Philadelphia: — Do you think 2 Corinthians 5:33If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (2 Corinthians 5:3) refers to the present state of the saints who have gone to be with the Lord? Can “naked” be applied to such?
No. Departed saints are “unclothed” (verse 4), that is, the spirit and the body are separated. At the coming of the Lord they will be “clothed” with their resurrection bodies. The apostle earnestly desired this resurrection body. He had a desire to depart, and be with Christ; but he earnestly desired the resurrection state at the coming of the Lord. The “if” of verse 3 does not imply that there was a fear lest the saint should be found naked when clothed with his resurrection body; that would be the case with the wicked. Verse 3 is as though the apostle said: “It being clearly understood that being clothed we shall not be found naked.”
The sinner out of Christ will be found naked; not so the saint.
ED.
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A question on ministry in the Assembly.
When God called out His people some sixty or seventy years ago from the sects, it was through reviving the truth of what the Church was as revealed in the Word — and along with that, the truth concerning the Holy Spirit, not only as indwelling the individual saint, but free to use whom He will in the gathered company, either in prayer, praise, or the ministry of the Word in edification (1 Cor. 14.). We are told, “Ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted” (ver. 31). While there was perfect liberty for all to take part, yet not more than two or three were to speak at each time of gathering — the object of this being, no doubt, that all should be for edification (cf. vv. 26, 29). Ministry, therefore, was not intended as a gratification for the speaker, but for the edification of the hearers, &c. &c.
ED.