Marks of the Local Assembly

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
A. H. Rule
We find, too, in Scripture that the local assembly in a city or country place was a local representation of this one body, the Church. It was the assembly of God in the place, and gathered together on the principle that the assembly of God is one. The name of the Lord Jesus was that to which the saints were gathered. They were gathered to this Name in the power of the Spirit, and in obedience to the Word, and when gathered, Christ was in the midst of them. (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20); 1 Cor. 12:12, 1312For 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. 13For 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 12:12‑13); Eph. 4:3,43Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:3‑4).)
Such was the local assembly as set up of God at the beginning. The marks are plain, and show that in no sense was it a mere voluntary assembly formed by man's will. Let this be well noted. Man's will has no place in it, except as it may be introduced by the working of the flesh and contrary to the Spirit of God. An assembly formed by man's will would not be an assembly of God at all, even though a perfect imitation as to outward form and action. Alas, we know well the flesh may display itself in a shocking way, even in God's assembly! But, I repeat, a voluntary association is not God's assembly, no matter how perfect the imitation may be.
Now we know that God allowed the assembly to be tested, and it was not long till sad failure came in. The flesh displayed itself in various ways and in schisms growing out of the carnal state which was allowed to go unjudged. And these schisms were connected with heresies, that is, schools of opinion which God allowed to arise among them in order to manifest their state. "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." 1 Cor. 11:1919For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. (1 Corinthians 11:19). But these heresies are distinctly declared to be "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19-2119Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19‑21)). They are in no way the "fruit of the Spirit.”