The Christian's Special Privileges and Relationship.—No. 2
The truth of the church of God is equally, if not more fully, distinctive and special, than of the heavenly family, though the term “Church” is to many very vague, particularly in these days of human thought and judgment. But for this there is no ground when turning to the unerring scriptures about the church of God, founded on Christ the Son of the living God.
Indeed in such a day as the present, when in the sad moral ruin and nearing end of all in the professing church and the world, with judgment at the door, it is most important to turn to what God does in its abiding blessedness, not only in saving precious souls, and by the death of His Son bringing them to Himself in holiness, righteousness, and peace, but in giving such a place in His church. That the Lord Jesus came to seek and to save the lost is surely a truth to be sounded forth far and wide; but rarely is the further blessed fact declared, that Christ is building His church against which the gates of Hades can never prevail. This important fact was reserved for the Lord Himself to declare, as He does in Matt. 16, when as the rejected Messiah He speaks of Himself as the Son of Man. Then, asking men's judgment as to who He was, He finally puts the same question to His disciples, and Peter replies, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Then it was, in point of fact for the first time, the Lord states His intention of building His church, on the immovable rock of His blessed Person; and assuredly the material of the newly declared structure would be in character with it. Whatever aspect the building may assume, all would be worthy of Himself, and His death. Peter, being a stone of the building, was the first servant to preach Christ risen and glorified by the power of the Spirit of God, and by the same power were sinners saved and added together for it; showing that the building was formed of souls saved by sovereign grace, who became part of God's church, which the same apostle in his First Epistle designates as a spiritual house. It is the contrast to the Jew's material Temple, or house of God. Moreover those forming part of it were a holy priesthood; so that instead of Aaron and his sons being the priesthood, all believers are priests, belonging to the spiritual house, with holy liberty to offer up spiritual sacrifices by Jesus Christ.
This truth was more fully made known by the apostle of the Gentiles, and he it is who unfolded the truth that the church was in the mind of God before time began or man existed. He also speaks of it in many aspects, viz: the one new man; a holy temple; the habitation of God; and not least as the body of Christ. All this the epistle of divine purpose (Eph.) clearly sets forth, together with the signal truth, that the church like Christ as Head over all things was a mystery hid in God, but now blessedly revealed, as to its origin, nature, character, and glorious destiny. Alas, how rarely these truths of abiding reality, with the work of the Spirit of God in relation to them, are spoken of and dwelt upon in their significance, even by true believers! A cry is often seriously raised, Where is the pure gospel of Christ and the needed atonement preached? To this may be added, Where is the further truth of the church inquired after, even in its least form? Who seeks to know? What does the “new man” mean? What the holy temple growing in view of completion and heavenly glory? and where are those desiring to know and own with holy consistency the “habitation of God by the Spirit?”
Conversion we mercifully know and hear of; but it is usually followed by joining the varied denominations, each having its own claim, to the slighting of the only church of God for all who now believe. Not this only, but the same Spirit who quickens the sinner, and seals the believer, is He who forms all those believers into one body, as it is written, “For by one Spirit were ye all baptized into one body.” Again God set “the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased Him” (see 1 Cor. 12:13-1813For 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. 14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:13‑18)). Thus the body and its membership leaves no place for human thought or will, but it is for each believer to receive this God-formed relationship, and act upon the divinely appointed communion proper to it. The truth is clearly laid down in 1 Cor. 10 and 11, where the breaking of bread is set forth in the one loaf, as the true and only outward expression of the one body of Christ; no less is the remembrance of the Lord in His death enjoined, as the saints' holy privilege on the first day of the week, “until He come.” True, it is largely said, in these days of ruin and indifference, that the truth of the fellowship of the one body cannot now be acted upon for reception and discipline; and hence the breaking of bread would only be to individually remember the Lord in His death, without the expression of the one loaf or one body, according to 1 Cor. 10:16, 1716The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:16‑17)! But where is faith?
By these thoughts practice on privilege of the highest order is sacrificed; and the truth of God's workmanship in His forming the church for Christ its living Head is completely lost sight of in its intended responsibility for the choicest collective fellowship of all the members. Alas for such failure and indifference respecting it! Nevertheless if obedience sadly lacks, God's side of the truth continues, whether the church be viewed as the body of Christ; or the holy temple growing; or the habitation of God by the Spirit even now.
Indeed, that which is the object of the Lord's special affection must and will have its corresponding answer, when Be shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. Blessed indeed for faith to look away from failure and ruin (save to judge responsibility as to it), and dwell in holy meditation on the unceasing devoted love of Christ, in its past, present, and future, as declared in Eph. 5:25-2725Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25‑27). Having given Himself for His church, it is not surprising that fie should sanctify and cleanse it, which He is now doing, as He will assuredly present the church to Himself glorious, without spot or wrinkle or blemish.
This then is the crowning point of the true church God is building by His Spirit for Christ. He for nearly nineteen centuries has been waiting on high for the moment to receive her to Himself; not like Isaac to welcome a Rebecca and take her into his tent, but to call her up on the clouds, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; to receive her to Himself and have her as His bride, for the glorious marriage to follow in due time in heaven.
Till then surely the precious truth of the heavenly family and the church of God, is what the abiding Spirit would have all believers to know and enjoy, assured that the Holy Spirit has not given up His purpose and action, any more than His precious testimony and work in the gospel. He is ever true to the Father and Son who sent Him. However complete the ruin is, purpose goes on despite of the many churches, names and parties, humbling and appalling as this may be. The Spirit still gathers to the name and person of Christ, the unfailing Head of the church; so that even the twos and threes, obediently responding to His action, may prove and enjoy the promise of Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20); “For where two or three are gathered together unto My name, there am I in the midst of them.” How important, therefore, to keep His word and not deny His name! May the Lord Himself, who says He is coming quickly, create, exercise and establish His own in the truth, begetting a response in obedience to His will and word for His name's sake. G. G.