****Is the church the body of Christ or no? If it is and those people were saved then they became part of the body of Christ thus the “church”.*****
Yes, it is. Jesus laid the foundation for her for three years before His death and resurrection, giving the Apostles what they would need after His Ascension to the Father.
The Church was born on the Day of Pentecost. The Father created the good soil, Jesus sowed the good seed and the Holy Spirit watered and nurtured the church which has grown into the bush that Jesus told us of, where all the birds could come to find rest.
Jesus is the root of that bush, the faith of the Apostles the mustard seed from which it sprouted and the blood of the martyrs its fertilizer.
So you don’t believe that the first Apostle who believed that Christ was who He said He was, was the first part of that church?
According to the GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO ME, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay that that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.". 1 Cor. 3:10,11.
What could this possibly mean? That Paul laid the foundation of the GRACE OF GOD which was given to him. By whom? By the risen Christ. By direct revelation of Christ.
"If ye have heard of the Dispensation of the GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN ME to you-ward...".
At some point, these Scriptures are going to have to be looked at and understood. They cannot be dismissed forever because they make people uncomfortable, or they don't "fit in" with what the traditions, or religious organizations have taught them. It's God word of truth. NOT MAN'S.