THE church of God is still in the world, and its members are exposed to many difficulties and dangers, and have many needs. The thought is full of comfort and blessedness that the exalted Head takes cognizance of this and provides for all the requirements of His own. Consequently we shall now consider the gifts which He has given for the perfecting of His saints, and for the edification of His body.
In Ephesians 4 these are brought before us. Our attention is drawn to Christ’s present exalted position in glory. The apostle quotes from Psalms 68 “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men.” He does not add, “yea, and to the rebellious also,” because those words refer to Israel by-and-bye rather than to the body of Christ now. The point is, that Christ having broken the power of the enemy, and ascended to the throne of God, He is able to bestow gifts on His own that are in the world. Perhaps but few Christians view evangelists, teachers, etc., in this way. Too often, when these are considered, man is before the mind rather than Christ. Here we learn that they are the fruit of the victory of Jesus, a grand proof that He has spoiled the kingdom of Satan.
It is important to see that the church has no place in this, save as receiver of all the blessing. The church does not appoint the servants of Christ, but merely accepts them as gracious tokens of the continuous affection and care of her heavenly Lord and Head. To the Lord alone they are responsible in the discharge of their duties; to Him they must render their account at His judgment seat. It is understood of course that the gifts of Christ fall under the discipline of the assembly, if their ways or teaching are evil; but in the exercise of their gifts the church is not permitted to come between them and the Lord in heaven.
Gifts for ministry must never be confounded with priesthood. Some people have an idea that “minister” and “priest” are practically synonymous, but it is seriously incorrect. Since the accomplishment of redemption by the Lord Jesus, every believer is both a “holy” and “royal” priest, according to the teaching of 1 Peter 2, but it is evident that all are not evangelists, pastors and teachers. Such gifts have been entrusted to comparatively few of Christ’s members.
The gifts are enumerated in Ephesians 4:11: “And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers.” The work of the first two was of a foundation character. The apostles founded and ordered the church at the beginning; prophets in conjunction with apostles were given for the communication of the thoughts and purposes of God concerning the new order of things that was being brought in. The results of their labors we have in a permanent form in the New Testament scriptures; but the men have ceased, and no fresh supply of apostles and prophets is promised to the church.
The other gifts remain. Evangelists are in the front rank of these, as their work comes first in the order of God’s operations in souls. Theirs is the blessed work of seeking out the lost, that they may present to them Christ and His accomplished work as the true rest of their souls. This service is very dear to the heart of God. He yearns over the perishing and would have them all brought under the sound of the Saviour’s name.
Then follow the pastors and teachers. These are divinely linked together, and sometimes the gifts are found together in the same persons. Pastors are to the body of Christ what the father is to the family, or the shepherd to the flock. They watch with anxious care over all the plants of the Father’s planting, that they may grow in grace and in conformity to Christ. Teachers are their instructors, acting among them as a schoolmaster among his scholars. They love to open out to the saints the grand truths and principles of the word of God, that they may have fellowship with His revealed mind and will, and that they may walk conformably to it. For what is the value of teaching, if our lives are not brought under its power?
The prime object of the gifts is the perfecting of the saints. God would not have His saints stunted in growth and ignorant of their place and portion in Christ risen. He would have them go on unto perfection, as Paul wrote to the Hebrews (Heb. 6:1). In this way the work of the ministry is carried forward, and the body of Christ is edified. How good is the Lord thus to be mindful of the needs of His own that are in the world! Though the church has deeply failed in her testimony, He has not ceased to bestow His gifts. These He will continue to furnish “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” This cannot be true of all the saints until the coming of the Lord. W.W.F.