Beloved Mother,
In order to your better appreciation of the position into which "Brethren" are brought through the obedience of faith, I resume my pen to bring before you something of the Scripture-teaching about the Church.
"The Church of God " is a thing quite unknown to the Old Testament; there is not a word about it from beginning to end of that part of the Sacred Volume. This statement will probably surprise you, especially if you have in your hand a Bible with the chapter-headings of the Authorized Version: for there you will find it brought in at every turn in the headings of chapters and pages—put there by the translators; and as that has all the prestige of a venerable antiquity, it looks rather a daring thing to contradict it so flatly. But who should be supposed to know best—King James' translators or the apostle Paul? You will not find it difficult to answer that. Let us see, then, what Paul says about it.
Turn first to 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): "Now 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, but now is made manifest through prophetic Scriptures."
See next Eph. 3:3-63How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which 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; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:3‑6): "By revelation He made known unto me the mystery, (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of [the] Christ); which 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: that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel; " also Eph. 3:99And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9), " To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God." Col. 1:2626Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (Colossians 1:26): "The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints."
You perceive that in each of these passages there is a mystery spoken of, which in other ages (Old Testament times) was not made known, but kept secret—hid in God then, but now revealed.
This mystery was concerning the Christ—a body with many members (1 Cor. 12:1212For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)); and its substance is, that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of one body (Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11); Gal. 2:28); in other words, it is the Church.
Now if you hunt the Old Testament through and through, you will not encounter a hint of this. You will find, indeed, lots of intimations of Gentile blessing, in subordination to the Jew, and of a national character, under the kingdom of the Messiah—the millennium of the New Testament—but not one word, as the apostle emphatically testifies, of that work which the Holy Ghost is now accomplishing, in the calling out from among Jew and Gentile a people to Jesus Christ, to constitute one body, on an entirely different ground, where all national distinctions are completely ignored.
The Church or assembly of God dates from Pentecost, when, for the first time, he baptism of the Holy Ghost of believers into one body took place (Matt. 3:1111I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11); Acts 2:1-41And 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); 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)).
Each of these aspects is distinct in its significance and bearing, and each requires to be examined and understood in order to our right comprehension of Church truth—indeed, of the entire dispensation.
The body of Christ is formed entirely independent of man's agency, and outside of his responsibility, so far as its intrinsic integrity is concerned. It is the work of the Holy Ghost (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); 1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)); and man can neither make nor mar it; he can neither add nor subtract a single member. Every truly converted soul that has partaken of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is a member of that body, no matter in what part of the world he be found, no matter in what ecclesiastical connection—Protestant or Romanist, for there are converted persons found among Papists. All these scattered individuals, however little known to each other, however divided by schisms, constitute, in reality, but one body in union with Christ, the Head, and are seen and recognized of God as such (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless 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. (2 Timothy 2:19)). No human power can cut off a single member of Christ.
But while human agency can neither make nor mar the unity of the body, it can manifest or hinder the manifestation of it. Sectarianism has hindered it; the return to God's principles of unity, already pointed out, if universally acted on, would manifest it again, and, when acted on by only a witnessing few, revives its manifestation in principle, though complete restoration is certainly beyond hope.
The house of God, with which His Name is connected, in a measure is committed to man's responsibility. It is built on Jesus Christ as its foundation (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless 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. (2 Timothy 2:19); 1 Cor. 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)), and is His building (1 Cor. 3:99For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)). Men are, however, admitted to the place of fellow-laborers or cooperators in the work—to build on His foundation according to His plan and directions (1 Cor. 3:99For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)); and proportioned to the measure of their faithfulness in so doing is the degree of conformity to the mind of God in the result (1 Cor. 3:12-1512Now 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. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15)).
The materials for the structure, contemplated in God's plan, are gold, silver, precious stones—lively or living stones (1 Cor. 3:1212Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (1 Corinthians 3:12); 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)); in other words, saved souls, made alive and sanctified in the new birth by the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, like the ready-prepared stones of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 6:77And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. (1 Kings 6:7)); for the temple, built of living men, is intended for "a holy temple," for the habitation of a holy God (1 Cor. 3:1717If 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); 2 Cor. 6:1616And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16); Eph. 2:21,2221In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21‑22)), and holiness becometh His house forever (Psa. 93:55Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. (Psalm 93:5)).
The term house, according to Scripture usage, includes the edifice, the vessels it contains (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)), and the household or family (Heb. 3:1-61Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. 4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:1‑6)).
The house, according to God's ideal, is co-extensive with the body (on earth); and, had nothing but the divinely-appointed materials been built into it, the two would have remained co-extensive; the respective names expressing the same thing under different aspects—the body presenting it in its relation of vital union with Christ; the house presenting it in its relation to God as His dwelling-place on earth.
As a matter of fact, however, the body and the house have become widely sundered in character. As the former is entirely the workmanship of God, who "looketh on the heart," it is raised above any liability to confusion; but the latter, being entrusted to man, who "looketh on the outward appearance," is subject to such mixture of its materials as may arise from deception, carelessness, or self-will. God has nowhere, by any of His appointments, sanctioned such mixtures; but He has foreseen, and in some respects provided for and made regulations in anticipation of it.
On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost descended to form the body and inhabit the house, the two were exactly coincident—the same souls formed the one and the other. Had no false profession ever been made, had none but living stones been built into the structure, it would have continued co-extensive with the body. So far as we know, the house lost its identification with the body, when Simon Magus was baptized (Acts 8:1313Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. (Acts 8:13)). When he, though still "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity" (ver. 23), made profession of believing, and was consequently baptized, a stone was added to the building, which was not a living stone; but as he was not a member of the body, there was now that in the house of which the body knew nothing; they were no longer one and the same.
As false profession increased, and unwise builders, through their blunders or self-will, brought in more and more unsuited materials, the distinction between the body and the house kept widening, till the one has become quite overshadowed by the other, if not almost lost sight of. Instead of "a holy temple" built of holy materials, and containing only hallowed vessels of precious metals, such as alone were deemed suitable for the interior tabernacle or temple of old, the Church hall now become comparable to a large human dwelling-place (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)), suitable for the habitation of men, and including vessels of baser materials; vessels to honor—the only ones fit for the Master's use—being indeed there, but vessels to dishonor mingled with them, and, alas, in overwhelming proportion!
God's plan, though not His purpose, has thus been marred in the execution by the unskilfulness and unfaithfulness of those He has admitted to the dignity of "fellow-workers" in it; and instead of a beautiful, harmonious, and united structure, there has resulted a mass of deformed, unstable building, fitted only for the judgment that will soon overtake it, as threatened (1 Cor. 3:1313Every 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. (1 Corinthians 3:13); 1 Peter 4:1717For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17), etc.). God will not restore the ruin. What He is doing now by His Spirit is, gathering out here and there some of the living stones from the midst of the rubbish, and upon the still unmoved foundation building them together in a form which, though not the perfect model of the original, does at least exhibit its leading features—its principles. Nothing more is to be looked for now. God never sets up again a failed dispensation. He only calls out a witnessing remnant. Who that loves His name would not aspire to the honor of a place among those witness-bearers, though, in taking that place, the reproach of Christ must be their lot?