Once again Right Division is the answer for confusion, as the Holy Spirit reveals truth. The term “Body of Christ” has three different meanings when comparing Paul’s Acts period epistles and his POST-Acts 28 epistles.

FACT: Jesus died “for us” and He simultaneously died “as us.”

His “Body” as seen in in Paul’s Acts epistles (before Acts 28) is to teach us that we [our old man] has DIED with and in Christ. When we were first saved, we were saved unto new life Christ by His resurrected “spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:2) and simultaneously we were dry baptized or set into His Dead Body of the cross. (see below Rom 6:3, 7:4). Our co-death with Him also brought us His resurrection life (cf. Rom. 6:4).

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into [Christ’s] one body [in death], 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 (KJV)
³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death {not water]?  ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 (KJV)
⁴ Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4 (KJV)

Thus in Romans “the body of Christ” seen in Romans 6:6-7, and 7:4 concern our liberation from the power of “Sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). But we need to be;

“Knowing this, that our Old Man Is Crucified With Him, That The [our] Body Of Sin Might Be Destroyed [Gk. kartargeo, Made Of No Effect], that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin [from sin’s dominion]. Romans 6:6-7 (KJV) (“Sin” singular is the ‘Sin nature’ of the Devil that indwells our flesh body (Read Rom. 8:3).

By Contrast, while the term “body of Christ” mentioned above is His physical dead body…. Paul’s post-Acts epistles (i.e., Ephesians, Col. Phil) “church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) Paul calls “the body of Christ” is “His FULNESS” and destined for “the heavenly places” to “reign with Him” in the government of “the heavenly places.”

Now consider the extent of our Spirit-union with Him as “His body,” how that “...the church which is His body, [is] the FULLNESS of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23).

Note that AFTER the book of Acts, the word ‘church’ is never used in the plural. But there were many churches BEFORE the end of Acts while the Kingdom to come on earth was in view; i.e., churches in Rome, Ephesus, Laodicea, Thessalonica, Corinth, and other places.

But such assemblies are never mentioned again after Acts 28:28; rather, it is the new “Church” that has no headquarters here on earth. It is spiritually seated with Christ in the heavenlies, where He is “the Head” of “THE CHURCH, which is His body.” THAT IS THE GREAT DIFFERENCE. It has nothing to do with the Kingdom because there He is to be King of kings and Lord of lords on earth not in “the heavenly places.” With us as “His body,” Christ has a special title, “Head” of “THE church, which is His Body.” We must be careful that we maintain this title. This is the only church we belong to.

The “church which is His Body” is spoken of as “...the FULNESS of Him that filleth all in all.”

Now in one way, this age of dispensation of fellowship or “the mystery” is parenthetical [as a parenthesis in God’s timeline], that is, if you look at it from the earthly program that God has been working out through His people, Israel. But if you look at the eternal plan and purpose of the ages, and from God's standpoint in the heavenlies, we might say that this Post-Acts “dispensation of the mystery” is the central point that leads to the consummation of the ages. So you see, it is a matter of viewpoint.

The church of this “dispensation or fellowship of the mystery (secret)” is really “the mystery” [Grk. musterion, a God ordained secret]. A secret because it had been hidden from people, from any knowledge of sentient beings such as us humans. This church of the dispensation of the mystery is not only said to be called out of the world, but it is also called out from among those who have believed! You see, all who believe are children of God, but some who believe have also been placed as sons [matured], and that, of course involves inheritance, and special blessings.

And this church is not only, "the church, which is His body" (Eph. 1:22b-23a) but it has also a further, wondrous title, which is, “the FULLNESs of Him that filleth all in all.” The FULNESS. But Who is it that fills all in all? Going on to Ephesians 4:10 we read this:

“He [Jesus Christ] that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, ]so] that He might fill all things.”

Well, that means ‘filling to the full’ all things. He is to “fill all things.” It might be that we should add just a little bit here. You may not really grasp what is to be filled, and what is it to be filled with. Well, all of God's creation someday is to be filled with His glory. Now that part of the meaning should help us a little. But that is parallel with Christ being raised to fill the far above heavenly sphere as seen below.

“Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ Far above all [angelic] principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world [age], but also in that [age] which is to come:” Eph. 1:20-21

In these verses Paul is talking about the power that raised Christ from the dead to be Seated in the Super-heavenlies, far above all, “that He might fill all things” (v22) [the heaven and the earth] with the glory of God. So you can see the basis of His exaltation!

When John the Beloved was writing his gospel, the spoke of grace that was far beyond, and which outshone all that had ever been revealed before that time. He tells us in John 1:14-16:

“And the Word [Christ] was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory as the only begotten of the Father) Full of Grace and Truth ... ¹⁶and OF His Fulness Have All We [Israel’s believers] Received and grace for grace.”

Notice, those who received out of His fulness were the ones who beheld this peculiar glory of Christ, as the Word made flesh, and the only begotten of the Father. Note the emphasis upon “flesh” and “only begotten,” those are essential! Adam was put here on earth in flesh and blood as a testing, as a trial. That was temporary because we are told that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. And so our Lord partook of the flesh and blood, too, that He might reveal the glory of the Father, that men might believe, that they might partake of all these blessings. Remember, there is no blessing that anyone can receive except through the “One Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1Tim. 2:5)

But how ever rich John may say that they Israel was when they received out OF His fulness, they were not filled with His fulness, but rather they received out of it. By contrast, “The Church, which is His body” is filled with “His fulness.” Now for us today these two aspects of Eph. 1:23 are brought together in Col. 2:9-10.

“For in Him dwelleth all the FULNESS of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him."”

Repeating some of the very things we have here in these last verses of chapter one in Ephesians we have the statement that in Christ dwells “all the FULLNESS of the Godhead.” I think the meaning is clear and yet to really get a true concept of it that is just about too much for the human mind to grasp and believe apart from the Holy Spirit. There’s one more item to add to the, “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead,” and that is, “bodily.”

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9 (KJV)

NOW THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING TO THINK ON. John tells us that the Word was made flesh, and the glory was that of the only begotten, … but on resurrection ground; that is, in resurrection ‘the FULLNESS dwells in Him BODILY,’ not while here on earth.

Now the body was necessary, the body in which our Lord lived on earth, for the manifestation of God in man. Whether it was flesh and blood or a spiritual body, He was a manifestation of God before His resurrection and after. And this, of course, links the today’s faithful believer with this glorious Resurrected Fulness, for we are said to be complete or filled full in Him as members of His “church, which is His body.” He Who fills us is the Head of all principality and power, as well as being Head of the church. And of course, both these titles then Lift This Church, Which Is His Body Into The Highest Glory.

We do find in Ephesians 2 that the church that is Quickened, Raised, And Seated Together With Christ At The Right Hand Of God, is “Complete in Him.”

And the heaven-bound Post-Acts church today, even while on earth, is “His body,” which is the FULNESS of the unseen Christ, is making Him manifest… ‘that is He Who is currently is hid in the heavenlies at the right hand of God.’  One day we will “appear with Him in the heaven’s glory.”

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory.” Colossians 3:4 (KJV)

If being a member of His body is glorious, what shall we say to the revelation that “the church, which is His body” is His FULNESS?

Now, I must address the term “body” of Christ in 1 Cor. 12 since some point to 1Cor. 12 as if it refers to the Ephesian Post-Acts the Gentile “body of Christ.” It is not. For the most part these 1Cor. 12 verses below, as seen in context, reveal how they are speaking of “the assembly” (i.e., Messianic church gatherings) of the believers during the early Acts period as relates to their use of ‘the diverse gifts of the spirit.’ It refers to the diversity of the gifts among the members of the assembly when they come together to teach and share. Note how they differ a does the eye, the ear, the hand, the head, etc., and yet they are of one assembled ‘body of believers.’ “Body” is used here as we might refer to ‘a body of legislators’ in Washington, DC. This is not in any way a reference to the Post-Acts Gentile church called “body of Christ,” whereby every member is equally endowed.

Consider that Paul then goes on in Chapter 14 to clarify and set in order the use of ‘the gifts,’ setting up controls, such as no women is to speak. “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” 1 Corinthians 14:34 (KJV)

1 Corinthians 12
⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  ⁸  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; ¹⁰   To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: ¹¹  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (KJV)

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body [cf. 6:3-4], whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? ¹⁸ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where were the body? ²⁰ But now are they many members, yet but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ²² Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 1 Corinthians 12:12-22 (KJV)