The very existence of a remnant proves the failure of the general witness. Sovereign grace alone can enable a few weak ones to feel and to own the shameful ruin, and to morally represent the Lord in the truth originally committed.
Very quickly the church failed in its responsibility to abide in its first estate, so that the Lord had to say, "Thou halt left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen." It is evident then that God alone can give souls to discover His mind and to gather accordingly in these closing days of the church's testimony.
The central institution of Christianity is expressed by the members of the body of Christ being gathered to His Name at His table to remember Him in His death. "For we being many are one bread and one body... partakers of the Lord's table." "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come." 1 Cor. 10:17,21;11:2617For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17)
21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:21)
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26). Then these high privileges are accompanied with responsibilities, "That ye walk worthy... with all lowliness... in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit.... There is one body, and one Spirit." Eph. 4:1-41I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:1‑4).
Does the Holy Spirit gather to rival centers? Here especially the Church has failed-has failed practically to manifest before the world that we are "one body;" it has failed to "keep the unity of the Spirit." Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3). Christ died that "He should gather together in one the children of God." John 11:5252And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:52).
Has He many bodies, or one? Alas, man has set up many tables, and adopted many names and creeds. As the apostle warned in Acts 20:3030Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:30), many men have arisen "speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Such are they "which cause divisions" Rom. 16:1717Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17); and the divisions have grown into many reputable religious bodies with their endless innovations. Should not this bewildering confusion bow our heads with shame? What claim then, should these man-made ecclesiastical systems have upon the faithful? To join a sect is to be sectarian.
How do these religious systems, names and creeds appear in the light of "I beseech you brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.... Every one of you saith, "I am of Paul; and I of Appollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?" 1 Cor. 1:10-1310Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:10‑13).
Divisions among brethren and the sects of Christendom are the Lord's disapproval of carnal unjudged self and worldliness. 1 Cor. chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11; 1 Kings 11:1111Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. (1 Kings 11:11). "There exist divisions among you, that the approved may become manifest among you." 1 Cor. 11:18,1918For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. (1 Corinthians 11:18‑19) J.N.D. trans. What shame now characterizes the divisional confusion with unscriptural one-man ministry, multiplying creeds, names, innovations, traditions, organizations, offices, programs, money and popularity!
With legion parties, sects and creeds,
Sad proof of ruin blight:
From whence have they their title deeds?
Pray which of them is right?
At last I ventured in a place
Where gathered two or three,
And soon my heart began to trace
The Spirit's liberty.
The gracious presence soon I felt,
Of Jesus, and adored;
Yea, all our hearts in praise did melt,
Remembering our Lord.
Dear Christian, search God's written Word,
Have naught but what is there,
And gather to your blessed Lord,
'Mid ruin everywhere.
In Deuteronomy chapter 12 verses 2 and 3 the plurality of "places," "gods," "altars," and "names" is conspicuous; but all such were to be utterly destroyed. They were diametrically set in contrast to "the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to put His name there." As this formula is virtually found twenty-one times in the book of Deuteronomy, it must be very needful; yet how few have discovered its import!
Instead of their choosing to do "every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes" (verse 8), as is so prevalent in Christendom today, they were to leave the choice entirely with the Lord and to worship in the place of His appointment. Exactly this unchanging divine principle is found in the New Testament. Turn to Luke chapter 22 and in verses 9 to 14 we have "Where wilt Thou?"; also, in Matt. 28:1616Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (Matthew 28:16), "where Jesus had appointed them. And... they worshipped Him;" and particularly Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
"Where," is the divine place of His choice (not ours), the same principle we have been emphasizing from Deuteronomy.
"Two or three," is divine testimony in the lowest plurality, no doubt anticipating the remnant "day of small things," when others boast of numbers.
"Are gathered," is divine separation (not toleration) in the energy of the Holy Spirit (not of man).
"Together," is divine oneness (not divisions), and that in "the unity of the Spirit."
"In the midst," is the divine center (not "outside the door").
"Of them," is His divine approval, (excluding all else) and authorizing "them" alone to exercise the discipline that is "bound in heaven." verse 18; 1 Cor. 5:44In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 5:4); 2 Tim. 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22).
Jeroboam set up two rival centers, clever imitations, so that the people might make their choice according to their convenience -a popular move indeed!
"As to the different tables.... What am I to do? I believe I am to inquire into the origin of these different tables, to see how it came about to have more than one table." From "Thoughts on the Lord's Supper" C.H.M.
"The first step in confessing the unity of the Church of God is to step out of divisions which practically deny it." From "Unity, what is it and am I confessing it?" C.H.M.
But Position Will Not Keep One
"Let us beware of writing the sentence of death upon our position and privileges instead of upon ourselves." From "Faint yet pursuing" in "Present Testimony." Vol. 2 page 400.
"The truth must give us a state that comports and agrees with the place we are in." F.C.B.
"Setting up to be Philadelphia is of the spirit of Laodicea." J.N.D. Letters 1830.
Much to be noticed is the deep humiliation felt by Ezra over the state of God's people, "weeping and casting himself down." Ezra 10:11Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. (Ezra 10:1). But where sorrow and little strength is felt, God encourages by reminding them that "The joy of the LORD is your strength." The Lord had joy in beholding His obedient small remnant gathered according to what was originally prescribed in Deut. 12, "Unto the place the Lord Thy God shall choose to place His name there." This is a great truth in these days of weakness for the few gathered to His name, to be able to look up in faith knowing that it gives Him joy. Neh. 8:1010Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10).
"Now, no one will deny that there have been causes which brought about the existing divisions. Are these causes then to be ignored or passed over, as if they had never been? It is said these things took place many years ago, and we have nothing to do with them now. This may sound plausible, but is it a true principle?... Has a mere lapse of time effaced it? Does God forget? Does He not require the past?... Did He forget the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin?" From "Divisions among the People of God and their causes: And is there a Path for Faith?" A.H.R.
Capt. Trigge wrote the following very significant statement in May 1910: "Want of principles by loose brethren will always make them more popular, and they I presume, will increase in numbers; while those who seek to carry out the mind of the Lord, as revealed in the word, will become fewer and fewer."
Now in our day the feeble few outside the divisions are in great weakness of heart and increasing worldliness, besides mischief which is undermining divine principles. Nevertheless there are souls desiring nothing less than to judge themselves, and to cleave to the Lord, and to continue gathered in the unity of the Spirit, at His table, holding fast His Word. This is with a deep sense that it was grace alone that saved them, and grace alone that gathered them, and that His grace alone can enable them to continue thus "till He come."
Regarding the mischief at work: Besides the appealing reunions without, there are insidious teachings being uttered within, reminding us of similar difficulties in the days of Nehemiah, when by the misuse of humbling truth, they calculated to cause the remnant to give up their exclusive worship center. "Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall." "Moreover in those days... were many of Judah sworn" unto their subtle adversary Tobiah! It is ever the enemy's work to weaken and to discourage the remnant so as to blot out the testimony which is on divine ground.
Just recently one taught what is true, as to the ruin and as to the danger of pride of position, but then denied that there remains any divine gathering! Another taught beautifully as to being attracted to Jesus as the gathering center but denied that there can be named any specified address where the Lord thus meets with His own! Letters at hand from another unstable teacher show the same pitiful weakness. What is this but undermining?
Concerning the Place
"Luke 22:1414And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (Luke 22:14). There was a geographical place in a building in the city which could be described as having an upper room with perhaps a street and number. At that geographical place, at a certain hour, the Lord Jesus sat down. His presence was there at that place with His disciples. This was not the case in this sense a few blocks away.
"Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7). There was a geographical place at Troas, a three-story building, where the disciples came together to break bread. This was not the case in this sense a few blocks away; and it was from a similar place at Ephesus from where 'men should arise to draw away disciples after them'—possibly a few blocks or more away.
"Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20). There is a geographical place where the Lord Jesus promised His presence in the midst 'of them' who only have authority to 'bind on earth.' This is not the case in this sense a few blocks away." A.C.G.
The apostle Paul's last letter (2 Tim.) views "the last days" with full emphasis as to individual faithfulness, but also enjoins to "follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Tim. 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22). "With them" is surely corporate. "Thou hast known my doctrine," "continue thou," chapter 3. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but encouraging one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." Heb. 10:25. 2 Timothy is preeminently the epistle for the remnant. It calls for unfeigned faith in the Word of God, continuance in Paul's doctrine, when most turn away from it, unashamed courage to endure suffering for the testimony of our Lord; and much grace is needed from Christ to live Christ, steering clear of every evil, in the midst of powerless profession. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine... and they shall turn away their ears from the truth.... The Lord Jesus be with thy spirit." Chapter 4.
The popular ecumenical appeal to unite all with Rome will eventuate into "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots," then the worship of Satan, and finally eternal torment!
Paul's Doctrine
"The doctrine of Paul embraces all the principles and truths as when first revealed. Ruin and failure could not affect it, nor hinder the practice flowing from it. The unity of the Spirit in the body of Christ would never fail, and this the Christian is exhorted to endeavor 'to keep.' Eph. 4:3,43Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:3‑4). Come what would, there never would be a time while the church would sojourn here, when Paul's doctrine would be a nullity or impracticable to the veriest handful of the faithful who sought to call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Tim. 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)."
Above extract from "Is there ever a time when Paul's Doctrine is of no practical value to those who would walk with God?" F.G.P.
"The priest... shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me.... They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to minister unto Me." Ezek. 44.