Ans. Matthew 10:5-75These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10:5‑7) shows that it is a testimony sent to Israel only, and that it is the gospel of the Kingdom, not the gospel that is preached now, but it will be resumed after the church is taken to heaven. Before the disciples get over the cities of Israel; the Son of Man will come.
As Son of Man He comes to Israel and the earth – and we, the heavenly saints, will come with Him. He is our Lord and our Bridegroom, He comes for us first. But there are general teachings true for us and for Israel. Matthew 10:2222And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22). “They shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake,” compare for us now, John 15:18-2018If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:18‑20); 2 Timothy 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12); 1 John 3:1313Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (1 John 3:13); we suffer for Him, Philippians 1:2929For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29); and with Him, Romans 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17).
“He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” This primarily refers to faithfulness to Christ through the time of Tribulation. Saved, here refers to saved into the Millennial Kingdom.
Question 11.
Is it right for a young brother in a small meeting gathered to the name of the Lord to take part in prayer, or to give out a hymn? J. K.
Ans. When we are gathered together to the name of the Lord Jesus, we have His promise: “There am I in the midst of them”. We must remember, therefore, that He is there; we are to wait upon Him. We are members of His body, He is our head; therefore the Head is to guide and control our actions. Each one who speaks, prays, reads or gives out a hymn, should be clear that the Lord is leading him to do so. Where this care is taken, it is a joy to all right minded persons when a young brother takes part; it is a great encouragement and help in a meeting when the brothers feel it their privilege to take part freely.
In taking part we must bear in mind what we came for, so that our hymns and prayers or worship will be in keeping with the character of the meeting.
When we come to remember the Lord in His death, our thoughts are generally led to His sufferings and to the love that gave Himself for us. If we read scripture it is to lead our hearts in that direction.
Ministry and prayer are reserved till the important point is gained and the Lord is remembered. Worship is the character of this meeting; deepest reverence becomes us in presence of His body given and His blood shed, as the symbols testify. A prayer meeting is for prayer and worship, to tell out our need as an assembly for all that burdens our hearts for Christ’s glory.
A reading is to wait on the Lord for the ministry of His Word to our souls.
Question 12.
Ans. 2 Corinthians 3:7-167But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:7‑16) is a parenthesis, teaching the exceeding glory of the gospel beyond the glory of the law.
In the 6th verse the apostle is speaking of the New Covenant, not of the letter that killeth, but of the Spirit that giveth life; 17th verse says “Now the Lord is that Spirit”; meaning, that He is the substance of all the figures and shadows which went before. If we see a shadow coming in view at a corner, we might say “some one is coming”, but when we see the person, we cease to look at the shadow.
So now we have seen the Person, the substance, and the Holy Spirit has, through the work of Christ, set us at liberty; and points us to Him glorified; now with unveiled face we look at Him and as we gaze we are transformed into His image from glory to glory. It is by learning of Him that we grow like Him. Wonderful privilege through grace! Not only are we set free from the power of sin, and Satan, but we are at perfect liberty to enter within the veil, delighting our souls in the glorified One.