Question: What is to blame for our lack of freedom at times in our ministry of the gospel? M.
Answer: One great reason is our lack of time spent in prayer We should be in communion with the Lord, and in dependence upon Him, as a vessel emptied of self, for Him to fill; or as a clean channel for the Living Water to flow through; or as an instrument in His hands to be without a will of our own. Otherwise, we might be in circumstances that we should not be in, and the Lord might make us feel it. Nearness of spirit to the Lord is the most important thing.
Question: What constitutes “The church which is His body,” and has it now a corporate existence on earth? W. S. M.
Answer: The unfolding of this blessed truth, “the Mystery of Christ,” was committed to the Apostle Paul. It is in his letters we shall find instruction concerning it. Ephesians 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4) declares, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.”
This began at Jerusalem, when the promise of the Father was given—the Holy Ghost came upon the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. (John 14:16, 1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17); Acts 2:1-4, 32, 331And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1‑4)
32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:32‑33)). It could not take place before. (John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39)). It was then that the baptism of the Holy Spirit took place, and thus formed them into “One body” (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)). From that time on, God has been gathering into one, the children of God that were scattered abroad. The Jews, the Samaritans and the Gentiles, all who were true believers, were brought into that one body by the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Acts 10:44, 4544While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10:44‑45) and 11:15-17 is the bringing in of the first Gentiles into the body of Christ.
It was God’s purpose concerning His beloved Son to give Him a Body and a Bride—companions to share His glory. And all who are called during this present period of grace, and know Christ to the salvation of their souls, both of Jews and Gentiles, will inevitably have, this blessed place in glory with Him.
This was God’s purpose before the foundation of the world, and is now being carried out. “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Matt. 13:45, 4645Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45‑46); Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)), when it existed only in the purposes of God. It was God’s great thought for His Son to have one in whom His affections rested, and who would be, through grace alone, the display of His glory for all eternity (Eph. 3:2121Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21)).
Meantime the members are being called out, sanctified, that is, set apart, and cleansed by the washing of water by the Word, fitted for Him, as in the picture in Genesis 24—Rebecca was fitted for Isaac (Eph. 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)), and then when the last member is brought in, He will tarry no longer. We shall he caught up, and He will present her to Himself without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, holy and without blemish (verse 27). In chapter 1:23 we see her in the glory—the fullness of Him that filleth all in all—the bride of the Second Man, displaying His glory.
Now on earth the living Christians are spoken of as the body of Christ (not a part of the body on earth, and a part of it in heaven. Those who have departed this life are not looked at, in this present time, as in the body), and it is always complete. In Romans 12:4, 54For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4‑5), we see the members working together, each one according to the grace given, ministering according to its faith. In 1 Corinthians 12 it is described in its functional activity. It is plainly here on earth and now. There are no gifts of healing in heaven, no preaching of the gospel there, no suffering for Christ there; all this is on earth.
If we were judging by the behavior of Christians, we might conclude that the body of Christ is not on earth, or just a theory and not a fact; but the Word of God declares, “There is one body.” Outwardly neglected, and scattered into denominations, we do not see it. Christians, some in ignorance and some in self-will, refuse to obey the truth or neglect it, but there the word stands, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling,” thus giving us all the privilege, and putting on us the responsibility of maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We are not asked to keep the unity of the body. The Holy Spirit has formed the body, and maintains it by His presence, uniting every believer to Christ in glory, so that till the Lord comes for His church, it is ever true, “There is one body,” and faith will act upon it, seeking to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is no scriptural way to gather together, and to take the Lord’s supper, but as members of the body of Christ, in the acknowledgment of this truth (1 Cor. 10:16, 1716The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:16‑17) proves this). The Lord’s supper is the external expression of this unity. We being many are and bread (or loaf), one body, for we are all partakers of that one loaf.
In the cup we see redemption, and it is put first here. In the loaf, unity of the body. We, therefore, own every member of that body of Christ, only, that in the last days we need carefulness to distinguish those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. At the first, all who believed were together. Now, we need to carefully guard against those calling themselves Christians, yet walking in ways not approved of by the Word (2 Tim. 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But 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. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22)).
The first mention of the church in Scripture is in Matthew 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18), where the Lord calls it My church. It is composed of living stones, built upon Christ, the Rock, in eternal security from the power of death. 1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5) describes these living stones as a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ—each one a purged worshiper. They are the same saints that compose the body of Christ, here seen as a worshiping company.
Where men are the builders, the church is looked at in responsibility, and there it includes all, both saved and unsaved, who have been baptized (1 Cor. 3:10-1710According 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. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 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. 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 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 3:10‑17); Eph. 4:55One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Ephesians 4:5); 2 Tim. 2:19-22; 3:2-5; 119Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But 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. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22)
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:2‑5) Peter 4:17; Jude; Revelation, chapters 2 and 3). These could not represent the body of Christ, as it includes only believers.
Answer: John the Baptist speaks there of Jesus as the Bridegroom, and of the bride of the Song of Solomon—that is, Jehovah’s people Israel. No Old Testament prophet knew anything about the church of God in the New Testament (Rom. 16:25, 2625Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:25‑26); 1 Cor. 2:9, 109But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9‑10); Eph. 3:55Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Ephesians 3:5)). John was there to introduce the King of Israel, and so speaks of himself as the friend of the Bridegroom, and of his joy being fulfilled in seeing Him.