In the October, 2003, edition of The Berean Searchlight Pastor Joel Finck wrote an article entitled Are the Twelve Apostles in the Body of Christ?. There he says:

"However, seeing the twelve apostles (and all kingdom saints living at the time) as part of the body of Christ raises HUGE questions with regard to their teachings and writings. For example, if Peter was added to the body of Christ after the dispensation of grace was revealed to Paul, are we to take Peter's epistles as instructions to the body of Christ? Are we to understand that Peter is telling the body of Christ that we are 'a royal priesthood, (and) an holy nation' (1 Peter 2:9a)? If so, what "nation" are we?"

Let us look at the verses in question: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God" (1 Pet.2:9-10).

If these words of Peter are for Jews living in a future dispensation when the "nation of Israel" will be restored to their previous position of being "a special people unto Himself" (Deut. 7:6) then why would Peter tell them that "in the past" they were "not a people"? The "nation of Israel" was indeed a "people of God" in the past so therefore Peter's words here are not referring to those who will be among a restored "nation of Israel" in the future.

Pastor Finck asks, "what 'nation' are we?". Perhaps Pastor Finck will answer "what nation" was being referred to in the following verse?:

"But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you" (Ro.10:19).

The word "nation" is not referring to the "nation of Israel" because the word "nation" in this verse is set in contrast to the nation of Israel. Therefore it is obvious that Paul is using the word "nation" in a figurative sense referring to "a people of God". Therefore there is no reason to believe that Peter would not use the word "nation" in a figurative sense as well.

Pastor Finck asks, "Are we to understand that Peter is telling the body of Christ that we are 'a royal priesthood'...?"

Let us look at a verse in the same chapter in order to determine the meaning of what Peter is saying in regard to a "royal priesthood":

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ...the same is made the head of the corner" (1 Pet.2:5, 7).

Here Peter says that these believers are "built up a spiritual house". What other "house" can Peter be referring to but the "household of God", where the Lord Jesus is "the chief corner stone?:

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Eph.2:19-20).

Here Paul is saying that the Gentile believers are "fellow citizens" and "fellow heirs" in Christ (Eph.3:6). Under the Mosaic Covenant office of the priesthood was in regard to "service" but the priests did not offer up "spiritual sacrifices" that were pleasing to the Lord (Heb.10:6). Paul tells us that in our "service" for the Lord we are to offer our bodies as a "living sacrifice":

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Ro.12:1).

There are some who say that the following verses are in regard to the time when believers will once again be given the power to heal by the laying on of hands. They say that these verses prove that James was written before this gift of healing passed away and the epistle of James contains doctrine for dispensation that will be in place after the rapture:

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" (Jms.5:13-15).

In verse 14 the Greek word astheneo is translated "sick", but the primary meaning of that word is "to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon).

It is used that way in the folowing verse: "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men" (1 Thess.5:14).

In verse 15 the Greek word kamnonta is translated "sick", but its primary meaning is "to be weary" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon).

James is referring to those who had grown weary, both morally and spiritually, in the midst of suffering. And those so afflicted were to call on the elders to "support the weak." James said that the elders should pray over him and annoint him with oil.

The Greek word translated "annoint" is aleipantes is in regard to "rub with oil". This is not the same Greek word (chrio) that is in regard to a ceremonial or ritual annointing as a means of divine healing. Instead, James is referring to applying oil as a means of bestowing honor, refreshment and grooming (cf. MT.6:17, Ruth 3:3; 2 Chron, 28:15). Therefore James is saying that those Christians who are weak spiritually and morally should be refreshed, encouraged, and uplifted by the elders who poured oil on them and prayed for them.

If these verses are for the time when believers will once again have the power to heal by the laying on of hands then the sick will be healed in that way and not by the annointing of oil and by prayers:

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mk.16:17-18).

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