What love we see in our Lord to those who are His members. It is not only that. the gates of hades shall not prevail against it, but also that all the journey through, there are the promises of His grace for it, in whatever way His members need it, as we have seen in 2 Tim. 3:16, 1716All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16‑17). His Word and Spirit are with us (1 Cor. 2:1212Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)), and prayer, "praying always" is the proper attitude of our souls. We have Him who loves us, and gave Himself for us; and as our Advocate, if any man sin (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1)) to restore our souls to happy communion with the Father.
This is what He desires for every true child, not only to be assured that we are children, but to be in happy communion with God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Then, if it is sustaining grace we need, we have Him as our Great High Priest, ever living to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)). And He does sustain, and has said, "Because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:1919Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19).)
We have the throne of grace where He takes charge of our pleadings, and therefore can assure us that it is ours to approach boldly to the throne of grace, where we receive mercy, and find grace for needed help. Nor are we told how long it may be before we realize our blessed hope.
The assembly has no foundations on earth. Our instructions given at the beginning, continue all the way through. The two-pence given to the host for the man in the inn, will not be all used up when our Lord comes for us. (Luke 10:3535And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10:35)).
The sufficiency of Christ is infinite: His love passes knowledge; His riches are unsearchable; His peace given to us passes all understanding, and well may we rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory in anticipation of what will soon be ours in full fruition. All the way along, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest," and is as true for us as for Moses, to whom they were first spoken (Exo. 33:1414And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. (Exodus 33:14)), though in a higher and more blessed way. Well may we say again, "The gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Rom. 11:2929For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29).)
What shall we say about our worshiping place, and character?
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." (Heb. 10:19, 2019Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19‑20).) There we enter Within the holiest of all, Cleansed by His precious blood, Before the throne we prostrate fall, And worship Thee, O God!
Boldly the heart and voice we raise, His blood, His name, our plea; Assured our prayers and songs of praise Ascend, by Christ, to Thee.
Because He is there, we go in with holy boldness. Yes, even if we have come to the smallest number-two, He has said, "There am I 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).) As in John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19), where "the door was shut for fear of the Jews," so now, retired from the Christ-rejecting world, we find a place with Him outside the camp, and inside the veil, where our souls can enjoy a taste of heavenly atmosphere, and, by Him, offer the sacrifice of praise-the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
There are many things we have seen in the profession of Christendom that we need to deplore, and confess how we, as part of this profession, have not responded to the privileges given us by the Lord. We must remember that while seeking to walk in a separate path outside of man's religion, we are still in this great house, and there Christians will be till the Lord comes for all His own. Let us ever remember, and seek grace to walk in the path pleasing to the Lord, and this we may do, though we never can put the assembly, as a whole, right.
In the Epistle of Jude, where the apostasy of the assembly is predicted, the Spirit now addressed only the beloved ones. In verse 11, "Woe unto them," and "The Way of Cain," "The Error of Balaam," and "The gainsaying of Core" are seen developing. There Enoch is alluded to as prophesying of the Lord's coming in judgment upon them, but picturing for us those who walk with God, and who, while waiting to be caught up themselves, tell of coming judgment soon to fall on the religious world. Verses 17-19 warn them of those who, call themselves teachers, yet are only natural men, have not the Spirit, and walk after their own ungodly lusts. Then the beloved are exhorted to build up themselves on their most holy faith; to pray in the Holy Ghost; to keep themselves in the love of God, and to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. All this is useful and necessary instruction for us, for these days have come now, and everything should show us that the coming of our Lord draws nigh; when the great separation will take place; when they that are ready will go in with the Bridegroom to the marriage, and the door will be shut; shutting out those who, though professing to serve the Lord, were not born again, and had no oil in their lamps; and shutting in the true believers to be forever with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:15-1815For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18)).
The Lord has shown us how to get on with each other, notwithstanding our varied dispositions. We need to remember that the flesh is in us all, and if allowed to work, it brings trouble upon us. Thank God, He has given us a life whose nature is to love each other, and to be humble and lowly in our spirit, as the Word says, "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, bearing with each other in love." (Eph. 4:22With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2).)
He would ever turn our eyes to Christ our Lord, and to have Him as our pattern, to love one another, "as I have loved you." Satan seeks to divert us from this, and gets us to look at each other through his eyes, and magnifies others faults to us, and to hide our own faults from ourselves.
When we pack glass together of various shapes, we need lots of packing; and we are like that, we need lots of forbearing love to pack between us to keep from jostling and hurting each other. Love active in us will do this, and teach us to carry out this gracious dealing with each other, and endeavor to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3).) This is the only way for us to be able to walk together now.
Thank God, when the Lord comes, we shall get rid of the flesh, and all that grieves, and what a glorious day we shall see when the myriads of saints will surround the Lord-not one absentee. All present with and like the Lord, and with one heart and one voice to praise our blessed Redeemer.
"Not one will seem a stranger,
Though never seen before.”
How simple all this is in Scripture, no organizing, no unions, no membership, but just to recognize what 'grace has done for us. Grace has made us' children of God the Father; grace has made us members of the body of Christ; grace has made us temples of the Holy Ghost. "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body;" the joining is all done. We now want to walk consistent with this vocation.
May the Lord enable our hearts to lay hold more firmly on what His grace has given us.