The church, then, proceeds from Calvary:  Pentecost was but its initial manifestation to men and its dedication for service.  Of this we shall have more to say hereafter.

[Sidenote:  Composed of true Christians]

Since through his death Christ proposed to draw all men unto him, it is evident that all the members of Christ are therefore members of his body, the church.  To this agrees the words of the apostle Paul, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  so we [true Christians], being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Rom. 12:  4, 5).  “Now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Cor. 12:18).

[Sidenote:  Mode of admission]

Becoming a member of the spiritual body of Christ is necessarily a spiritual operation.  Men may admit members to a formal church relationship, but only the Spirit of God can make us members of Christ.  “For by one Spirit are we all baptized [or inducted] into 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).  This text does not refer to literal water-baptism, but to the work of the “Spirit,” by whom we are inducted into Christ. “God hath set the members every one of them in the body” (verse 18).  And since this is the work of the Spirit, it is evident that none but the saved can possibly find admittance into the spiritual body of Christ.  Under a different figure Jesus conveys the same truth.  “I am the door:  by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:  9).  “And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved” (Acts 2:47, R.V.).  Salvation, then, is the condition of membership.

[Sidenote:  Family relationship]

The members of Christ are members of God’s family.  How do we become members of the divine family?  “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).  “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God ... which were born ... of God” (John 1:12, 13).  “Beloved, now are we the sons of God” (1 John 3:2).  Since this family, or church, is composed of the saved, or those who are born again, and excludes all the unsaved, we can understand Paul’s reference to “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,” but “holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

We have spoken of the union of all believers with Christ when he draws them unto himself and becomes their spiritual life.  But this unity of all believers with Christ is a spiritual relationship and experience not to be confused with external things.  The Bible speaks of Christians as being “in Christ.”  What does this mean?  It certainly means to be “born again,” for without that experience we “can not see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATURE:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).  “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:  whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (1 John 3:6).