The other (Eph. 4:55One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Ephesians 4:5)) is the house of God, and this is formed by man through baptism. In 1 Cor. 3:10, 12, 14, 15, 1710According 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. (1 Corinthians 3:10)
12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (1 Corinthians 3:12)
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:14‑15)
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:17), these are all builders in the house of God.
The body takes in all who are saved and sealed by the Spirit. The house takes in all who are baptized. Both of these aspects are spoken of in Scripture as the Church or Assembly of God (Eph. 1:22, 2322And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23); 1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15); 1 Cor. 1:22Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)).
The house of God is therefore larger than the body of Christ, and because entrusted to man, becomes corrupted, and answers somewhat to the kingdom of heaven in its mysterious form. It is now likened to "a great house" (2 Tim. 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20)), nevertheless God dwells in it, and will dwell in it till the Lord takes all His people home.
In Acts 10 it had not taken that character, so we can speak of it as the house of God into which they were baptized. They had been sealed the moment they believed.
Baptism does not introduce anyone to the Lord's Table; nor is it exact to speak of our little gathering as the Assembly of God, but that we are only a few-two or three-gathered where, or how, all of Christ's members should be gathered. In that way only can we speak of ourselves as God's Assembly.
Ans. It is significant that this Scripture is in the Epistle to the Hebrews where Christ Jesus supersedes all that was of the Levitical economy, and is more in contrast with it than comparison. We find Christ in His personal and official glories far above all that was of the law. He is now crowned with glory and honor at the right hand of the Majesty on high; yet He was rejected and crucified by the Jews down here on earth.
At His crucifixion the vail of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom, signifying the setting aside of temple worship, for it was done by the hand of God; from the top where no human hand could reach, to the bottom. When Israel as a nation is restored, temple worship will again be resumed under the reign of Christ. But in Christianity, the place of worship is in the Holiest of all where the Christian enters by a new and living way (Heb. 10:19, 2019Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19‑20)), and his position on earth is rejected with Christ, who is, with man, still the rejected One.
Read carefully Gal. 2:19, 2019For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:19‑20), and notice that Paul there is dead to the law by the body of Christ. He is crucified with Christ, and in the power of the new life in Christ, he now lives. His motive the love of Christ, "who loved me and gave Himself for me." The Christian shares in Christ's victories, and goes inside the vail to worship, and shares Christ's place in rejection, and this leads him outside the camp with Christ who suffered without the gate.
The profession of Christianity, which bears the name of Christ, has in principle gone back into Judaism, and puts man under the law to produce righteousness. It recognizes man in the flesh, as if good could be found in him, when Scripture says, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6). His ceremonies, his associations, his rules, his musical entertainments are all of the camp.
The worship of God is spiritual. It is the heart's adoration of the Father and the Son, and it is by the Holy Ghost. (See John 4:23, 2423But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23‑24). Phil. 3:33For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3). Heb. 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15).) "We have an altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." Heb. 13:1010We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (Hebrews 13:10). The heavenly and the earthly do not commingle. Christ cannot go with it.
“Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Heb. 13:10-1610We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:10‑16).