” This is the only church that the Scriptures recognize during today’s age of “the dispensation of the grace of God.”

But the question then is; Who are the members of this church?

Then also; How does one join this church today?

The fact is that we cannot join “the church, which is His body.”

You don’t join it. You have to become JOINED TO IT, by being Joined To “His body,” becoming a body member of Christ as He is today.

Any association with a Christians group that talks about the Pauline “mystery” should not be offering to make anyone a member ‘on their church role.’

Talking about it does not make one a member. You don’t get it like the measles, by contact or association with those who are members “His body.” This membership in “His body” is not transmissible one person to another, not from parent to child, and not conferred by any church organization.

The Bible lists several churches;

• There was a “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38), referring to Israel wandering in the Sinai after the Lord delivered them from Egypt.
• Jesus then called out His Messianic Church calling it “my little flock” (Luke 12:32) at the time of His earthly ministry to the Nation Israel cf. (Matt. 18:17, Rom. 15:8).
• There was also to be the church which Christ was to build (cf. Matt. 16:18) under Israel’s new covenant. But this has been delayed… until the time of the Gentiles ends (cf. Rom. 11:25).
• There was a church during the Acts period, mentioned 21 times. But in that church, still ‘the Jew was first’ (Rom. 2:10).

All of the above churches were of “the dispensation of promise” to Abraham and his earthly seed, the Nation Israel. They had blessings in accord with the ‘promises’ made to the fathers of Israel.

By contrast the grace-based Gentile church today, which is our subject here is entirely different. Only after “the FALL of Israel” being “cast away” (Rom. 11:15) and “blinded” (Rom. 11:25) does the present Gentile “church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) come into view. This church is not connected with a particular race, or place of worship, priesthood, rituals or rites. It is called to “worship God in the spirit,” not in a building or organization. Paul says;

“For we [of the body of Christ] are the [genuine spiritual] circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh [externalities].” (Philippians 3:3 (KJV)

Today’s pure grace Gentile church is an ‘invisible church.’ It has no headquarters on earth. Its “Head” (Christ) is in “the heavenly places,” where its members have their citizenship (Philippians 3:20). And this church today was revealed to Paul only AFTER Israel was set aside, when Paul said; “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles.” At that time the “one new man” of “the body of Christ” was created. The “middle wall of partition” of racial distinction was abolished (Eph 2:14-15). That wall had been enforced by primarily the law of Moses for Israel and its circumcision.

Today, under God’s pure grace economy, when one believes the record of Christ and His Cross-work, the believer is simultaneously JOINED to this Gentile church. Salvation into this church is found in Paul’s Ephesians 2:8-10.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:8-10;

• This salvation is by100% pure grace first of all.
• It is obtained ‘through Faith’ Alone
• Not earned by the ‘religious works.’

It is only then that we as members “His body,” as a new creation race of people, can offer genuine good works in His name.

Our good words are to be the fruit of His life working in the believer.

So, there is No Joining or work for Us to Do in Order to Become a Member Of “His body.”

Rather, we only must place our ‘faith in Christ’… then GOD JOINS US TO CHRIST by DRY BAPTIZING US into “His body.”

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into [Christ’s] one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Cor. 12:13 (KJV)

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is One Spirit [with Christ’s Spirit].” (1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)

As seen in the above verses, the Lord’s Holy Spirit Deposits the Believer Into “His body” and simultaneously Deposits His “Spirit of Life” Into the Believer’s “Spirit of Man,” whereby we become “ONE SPIRIT” with Christ. We then possess His spiritual DNA as our new DNA in spirit.

Thereby also, God the Father ‘adopts us as sons’ (cf. Eph 1:5).

Not one of us can claim that ‘WE’ Joined This Great Pure Grace Church of Today. It was the work of God in concert with our faith… solely in the merit of Christ Alone.

“[It is of God the Father] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5 (KJV)

Today’s grace church in spirit is an invisible church as far as the world is concerned, having No headquarters on earth. Rather, today we as “His body” members have Christ as our “Head,” currently in heaven. So, there is no city or no building or the like in any country in the world that can be called the home of this church. Its home is “in the heavenly places… in Christ Jesus.”

- by Arthur J Licursi, concept adapted from Oscar Baker -