OR WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD MEET IN HIS NAME ALONE.
The question presents itself to the Christian who seeks to walk with the Lord, “Where amidst all the Babel of profession do the Scriptures place me as a Christian? How and with whom should I meet to worship my blessed Saviour?” It is as an attempt to answer these all-important questions, that the following considerations are affectionately presented to all the beloved children of God. That Christ is the only divine center of worship for the Christian—that His is alone the name in which Christians should be gathered— is the teaching of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.
First. The worthiness of Christ! It is God who “hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11)). Thus hath our blessed God and Father delighted to honor Him, who “is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence” (Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)). In this name, so precious to every believer, did all Christians meet in the days of the apostles; and when the veil of the future was drawn aside, what did John the servant of Jesus Christ behold? When he saw Jesus Christ he says, “His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last” (Rev. 1:16-1716And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:16‑17)).
“A door was opened in heaven.” What a sight! The vision of the future glory of the Lamb in the midst of the millions and millions of the redeemed! A Lamb as it had been slain.
“And they sung a new song.” What will it be to be there; to hear that swell of joy unspeakable — to join that song? Not one redeemed to God by His blood will refuse to sing, “Thou art worthy.” Angelic hosts cry with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches... and honor, and glory, and blessing:” yea, all redeemed creation shall be heard saying, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever” (Rev. 5:6-146And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. 13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:6‑14)).
Thus shall our adorable Lord be adored, and owned in heaven and throughout all creation. This is God’s estimate of the risen Christ, who once died for our sins the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God. And thus shall God’s will be done in heaven. Should an anxious, troubled soul read these lines, mark well that this is the redemption-glory of Christ. And who were those worshiping millions, redeemed by His blood? Dying thieves, Mary Magdalenes, sinners of the city. And is Jesus worthy of bringing such to glory? Yes, the most holy, holy, holy God says He is worthy! and all creation shout Amen. O, do you, my reader, now give God credit? Such is the worthiness of this risen Jesus, that God says, “Be it known unto you... that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). Thus salvation is wholly through Christ. Blessed are they who can say, “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
I do not presume to be able to set forth, by pen or tongue, the glorious pre-eminence of Christ. I point to the Scriptures that so clearly declare the worthiness of Christ. But many who read this paper will say, “What true Christian doubts for a moment the worthiness of Christ, or the greatness of His exalted name?” True, true, there is a chord in every Christian’s heart that responds to the name of Jesus. But the question is How much, or how great, is that worthiness? There may be one thousand Christians in a town, or ten thousand in a city. I mean such as really have redemption through the blood of Christ, whose sins are forgiven. Now if Jesus be worthy of the united praise and worship of all creation, if all the millions of the redeemed in heaven shall gather around His adorable Person, then is He not worthy of the united worship of one thousand in a town, and ten thousand in a city on earth? Surely in heaven every name and sect must fall. And why not on earth?
It is a great mistake to suppose, then, that Christians should separate from every name and sect because they think themselves better than the dear children of God in those sects; far be the thought; no! it is because Jesus is worthy—yes, worthy the sacrifice of at once giving up every name and sect, and of gathering to His blessed name and Person alone. Yes my fellow believer, He is worthy that you, whoever you are, and to whatever sect you belong, He is worthy that you should own no other name but His. What must angels think, knowing and delighting as they do in the exalted name of Jesus; when they see our ways on earth? The divisions on earth must present a dark contrast to the unity of heaven. In many places all God’s redeemed people may be seen bearing various names; and not even two, or three, meet in the whole town in the name of Jesus alone. And yet, most assuredly, Jesus is worthy that every believer in the place should meet only in His name.
Now, if God’s will is so plainly done in heaven by all gathering to the Person of the Lamb, how can I pray, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” unless I am prepared to give up every name and sect on earth as it is done in heaven? Would it not be more consistent to say — I have been in such a sect, and all my friends are there; excuse me therefore from doing Thy will on earth, as I shall do it, and as it is done, in heaven? Is it narrowness to do the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven? Is it too much to own the Lordship of Christ, to the glory of God the Father, and to own no other but Christ? God sets the highest value on the name of Jesus. Man says it is no matter what name you bear.
(To be Continued).