The believer who learns from the Scriptures that the body of Christ is to express itself in a visible unity on earth may well ask, “How could we ever practice that truth today when most Christians probably don’t even know of such a thing, and if they did, are probably not interested in practicing it?” It is sad that such an incredible breakdown in the Christian testimony exists. There is disunity among the members of the body, with believers being divided into various denominational groups, and quite happy to be there.
The Ruin of the Christian Testimony
It is a sad day indeed when we see every man doing “that which was right in his own eyes” (Jud. 21:25). The body is surely “not holding the Head” (Col. 2:1919And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 2:19)). Dr. W. T. P. Wolston likens the present condition of things among the members of the body of Christ to a disease called “Chorea” (Huntington’s disease) that can afflict the human body causing the muscles to all go in motion, but not under control – though the head desires them to be controlled. He said, “I think the church of God has got that kind of disease today. The members are all doing their own will.”
There are three women in the New Testament that illustrate the progress of ecclesiastical corruption in the professing church. The first is the woman in Matthew 13, who took leaven and hid it in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened. This marks the introduction into the unleavened mass of Christians certain corrupting principles and practices in the days of the early church. The second woman, in Revelation 2:2020Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20), “that woman Jezebel,” is symbolic of the development of evil under the system of Catholicism in the middle ages. Thirdly, we have “the great whore” in Revelation 17, which portrays the false church in its last stage after the Lord has taken the true believers out of this scene at the rapture. The papal influence is still there, but she will have drawn every other so-called Christian denomination under her organized power of corruption. We also see in that chapter the end of the Christian profession coming under the judgment of God by the hand of the ten kings that she has controlled in the first half of the seven-year Tribulation period.
We are told that in the latter times of the church’s sojourn on earth, there would be a great departure from “the faith that was once delivered to the saints” (1 Tim. 4:11Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1), Acts 20:29-3029For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:29‑30), Jude 3-43Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 3‑4)). All of the “second” epistles attest to this departure in the Christian profession.
The 2nd epistle to the Ephesian assembly describes the letting go of first love (Rev. 2:1-71Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:1‑7)).
The 2nd epistle to the Thessalonians treats the letting go of the hope of the Lord’s coming.
The 2nd epistle of John deals with the seriousness of letting go of the doctrine of Christ.
The 2nd epistle of Peter considers the letting go of practical godliness.
The 2nd epistle to the Corinthians treats the letting go of apostolic authority as found in Scripture.
And lastly, the 2nd epistle to Timothy deals with the letting go of order in the house of God.
Therefore, it is certain that we cannot practice this great truth of the one body with all the members. Most have no concern for this truth. However, God has anticipated these difficult last days and has made ample provision for us. If we have an exercised heart, God will guide us in that path (Ps. 112:4).
A Remnant
As we search the Scriptures to find God’s mind as to what we are to do in these days of ruin and failure in the Christian testimony, we learn a great principle upon which God acts when that which He has committed into the hands of men in testimony has failed. He reduces its size, strength, glory, and numbers; and carries it on in a remnant. The word “remnant,” signifies “the residue,” or “that which remains,” of anything of what the original was set up for. (Compare Isaiah 1:2-92Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 7Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:2‑9).) A principle that we would do well to learn is that God's ways change when that which He has set up and committed into the hands of man in responsibility fails. While His ways change, His principles do not. When failure comes in, God falls back on His sovereignty to maintain what He has set up in testimony, and He carries it on thereafter in a remnant character. The reason the Lord does this is that a point is reached in the history of the thing whereby He can no longer associate Himself with it in the power and glory as He once did when He set it up. Since those identified with that testimony have so thoroughly corrupted it, if He were to continue to associate Himself with it, the world would receive a false testimony of God’s true character. The world would conclude that the Lord condoned such practices. Therefore, since God must act consistently with His holiness, He lets go of the thing as a whole, as He originally set it up, and then works with a remnant testimony. God has acted on this principle in the history of Israel, and now with the church, and will do it again in a coming day with the Jews in the Tribulation.
God’s Ways With Israel
In the case of Israel, the Lord very clearly established a place in the land of Canaan where all the children of Israel were to come with their sacrifices, offerings, and worship. He placed "His Name" and "His habitation" at that place, and said, "Thither shalt thou come" (Deut. 12:1-161These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. 2Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: 3And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God. 5But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: 6And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: 7And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. 8Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. 9For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you. 10But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; 11Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord: 12And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you. 13Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: 14But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. 15Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart. 16Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water. (Deuteronomy 12:1‑16), Deut. 16:1616Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: (Deuteronomy 16:16)). The place, we know, was Jerusalem (1 Ki. 8:1, 29, 9:3, 11:32, 14:21, 2 Ki. 21:4, 74And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. (2 Kings 21:4)
7And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: (2 Kings 21:7), Ps. 50:5, Ps. 122:3-4, Ps. 132:13-14). This was the Lord's desire for all of the children of Israel whom He had redeemed out of Egypt. At certain appointed times He wanted all the tribes of Israel to assemble there in happy fellowship to express their unity as a nation, and to worship Him.
As their history in the land unfolds, we find that the children of Israel forsook the Lord and went worshipping the gods of the heathen nations. This was true of the king as well as the people (1 Ki. 11:9-11, 339And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. 11Wherefore 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 11:9‑11)
33Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. (1 Kings 11:33)). And thus, the nation corrupted itself and failed to maintain a true testimony before the world of the one true God. As a consequence, we find that the Lord removed many of His people from His divinely appointed center at Jerusalem. He caused ten of the twelve tribes of Israel to be taken away from the privileges of His gathering center (1 Ki. 11:29-3629And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: 30And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: 31And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: 32(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 33Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. 36And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. (1 Kings 11:29‑36)). When king Rehoboam attempted to recover the ten tribes, the Lord intervened through a prophet and told him to desist, because it was "from the Lord" that the ten tribes should be carried away (1 Ki. 12:15, 2415Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. (1 Kings 12:15)
24Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord. (1 Kings 12:24)). It was a governmental action in the ways of God.
Now, we may ask, how is it that the Lord said in one Scripture that He wants His people to gather together at His divinely appointed center in Jerusalem, and in other Scriptures He drove many of them away from it? How are we to understand this paradox? The infidel mind would say that it’s because the Bible contradicts itself. However, the answer to this question, we believe, lies in understanding the difference between God's purposes and desires, and God's ways. Everything that God purposes will come to pass: there are no obstacles too great to hinder Him from accomplishing His purposes (Isa. 46:1111Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:11), Job 42:22I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. (Job 42:2), Jer. 51:2929And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:29)). His desires run in the same direction as His purposes: but while all that God purposes will definitely come to pass, all His desires may not. For instance, the Scriptures say, “Our Saviour God, Who desires that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-43For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3‑4)). It is His desire, but we know that all men will not be saved because “all men have not faith” (2 Thess. 3:22And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. (2 Thessalonians 3:2)). This is because His ways with men are such that because of their stubbornness and sin, He may take away privileges that His goodness has desired for them (Isa. 6:9-109And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9‑10), Jn. 12:4040He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (John 12:40), Lk. 8:18, 2 Thess. 2:11-1211And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11‑12), Ps. 69:23). This shows that God's ways change when that which He has set up and has committed into the hands of men in responsibility fails.
Since Israel had given themselves over to the worship of the gods of the heathen, the Lord could no longer associate Himself with them in power and glory as He had done during the reigns of David and Solomon. The nations around Israel would have received a false testimony of Jehovah. The ways of God were such that He would carry on His testimony in Israel in a remnant. He, therefore, allowed but "one tribe" to remain at the divine center that there might be "a light" before Him in Jerusalem (1 Ki. 11:13, 29-3613Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. (1 Kings 11:13)
29And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: 30And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: 31And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: 32(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 33Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. 36And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. (1 Kings 11:29‑36)).
The people under a rebellious leader, Jeroboam, had their part in the sad cleavage among the tribes of Israel. Jeroboam took the ten tribes and led them away from the divine center. There was a low state among the people that were willing to follow that divisive man. Since going up to Jerusalem, God’s center for sacrifice and worship, had the effect of uniting the tribes of Israel (1 Ki. 12:2727If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. (1 Kings 12:27)), Jeroboam established other places of worship of his own devising, so that the people would be gathered after him in division (1 Ki. 12:25-3325Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. 26And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan. 30And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 31And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 32And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made. 33So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense. (1 Kings 12:25‑33)). Thus, the division among the tribes of Israel was solidified, and it remained throughout their history. It was “a great sin” (2 Ki. 17:2121For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin. (2 Kings 17:21)), and will not be healed until after the Lord comes – at the appearing of Christ (Ezek. 37:15-2815The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 16Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these? 19Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. 20And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. 21And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: 23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. (Ezekiel 37:15‑28), Isa. 11:1313The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. (Isaiah 11:13)).
From that time forward, God chose to have only a remnant testimony to the truth of the one place of worship in Israel. At that time “Ammi” (meaning “My people”), implying the relationship of Jehovah with His people Israel, was broken as to the ten tribes by their separation under Jeroboam. Thereafter, “Lo-ammi” (meaning “not My people”) was written over them (Hos. 1:99Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. (Hosea 1:9)). Thus, He outwardly disassociated himself from the ten tribes in their departure from His divine center at Jerusalem. Throughout the history of the ten tribes we find that God would not identify Himself publicly with their position. On more than one occasion we are reminded of the solemn fact that “the Lord is not with Israel [the ten tribes]” (2 Chron. 25:77But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. (2 Chronicles 25:7)). The Lord would not identify Himself with them, because in doing so, He would be condoning their position in separation from His divine center (2 Chron. 13:1212And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper. (2 Chronicles 13:12), 2 Ki. 17:20-2120And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. 21For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin. (2 Kings 17:20‑21)). While the Lord did not identify Himself outwardly with their divided position, He still worked among them with prophets in some manifestations of His power in grace. Prophets, such as Elijah, sought to call them to return to the Lord at Jerusalem. We know that a few did return (2 Chron. 11:13-17, 30:11). This shows that the Lord would never hinder anyone who had an exercise to be at His divine center.
From the time of the great cleavage in the tribes of Israel, it could not be said that the Lord was gathering all the children of Israel to His divine center at Jerusalem. Something had come in that caused the Lord to act in another way with His people. He was clearly removing the mass of the tribes away from the happy unity at the one center for worship. His desires were still such that they should all be there, but His ways moved Him to act on another line with most. And it was not because the "one tribe" was any better than the tribes the Lord caused to be led away. We know that king Rehoboam’s bad state actually perpetrated the cleavage among the tribes (1 Ki. 12:1-191And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 3That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 4Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. 5And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. 6And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 7And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 8But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 9And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 10And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 14And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. 17But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. (1 Kings 12:1‑19)). Nor does it mean that every single person in the ten tribes was evil and was worshipping the gods of the heathen. We learn later that the Lord had reserved seven thousand among them that had not bowed to Baal (1 Ki. 19:1818Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:18)). In fact, a few of those from the "one tribe" that God had allowed to remain in Jerusalem were guilty of that very thing – worshipping Baal! Nevertheless, to maintain a “light” in Jerusalem did not require that all the tribes of Israel to be there. A remnant, consisting of one tribe, was sufficient. It would be humbling, because those at the divine center could no longer boast of the nation’s original glory with a unity of twelve tribes that once existed in the days of David and Solomon.
God’s Ways With the Church
When we come to the church, we see the Lord acting on this very same principle. Following its history as depicted in the seven churches of the Book of Revelation, we see a downward course in the Christian testimony. The condition of things gets to a point where the Lord no longer owns the mass of the Christian profession, and thereafter, takes up with a remnant testimony (Rev. 2:24-2924But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:24‑29)). The state of the church had come to the point of "no remedy." (Compare 2 Chron. 36:1616But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:16)) Consequently, from that point forward, a marked change takes place in the Lord's ways with the church. This is indicated by the call to "hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" following the promise to the overcomer instead of preceding it, as the pattern had been up to that point. In the first three churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos), the reward to the overcomer was set before the whole church because the Lord was still dealing with it at large. All in the church who heard and obeyed would receive the overcomer's reward. Thereafter, it is given up. Remarking on this, J. N. Darby said, "The body at large is dropped." The public mass of the Christian profession is treated as being incapable of hearing and repenting. The Lord then separates a remnant, saying, “But to you I say, the rest [remnant]....” From that time forward, the Lord began to deal with a remnant, and to let the mass of the people go. The call to "hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," in the last four churches, is given to a remnant because only they will hear and overcome. W. Kelly said, "The Lord thenceforth puts the promise [to the overcomer] first, and this is because it is vain to expect the church as a whole to receive it ...a remnant only, overcome, and the promise is for them; as for the others, it is all over." As a result, the Lord no longer expects the mass of the Christian profession to hear and return to the point from which it departed. All thought of recovering the church at large is abandoned because it has reached a point of "no remedy," and cannot be set right.
If we were to go back and see what caused the public state of the church to reach the point of "no remedy," we would find that it was the same thing that caused the Lord's testimony in Israel to reach that point. With the church, and with Israel, there was a course that led up to it. In Ephesus, we learn that "the angel of the church" (the responsible leadership) rightly judged all that was inconsistent with the Lord. It says that they would not "bear them which are evil." But sadly, their heart was not in it (Rev. 2:2-42I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:2‑4)). In Smyrna, any further slide downward was stayed by the great persecutions that came on the church. The severity of the trial cast them back on the Lord. But in Pergamos, when the times of great persecution were ended, "the angel of the church" began tolerating some who held "the doctrine of Balaam," which is worldliness and idolatry. The “angel” was not charged with holding these doctrines, but the Lord found fault with them because they did not denounce the evil as did the “angel” at Ephesus.
In Thyatira, a worse condition prevailed. "The angel of the church" allowed the same evil doctrine and practice that was held by some in Pergamos to be taught! (Compare Rev. 2:1414But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14) with 2:20) What started out as some holding evil doctrine resulted in many teaching the evil doctrine. This shows that if the holding of evil is not judged, it will lead to the propounding of it. In Thyatira, the teaching of this evil had developed into a system of things called "Jezebel," which surely answers to Catholicism. In the Middle Ages it had such a tyrannical grip on the church at large, with its strength and organization, that it controlled "the angel!" Those who were in the place of responsibility had failed to deal with it when they could have, and now it had grown into a monster that controlled them! (Compare Acts 27:14-1514But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. (Acts 27:14‑15). The Euroclydon – a great wind – swept over the sailing ship, and the sailors could do nothing, but "let her drive"). The figure of "Jezebel" is aptly used here, because that woman not only brought idolatry into Israel formally, but she also controlled and manipulated her husband, king Ahab.
Such being the case of the public state of the church, where there remained no power to deal with evil, the Lord separated a remnant, and let go of the mass at large. He did not put upon the remnant "the burden" of setting the confusion right in an attempt to get the church back to where it once was. Instead, He turned their focus forward to His coming, saying, "Hold fast till I come" (Rev. 2:2525But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Revelation 2:25)).
Working with a remnant testimony since that time, it has pleased the Lord to recover the truth that was lost through the church’s carelessness in the centuries before. However, He has not seen fit to recover all of the truth at once. The remnant referred to in Revelation 2:24-2924But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:24‑29), are the Waldeneses, the Albigenses, and others like them who separated from the evil of "Jezebel" in Medieval times. They were told to "hold fast" to what little truth they did have. Sometime later, leading up to the Reformation, the Lord gave a little more truth, such as the supremacy of the Bible and faith in Christ alone for salvation. But even that movement of the Spirit was impeded by their turning to certain national governments for help against the church of Rome. This was tantamount to turning to man in the flesh for help instead of relying on the Lord (Jer. 17:55Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:5), Ps. 118:8-9, Isa. 31:11Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! (Isaiah 31:1)). The result was deadness in spirit as depicted in the church at Sardis (Rev. 3:1-61And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:1‑6) “Thou livest, and art dead”). It was not until the early 1800's that the Lord gave a full recovery of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)). At this time, God established a corporate testimony to the truth of the one body. Prior to this, the remnant was comprised of individuals who sought to go on faithfully in separation from the corruption of the Roman church. Paul's doctrine (2 Tim. 3:1010But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10)), dispensational truth, and the truth of gathering (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)) were revived in practice, so that those whom the Lord gathered to His Name could act on the truth of the "one body." It is not that the gathered saints are a remnant exactly (for all true believers amidst the mass of lifeless profession in Christendom would constitute that), but that they occupy, in testimony, a remnant position ecclesiastically amidst the confusion in the church. This revival is depicted in the Lord's address to the church at Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-137And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:7‑13)). We are now in days when every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes, and most are complacent in their low state. This is depicted in the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-2214And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:14‑22)).
Nor should we think that the Lord has written "Lo-Ammi" over the Christian testimony today – He will do that someday, so to speak, when He spews the whole thing out of His mouth at His coming (Rev. 3:1616So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)). But the Christian testimony has reached a point of irremediable ruin, and therefore, it has called for a change in the Lord's ways with it. Since He has let go of seeking to restore the public state of the church and is dealing with a remnant testimony, He is not going to lend His power to the Christian testimony today as He did in its early days. It would not be in keeping with the character of the broken state of things. Nor is He necessarily going to gather great numbers to His Name (which is the divine center of gathering for Christians – Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)) in order to carry on that remnant testimony.
Just as it was with Israel, to maintain a remnant testimony today to the truth of the one body, the Lord does not need to have every Christian in the world gathered to His Name, even though it is His desire for them. The very meaning of the word, remnant, implies that not all are there. In divine prerogative and grace He is taking one here and one there, and gathering them to His Name so that this remnant testimony may be carried on. The maintaining of this testimony is a sovereign work. This is seen in the Lord’s address to Philadelphia where He said, "He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth" (Rev. 3:77And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)). No man, or devil, can hinder its continuance, though it might appear to carry on in much feebleness and weakness on account of the state of those associated with it. Humbling as it may be, He does not need any one of those whom He has gathered. They hear "what the Spirit saith unto the churches" because He has opened their ears (Prov. 20:1212The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12)). If we have been gathered as such, we have nothing to boast in, for it has been His grace alone that has granted such a privilege. Praise be to His Name! If those whom He has gathered to His Name are a testimony, they are a testimony to the fact that there is an irremediable ruin in the Christian testimony. It certainly is nothing to be proud about.
So then, when it comes to the practice of the truth of the one body today, we must understand that it can only be practiced in a remnant character. An often-used illustration is helpful. Suppose the parents of a large family had to travel into a far country and remain there for some time before returning home. Before leaving, the father gave instructions to the children that while there may be many things they would have to do during the day, they should all sit down to supper together as when the parents were with them, so as to keep the family together as a unit during their absence. But after some time, a few are too busy, and others could no longer be bothered with it, etc. After awhile none of the children were keeping their parent’s request. Then sometime later, two or three of them remember their parent’s request and seek to carry it out at dinnertime. Though the rest of the members of the family did not join them, they still sought to keep their parent’s request. While doing this they did not assume that they were the family in its entirety, recognizing that they were but a part of the family. Similarly, in these last days, there is a remnant testimony to the truth of the one body. Those identified with that testimony do not assume that they are the one body, but merely seek to meet on that ground. They do not set themselves up to be anything, but simply seek to practice the truth of God in regards to the assembly.
God’s Ways With the Jews in the Tribulation
When we look into the prophetic Scriptures we find that the Lord will deal with the Jews once again on this very same principle. In the Tribulation period, the mass of the nation will enter into a covenant with the Beast, and will accept the idolatry that he and the Antichrist will introduce. As a result, the nation will be thoroughly corrupted (Jn. 5:4343I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43), Matt. 12:43-4543When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43‑45)). When the mass of the Jews plunge themselves into idolatry, the Lord will not openly identify Himself with the nation in their wicked alliance (Isa. 18:44For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. (Isaiah 18:4)). The reason He will deal with the nation in this way is just the same as it was in their earlier history and with the church – it would give a wrong idea to the world of the true character of Jehovah. Instead, He will separate a remnant and give the mass over to the idolatry that they desire (Ps. 106:15). During that whole time God will maintain a remnant testimony amidst the great apostasy. “Many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples” (Isa 8:11-1811For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 12Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. 16Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. (Isaiah 8:11‑18), Isa. 10:21-22, 11:11, Joel 2:32, 3:1-2, Mic. 4:77And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. (Micah 4:7), Zeph. 3:1313The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. (Zephaniah 3:13)).
This is depicted symbolically in Revelation 11:1-21And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (Revelation 11:1‑2), where it speaks of “the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein” being measured. The measuring of these three things signifies God’s presence and the privilege of approaching thereunto by certain ones – the Jewish remnant. Just as in the Mosaic order of things, where only a certain class among the people were allowed access into God’s presence in the temple, so also in a coming day only a remnant will be granted access to God. This does not mean that the remnant will enter the literal temple that the Jews will have in the Great Tribulation. It will be desecrated by the presence of the image of the Beast, and the worship of Jehovah will be forbidden. The remnant, however, will be granted a spiritual access into His presence by prayer wherever they are found in hiding. It is a provisional thing granted to the remnant in that difficult time (1 Ki. 8:37-4037If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 38What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 39Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) 40That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. (1 Kings 8:37‑40)). This is depicted in the second book of the Psalms (Ps. 42-72), where their prayers and exercises in that day are portrayed; when they are not able to enter the temple to pray. But then notice that a fourth thing – “the court,” which signifies the outward profession of the nation (the mass of the Jews), is not measured. “For it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” This means that “the court” – the unbelieving mass of the Jews – will not come under divine care as will the remnant. Instead, they are given over to the control of the Gentiles – the Beast, for 42 months, which is the period of the Great Tribulation. In spite of the appearance of the Lord giving up His professing people, He will deal with a remnant and will bring to pass His purposes for the nation with regard to the Kingdom in it.
The Path for the Faithful in the Day of Ruin
One may well ask, “If God has a remnant testimony today, where all the truth to do with the assembly is practiced, how am I to find it?” Firstly, let us not think that God has left us to find our own way through the confusion. It is a great relief to learn that we are not left to our own resources for this seemingly impossible task. He has made ample provision for us. “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness” (Ps. 112:4). It is imperative that we recognize that however keen our natural intelligence, however great our knowledge of Scripture, however sincere our desires, we cannot, if trusting our own minds, find God’s path amidst the confusion. These things can actually be a hindrance to us if they are not held in communion with the Lord. We must own that we are simply not competent to find our way through the confusion, and then look to Him to guide us.
When we look out at all the divisions in disordered Christendom, it is a formidable challenge indeed to find the path in which God would have our feet. But without hesitation we would direct every exercised soul “to God, and to the Word of His grace” (Acts 20:3232And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)). These are two great resources that we can draw upon – communion with our God and the principles of His Word. If all agree that the guide for the Christian is the Word of God, then we must search the Scriptures in dependence upon Him for light on this subject. “In Thy light shall we see light” (Ps. 36:9). “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way” (Ps. 25:9). “Thy word is a lamp unto My feet, and a light unto My path” (Ps. 119:105).
Second Timothy 2:19-22
Turning to 2 Timothy, we find that Paul laid out the path for the faithful when the great departure would come upon the Christian profession. The exercises, if followed, would lead to a remnant of exercised believers who are seeking (in much felt weakness) to practice all the truth of God in regards to the church. This instruction could not be more appropriate for our day when the ruin in the Christian testimony is full-blown. He said, “Let every one who names the Name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If therefore one shall have purified himself from these, in separating himself from them, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work. But youthful lusts flee, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22)).
It has often been said that this passage is the charter for the believer in a day of ruin and failure. The ruined condition of things in the Christian profession is likened to “a great house.” The house is seen in disorder and characterized by being filled with a mixture of things – some honorable and some dishonorable. The vessels of “gold and silver” might answer to true believers, and the “wooden and earthen” vessels to false professors. They are seen as all mixed together. Since association with evil defiles (1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33), 1 Tim. 5:2222Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. (1 Timothy 5:22), Haggai 2:10-1410In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. 13Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. 14Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. (Haggai 2:10‑14), Deut. 7:1-41When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 2And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: 3Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. (Deuteronomy 7:1‑4), Josh. 23:11-1311Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. 12Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: 13Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. (Joshua 23:11‑13), 1 Ki. 11:1-81But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. 7Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. (1 Kings 11:1‑8), etc.), the vessels of gold and silver are seen as defiled by their association with the wood and earthen vessels. The defilement may emanate from association with either the persons themselves or their erroneous principles and practices – whether doctrinal, moral, or ecclesiastical.
When the apostle refers to the vessels “to honour” and “to dishonour,” it appears that he is indicating the state of the vessels. While all who are mere professors in the house are surely vessels to dishonor, not all true believers may be in honor either. If believers are not going on well with the Lord they could also be classified as vessels to dishonor. Even fewer still are the vessels to honor that are sanctified. We find, therefore, in this passage three classes of vessels:
1. Vessels to honor – those going on well in the mixture.
2. Vessels to dishonor – those going on poorly in the mixture.
3. Sanctified vessels to honor – those going on well who have separated themselves from the mixture.
Purging Ourselves
The exercise is not to merely be a vessel “to honour,” but to be a “sanctified” vessel “to honour.” This involves the purging of oneself from the mixture by separation. These verses clearly teach that it is impossible to be a sanctified vessel when one remains in fellowship with the corruption in the house. The mere association with the evil doctrine and practice is enough to taint us, even if we personally do not hold or practice the evil. Therefore, the great exercise for the believer desiring to be faithful is to “withdraw” himself from the unrighteousness and iniquity in the house by separating from the mixture of things. Thus, he becomes a “sanctified” vessel to honour. It is a separation that is to be practiced in the house of God. The believer is not called to leave the house, for this would require him to abandon the Christian profession altogether, but he is to separate from the disorder there. (Compare Proverbs 25:2424It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. (Proverbs 25:24).) Nor is he called to “purge” the house of all that dishonours the Lord, but rather, to “purge” himself from the mixture in the house.
“From These” and “with Them”
The exercise here is two-fold: first to dissociate, and then to associate. This is indicated in the words, “from these” (vs. 21), and “with them” (vs. 22). The believer is to separate from the vessels that are all mixed together in the house, and follow “with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” This order is consistent throughout Scripture (Isa. 1:16-1716Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:16‑17), Rom. 12:9, 13:12, Ps. 34:14, 3 Jn. 1111Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (3 John 11)). Scholars tell us that, “from these,” is in the genitive plural in the Greek, which means that it is broad in application and could include persons, principles, and things – i.e. the whole mixed state of things in the house – all the vessels in the mixture, good and bad, real and false. It means that the faithful believer is to dissociate himself from all that is contrary to the truth of God; all that denies what the true church is under Christ the Head; and from all that denies the Holy Spirit His true place as Guide. By doing this, the believer becomes a “sanctified” vessel “to honour.”
What this passage is teaching is that the faithful believer must not be satisfied to walk personally upright before God, but that he should also separate himself from any association with the mixed state of things (the corrupt persons, doctrines, and practices) in the house. This means that he will have to separate from some true believers who are unconcerned about their association with the error and confusion. We are called to separate from the disorder in the house; if true believers are content to go on in fellowship with the confusion, we have no choice but to separate from them too. This is a painful thing, and a real test of our willingness to act on the principles of Scripture. Since it is true believers that we are separating from, we should feel it deeply. Because we are brethren, there is a bond of love between the members in the body. Nevertheless, the Lord’s call has precedence over love for brethren. In fact, the proof of our love for our brethren is seen in our obedience to God. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments” (1 Jn. 5:22By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (1 John 5:2)). Notwithstanding, let us be on guard against an attitude of thinking that we are better or more spiritual than those from whom we separate. The right spirit in purging oneself from the mixture of vessels in the house involves self-judgment, not self-righteousness.
When the believer has done this, then the Lord will guide him into fellowship “with them,” where he can practice all the truth of God (such as the truth of the one body)—albeit, this will be in a remnant. Notice also that the exercise of dissociating oneself is pressed upon the believer first. The path of associating “with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” will not be found until we have acted on the light that we have in separating from what we know is wrong and inconsistent with the Scriptures. It is only then that the Lord will give us further light and lead us in the path.
Associating “with them,” would tell us that going off into isolation is not the answer to the ruin in the house of God. Some people throw up their hands in frustration when they see the hopeless ruin of the church and resign themselves to going on just as individuals. But separation should not lead to isolation. Let us ever remember the exhortation of “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is” (Heb. 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)). Notice also, it does not say, “Follow ... them,” for that would be merely following men. It says, “Follow ... with them,” which implies that they are also following themselves, and that we are to join “with them” in following the Lord and the principles of His Word. If a person is truly exercised, we believe that the Lord will direct him in the path. This verse (22) shows that the Lord will provide some others with whom we can walk and practice the truth. It will not be with all the members of the body, but with some in a remnant testimony.
Pursuing Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace
In this path, self-judgment is not to be neglected. Paul adds, “Flee also youthful lusts.” This is not an exhortation to the young only, because old men can have youthful lusts too. In separating from the mixture of vessels we are to “pursue righteousness,” which is seeking to do right in all of our relationships in life. This is important, because if we become careless as to our personal dealings with people, whether it is in business or life in general, we could easily falsify the stand that we have taken by withdrawing from iniquity, and thus, mock the position that we have taken.
Then we must also follow “faith,” which is the inward energy of the soul’s confidence in God. This is much needed in these difficult days in which we can easily become discouraged with how few there are that want to practice the truth. If our faith breaks down and we get overcome with discouragement, we are likely to give up in the path that we have taken.
Then also, we are to follow “love.” This would be “love unto all the saints” (Eph. 1:1515Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, (Ephesians 1:15), Col. 1:44Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, (Colossians 1:4)). While we have had to separate from many of them, we still love them. There is a danger of our love getting narrowed, by focusing on only those with whom we walk in separation. Moreover, our love could even grow cold toward those with whom we walk. Those who choose to walk at a distance from their brethren often grow cold and slip away from the remnant position. It is important, therefore, that we keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 2121Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 21)), and in the warmth of the fellowship of our brethren who “call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
From this position of walking with those that “call on the Lord out of a pure heart,” there is much service to be engaged in. Having disentangled ourselves, we are now “serviceable to the Master” and “prepared for every good work.” This does not mean that those who remain associated with the confusion in the house cannot be used of the Lord in service; the point here is that the servant can now be used for “every good work.” In service to the Master we are to reach out from the fellowship of that remnant testimony and seek to be a blessing to all. One great work is to seek, “in meekness,” to instruct those of our brethren who are still mixed up in the confusion within the house that “opposes” the truth of God. Peradventure, God will open their eyes and “give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” This is something that those who seek to serve the Lord – yet remain in fellowship with the confusion of the house – cannot do, nor would they want to. To seek to disentangle fellow believers from the confusion will require gentleness and patience. We must watch our spirits so that we do not engage in strife, for “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” (2 Tim. 2:23-2423But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (2 Timothy 2:23‑24)).