The Church was in the mind of God from eternity (Eph. 3:9-11). It was announced by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matt. 16:18 as yet future; and redemption having been accomplished, and Christ the Lord, the head of the body seated on high, He formed it at Pentecost by the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2). There are four things to be especially noted in connection with this new divine organization. (1) The Head is in heaven, the source of all authority and nourishment for the Church. (Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 2:19.) (2) The Holy Spirit dwells in the assembly here below. (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 12: 4-11; Eph. 2:18-22.) (3) The Church on earth is united to the glorified Head and the members thereof, each indwelt by the Spirit, (1 Cor. 6:19) united to one another, forming "one body" by the one "Spirit" (Rom. 12:4, 5. 1 Cor. 12:12-14. Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:18), and (4) the word of God is the supreme rule of Church government by the Spirit, who is the power in the assembly and brings everything into subjection to Christ the, Head and works in each individual the owning of His Lordship.
The rock foundation of the assembly is "The Christ the Son of the living God." Compare Matt. 16:16-18; Acts 9:20; 1 Tim. 3:15-16. As founded on redemption Christ established His Church from on high in divine perfection and will in His own good time "present it to Himself a glorious Church" (Eph. 5:25-27). But, in the meantime, it is in ruins outwardly through the direful efforts of Satan and the unfaithfulness of the Lord's servants.
From Gen. 3 to Rev. 20 Satan is revealed as the implacable foe of God and of man. Note Rev. 12:17. Deception, corruption and violence characterized his work in the world before the flood, and with the same weapons he assaulted and pursued the Church until it was scattered in ruins. See Acts of the Apostles. 2 Cor. 11; 2 Tim.
Note especially 2 Cor. 2:11; 11: 13-15. Divisions, contentions and heresies marked his operations until every vestige of the true corporate testimony was blotted out. Light having been extinguished and the hope of the Church, the Lord's coming, lost; "they all slumbered and slept" amidst the prevailing darkness. (Matt. 25:1-13.) The true Church in ruins, and the gloom of superstition and death having settled down upon the profession, the opportune time had arrived for the establishment of the false church with its human head, who aimed for supreme rule in the world, religious and political, and assumed authority over the conscience. But the subtlety of its design suggests more than merely human wisdom in the founder of this building, (James 3:13-18) and in order that the deception might be effectual, he sought to accredit it by the use of the Scriptures. But Scripture reveals the real author of this scheme and condemns it. Besides, Scripture is the basis of the true faith (Rom. 10:17) and it cannot be destroyed.
In the course of time the Holy Spirit, through the word, opened the eyes of some of God's children. They broke away from this Anti-Church and preached the gospel which resulted in wide-spread blessing. Thus far this movement was of God, and had they followed on in the Spirit's guidance to assemble upon Scriptural ground instead of organizing so-called churches, there would have been—not Protestantism, but a united testimony against the system they opposed. As it was, however, they fell into the snare of organization with clericalism as the leading principle thereof and thus the Holy Spirit was systematically set aside. Numerous sects have since sprung into existence from this wrong beginning, all of which are without Scriptural authority. The Popish head of the earlier system and the Clerics of the later practically occupy the place the Holy Spirit should occupy in the assembly, and together they have almost blotted out any testimony to the true Church. Moreover, evil doctrines have permeated the Protestant societies, and they are powerless to deal with them. "The strong man" is not bound in these houses, but the word of God is, for the Holy Spirit has been practically silenced or ignored as the result of introducing innovations and worldly practices.
But what is the remedy for this state of thing? The answer is simple-separation of every member of Christ from the systems of men in order to "follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Obedience is the word. "Cease to do evil; learn to do well" is the order (Isa. 1:16-17). The first step is obedience,—withdrawal from what is unscriptural, must be taken before the second step of assembling according to Scripture can be learned. Consider 2 Tim. 2, 3, 4. Heb. 13:5-17: 2 Cor. 6:14-18. Jer. 15:16-21. And having separated we are to be assembled unto the name of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the ground of the "one body" as members of Christ. Here He is in the midst, and the sovereignty of the Spirit is practically owned in subjection to Scripture (Matt. 18:20; 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4:4).
The Church of God cannot be restored to its original state, but its principles abide and are binding still upon all saints, who are commended to the word of God and His grace (Acts 20:28-32). The cry for union of all sects is an admission that they are wrong in being separated. But the latest scheme is to ignore the basis of Scriptural unity, that of the "One Body" with the glorified Head: the practical exhibition of which, in obedience to the word, is to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3-4.)
"In Israel's history there have been two general revivals, one in the days of Hezekiah and the other in the reign of Josiah. And there have been just two general revivals in the history of the Church quite analogous to those in Israel. The first was in the days of Martin Luther when the individual truth of 'justification' was afresh proclaimed. The second was that of over one hundred years ago, when the truth of the Church as the body of Christ and its heavenly calling was recovered. We have no Scriptural warrant for a third revival.
"But what of the truth of the unity of the body of Christ? How far has the Church sought to maintain it? There has been one division after another, but still the truth remains, thank God, 'There is one body.'
" (W. P.)