A.-" Temple" refers undoubtedly to the church in the aspect of the house-the place on earth of God's presence and worship; but "buildeth thereon" has nothing directly to do with bringing into the house or to the Lord's Table. It has reference to the edification of souls by teaching. Paul had laid a sound foundation at Corinth, others were carrying on the work, and they were to take care what they taught in connection with this foundation, for according as what they taught was sound or unsound souls would be formed, and sooner or later their work would be tested, and the result would prove " of what sort" it was. No doubt souls might, through their instrumentality, be brought into the house, and also to the Lord's Table, who should not be there, but the real question is that Is good or bad teaching.
Q.-In Matt. 16 the Lord committed to Peter " the keys of the kingdom of heaven;" were they used by him in Acts 2 and 10. in the act of baptism? J. S.
A.-In Acts 2 Peter preached the gospel to the Jews, and opened the door of the kingdom of heaven to them through baptism; and in Acts 10 he does the same to the Gentiles. In this double and distinct act lies the significance of the term " keys;" not, as it were, that there were two keys, but that the administration and opening of the kingdom first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles, was committed to Peter.
Q.-Does not baptism admit into the house of God?
J. S.
A.-Yes, as a fact, the house and the kingdom being coextensive; the one bringing before the mind the place where God by the Spirit dwells; and the other, the sphere on earth where Christ's authority is acknowledged.
Q.-Assuming that 1. Corinthians 3. refers to the house aspect of the church, where does the servant's responsibility come in in bringing in households by baptism, seeing that thus the spiritual condition of the children of believers is not raised in baptism? J. S.
A.-As we have already remarked, 1 Cor. 3 has nothing to do with baptism, it is there a question of good or bad doctrine by which the "spiritual condition" of souls is formed. Baptism, whether looked at in connection with the kingdom (to which it primarily applies), or the house, is the outward sign by which persons are admitted to a place on earth of privilege and responsibility. The inward condition of the persons is not the question in baptism; all who ostensibly believe in Christ and confess His name have a title to be baptized and admitted into the kingdom of heaven, and thus necessarily into the house of God, but this in itself does not involve the possession of eternal life, salvation, forgiveness of sins, or the Holy Ghost. Baptism is not the sign of what a person possesses, but the sign by which a person is admitted into the place where these blessings are to be found, and therefore, in Acts 2, Peter says to the convicted Jews, " Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Let the true nature of baptism be seen, and that 1 Cor. 3 has nothing to do with baptism, and the difficulty here raised in connection with the baptism of children disappears. The responsibility as to children rests with the parents to train them up in " the nurture and admonition of the Lord." We do not discuss the question of the title of the children of believers to be baptized, but simply remark that the responsibility of the servant of Christ is to receive them in Christ's name, according to His word, when brought by their parents.
22. Q.-Could the children of believers (because of their being linked with their parents as a " household," and being "holy," and " baptized ") be regarded as numbered amongst God's people, apart from any work wrought in them 7 J.S.
A.-" God's people " is a vague term, but if by it is meant God's saved people-His children, and the members of the body of Christ-certainly not, but if they are looked at in connection with the Lord in His government, and God in His special care over those who are in relationship with Him, as His house, or in general terms as " the household of faith " distinct from the " all men " of the world, they certainly, in the light of His special care and oversight, might be said to be of God's people; otherwise why does Paul tell parents to bring their children up " in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" c. w.