In commencing the consideration of the church of God, it is of great moment to observe its scriptural limits, and its true character as distinct from all other operations of God’s grace. For a long season these have been lost sight of by the majority of those who, through grace, have part in its wondrous calling and privileges. It has been vaguely supposed that the church of God is a general term describing all saved persons, without distinction, even where the expression has not been used even in a lower sense. But this is to obliterate all the landmarks of God’s counsels, and to confound all HIS ways, to the serious spiritual loss of those who so err.
The truth is that the church of God is a New Testament revelation. Not until Peter’s precious confession of Christ as “the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:1616And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16)) do we find a syllable about it in the word of God. And even then its true and distinctive character was not told out. Though God’s counsels concerning Christ and the church were formed before the foundation of the world; they were not revealed until Paul was called to grace and apostleship (Eph. 3). Two things at least were necessary to the revelation of the mystery, (1) the exaltation of Christ as man at the right hand of God, after having accomplished redemption, and (2) the presence of the Holy Ghost here on earth.
But what was God doing ere all this could be? Clearly His Spirit was working in individual souls, producing faith in the one true God, and obedience to His will and word. How else could we have had the splendid roll of Hebrews 11? This inward divine work has gone on in souls from the very beginning. But such believers knew nothing of the church of God and its calling and hope. It was “hid in God,” as the apostle speaks (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)).
God also has wrought outwardly. When the whole race had gone into idolatry, He revealed Himself in grace to Abraham, and called him out into a path of separation to Himself. This was intended to be a public testimony to all around. In due time God took up Abraham’s seed, giving them deliverance from Pharaoh and Egypt, and bringing them into the promised land. He skewed them His word, His statutes, and His judgments, as the Psalmist tells us (Psa. 147 19, 20). He gave them the priesthood in view of their weakness and need, and when that failed, as the link between Himself and the people, He appointed them a king, who thereafter became “His anointed” in place of the high priest as formerly (1 Sam. 2:10, 3510The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. (1 Samuel 2:10)
35And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. (1 Samuel 2:35)). In the course of His governmental dealings with the nation He expelled them from the land because of their sins, using the kings of Assyria for the punishment of the ten tribes, and the king of Babylon for the chastisement of Judah. Of the latter a remnant was permitted to return after seventy years’ exile, in order that Messiah might be presented to them in accordance with the divine purpose and promise.
During all this time God was dealing with flesh, testing it in every possible way. Flesh without law had proved itself violent and corrupt, so that God had to purge the earth by the waters of the flood. Could law curb it and make it acceptable to God? Not that God had any question as to the matter, but He would demonstrate by His dealings to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear, what flesh really is in its nature and acting’s. Granted all privileges and favors, its evil only too deplorably displayed itself. The law had not reached the camp in its written form before the first vital commandment was violated by the chosen people. The sad history need not be detailed. The people, the priesthood, their kings, all failed. When prophecy was given, too often the faithful messengers were persecuted and slain. The final test was when the Son of God appeared. Man hated Him, cast Him out, and slew Him. Yet was He the Hope of Israel. For Him they had looked and longed as their Deliverer from all ill. But not corresponding with their carnal thoughts, they disowned and crucified Him. He was God manifest in flesh among them, and evil man could not tolerate this. The cross of Christ is the end of the history of the flesh as before God. Its evil is fully told. Flesh is no longer under probation, but divinely judged and set aside. No longer is the first man before God, but the Second. Sins being atoned for, and sin judged, God raised Him from among the dead, and gave Him glory at His own right hand. He is the risen Head of a new and heavenly race. God is now giving effect to His counsels concerning Christ and the church, in which flesh has no place or standing whatever. The Spirit of God is here, gathering out the chosen, and uniting them to the glorified Man on high. This was not nor could be until the trial of flesh was over, and the Second Man was established as such in heavenly glory, redemption being accomplished.
The divine purpose concerning the church was before the world and God will he glorified in it by Christ Jesus when the present world has passed away (Eph. 1:4; 3:214According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4)
21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21)). This is sufficient to show that the church has no place or portion here. Its calling is above. It is a heavenly company, now being specially gathered out to share with the heavenly One on high. While this work is proceeding, the purposes of God concerning the earth, which center in the people of Israel, are in abeyance. W.W. F.