Lecture 6: The Worship of the Church

Acts 2:46‑47  •  26 min. read  •  grade level: 11
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AND every day, being constantly in the temple with one accord, and breaking bread in [the] house, they received their food with gladness and simplicity of heart," etc. (verse 46).
They persevered in attending the temple, for that was the center of worship in Israel; "and there was by no means a manifest severance of the tie with Judaism, at least with the circumstances of its worship. We know that the cross does make a breach, and an inseparable one, with all that is of the first man; but the power of old habits with the joy that overflowed their souls made them for the moment to be, I may say, better Jews. They continued daily with one accord in the temple. Along with it was joined this new element of breaking bread at home; not from house to house' as if it were a migratory service.”
“Thus these two features were seen to meet together in the Pentecostal Church, the retaining of Jewish religious habits in going up to the temple for prayer, and at the same time the observance of that which was properly Christian, the breaking of bread at home. No wonder the new-found joy overflowed, and they were found eating their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.' There is no reason to confound the breaking of bread with eating their meat. They are two different things. We find the religious life, so to speak, expressed in their going up to the temple and in their breaking bread at home. We find the effect upon their natural life in their eating their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.' There is the same double character.”
It was a transition time in their habits and religious worship: they were still both Jews and Christians. God had called them out of Judaism to Christ and Christianity, but they seemed not fully to have understood it, as He does not formally command them to leave it, but left them to the moral action of the truth and Spirit of God, and the rude teaching of the persecution of the Jews, who very soon began to resent a testimony beyond their measure, and a connection with the God of Israel, such as gathered them out into a separate company. Though God forebore with them in much long-suffering in their transition, still it would be altogether wrong in us to be frequenting the Jewish worship at the synagogue in the morning, as they did the temple-worship, and going to worship as Christians at night. Christian worship should be that which can be in spirit and in truth. What even apostles did in going into Jewish worship in the earliest infancy of the Church would be wrong in us to do, being possessed of clearer light from having now the completed revelation of God. We are not to follow what apostles did if their actions are not in keeping with their writings; for not every act of an apostle, but "every scripture is God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)); and we find that these writings (such as Galatians and Hebrews) teach explicitly that Christianity is the contrast of Judaism, and that the two worships cannot coexist. “We have an altar whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle" (Heb. 13:1010We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (Hebrews 13:10)).
It may be asked, After the Church had been fully set up, and ordered so as to have the Lord's Supper at one place and at one time, for all the Christians in the city or town, would two or three be warranted still to have it at home, or in any private or sectional way? Certainly not; for as it expresses the unity of the body of Christ, it cannot be the Lord's Supper at all, unless it is partaken of on the principle of the unity of the one body being maintained; but if it is to be had in any irregular or more private manner now, such should be publicly intimated in the ordinary Christian assembly, so that all appearance of schism in the body may be avoided.
If we had no other Scripture than this to guide us, we might conclude, without doing violence to the narrative, that the early disciples observed the "breaking of bread" daily at home at the close of their evening meal, and that the Lord's Supper was as free to any two or three believers to have, as was the meal that ordinarily preceded or followed it. But this happened under the "apostles' doctrine," or teaching of "The Twelve," when their highest conception of the Church was that of a Christian family; but when Paul's "revelation of the mystery, Christ and the Church" was taught, Paul's "doctrine" of the "one body" regulated it, as he teaches in 1 Cor. 11:3333Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. (1 Corinthians 11:33), "When ye come together to eat, wait for one another.”
We have been seeing and hearing not a little of "the revival of God's work" in our day; but to enjoy and retain spiritual vitality, freshness, fervor, and power, we require to be kept in living contact with CHRIST HIMSELF, and this can be done only as our minds are freshly nourished by the Holy Ghost with the truths of the Holy Scriptures.
If we study the word with prayer, faith, and dependence, and get the knowledge of Christ in His person, life, death, Headship, and glory, we shall have the elements of vitality and freshness within our reach; but in the Lord's Supper we are brought very solemnly in contact with Christ in His death, and thereby the desires and affections are drawn forth towards Him in a manner and with an intensity of fervor and spiritual enjoyment that will lead to the happy and spontaneous outflow of thanksgiving, adoration, and praise.
If the open-meeting of the Apostolic Church with the Lord's Supper as its center were restored, it would be the true means for conserving a revived Christianity, and deepening the fervor and spirituality of the saints. Young Christians would be mightily helped if they found themselves every Lord's-day in the midst of an assembly of believers, where the one object before them was Christ Himself in His dying love.
In order to give those who are young in the divine life an inkling of the worship-meeting of primitive times, we have drawn the following plain principles from the Word of God, and we believe they are such as they will never need to unlearn, for they are things which are undoubtedly according to the Scriptures
That the coming together of believers every Lord's day, for partaking of the Lord's Supper, and for praising, thanking, and worshipping God, should hold a prominent place in the assembly. The full proper worship of the Church of God is found in Scripture connected with remembering the Lord's death (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); 1 Cor. 11:17-3417Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18For 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. 20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:17‑34); 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)).
That faith in the Lord Jesus forms the only ground for being at the Lord's table; and while all believers should be there, due precaution should be taken to keep back the unconverted and even Christians who are not walking in holiness, as Christians ought (1 Cor. 5.)
That, as the Lord's Supper is a disciples' feast, and not a sacrifice, there is no place for any one acting as priest, either as to offering sacrifice or mediating for others. Christ Himself presided at the institution of the Supper, and there is not a line in Scripture informing us that He has given up that place, or to warrant any one to presume to occupy it. When assembled "to His name" as His saints are now, while in bodily presence He is absent, faith hears His voice saying, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them;" "I am your Master; all ye are brethren." "Let all things be done unto edifying (1 Cor. 14:2626How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26)).
That, as we read of the Pentecostal saints, that they (1) continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and (2) fellowship, and (3) in breaking of bread, and (4) in prayers (Acts 2:4242And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42))—Christians who are not abiding in all there four elements of Christian profession lay themselves open to the charge of not walking in truth, and hence to the action of brotherly admonition; and they should be dealt with lovingly and faithfully, for the glory of Christ and their own good; and none but believers, and believers assembling regularly at the Lord's table, are fit persons to take any part in the worship of God in the assemblies of His saints.
5. That the gathering at the Lord's table is not an assembling of Christians for the sake of one another but for the Lord Jesus, to confess Christ, show forth His death, have their hearts filled with him, and "worship the Father in spirit and in truth." It is to Christ only, and not to Christians, we are gathered, and where He is in the true holiest, and not to any earthly Zion; and our great aim should be to have Christ uppermost in all our hearts, and not to be thinking of ourselves or of one another; far less judging whether this one or that one ought to be present at the table. (That should be done and settled beforehand.)
6. That, although there should be freedom of action for the Holy Ghost using whom He will in doing anything at the Lord's table, yet the table is not a place for confession of sins, supplication for mercies, or for preaching or teaching, but for worship, thanksgiving, adoration, and praise; and all the teaching that would seem proper on such an occasion is that which would unfold simply to the eye of faith the person and work of Christ, the graces and glories, the death and dying love of our adorable Lord Jesus. Man should be hidden, Christ alone appear. We want to be occupied with Him alone at His table, and not with our own edification; and all that would lead on our hearts to praise Him more would be in place; all else, even though precious truth, would generally be found to be an intrusion at the Lord's table. Christ is our exclusive Center of gathering—Christ our one object when at His table. We come together to meet with Him, who says, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The worship of God, presented by a "holy priesthood, who offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)), is the great thing there, though, as a result, nourishment is granted to the saints for growing up into Christ in all things (Eph. 4:11-1411And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:11‑14)).
7. In coming to the Lord's table, and there breaking with others that "one loaf," we manifest our membership in "the body of Christ;" we by no means witness to our own special association (as if the Lord's table were the table of a party with some distinctive name), but to the general truth of the oneness of the body of Christ; and our association in the breaking of bread is the outward expression of this blessed reality. Meeting thus, saints assemble on ground that admits of all believers, gathered to Christ alone, being there; and if they are not, they could not then say that any human barriers had been erected to prevent them.
There is no membership but of Christ, for "we are members of His body" (Eph. 5:3030For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30))— "members of Christ" (1 Cor. 6:1515Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. (1 Corinthians 6:15)); and the Holy Scriptures speak of no other membership, unless it be that which springs out of this—"members one of another" (Eph. 4:2525Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)); and, therefore, there can be no human membership of anything on earth as a term of communion at the Lord's table; but saints assemble simply on the ground of being constituents of a unity already formed, and existing— "the unity of the Spirit" (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3))— and all Christ's members are free to come together for the breaking of bread; only they must satisfy the assembly that they are Christ's; for although grace gathers us to Christ, holiness must be preserved; for the Church is the "habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)); and to admit of evil were a denial of Christ in His person, and of the whole work accomplished in His death, as well as of the presence of the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus is the "Holy One," and "let him that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless 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. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
The present object of Christ's death is not fully attained unless we COME TOGETHER “on the first day of the week to break bread "(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)), for He 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)). Coming together for breaking of bread, worship, and mutual edification, is mentioned seven times in 1 Cor. 11:17, 18, 20, 33, 34; 14:23, 2617Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. (1 Corinthians 11:17‑18)
20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. (1 Corinthians 11:20)
33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:33‑34)
23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? (1 Corinthians 14:23)
26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Reading the Bible at home, or hearing a lecture or sermon, as a substitute for the worship of the Church, is unscriptural. "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves 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)).
“The revival of God's work" is carried forward to its proper goal only when it leads us to worship him in accordance with His own principles (as we have indicated them in the foregoing propositions); for His provisions of grace are surely not intended to terminate with the blessing of the creature, but to lead to the glory of the Creator and the exaltation of the all-glorious name of our Saviour-God. The great awakening at Pentecost resulted in an incorporative unity, for "di that believed were together," "and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2: 42-44); and an awakening that is really of the Lord, and that will continue, will always lead, if not interfered with, to a similar issue.
In the apostles' time the young converts were not sent back either to the heathen temples or the Jewish synagogues, to be exposed to the idolatrous teaching and influence of the priests of heathenism, or to the Judaizing teaching and influence of the Scribes and Rabbis of Judaism; but, as divinely called-out saints, they were diligently gathered together in an assembly by themselves as soon as they were converted; and —being all live coals—when collected into one, they made a bright warm fire, which gave spiritual light and heat to one another, and to the world around them; and from this holy divine society of the one "Church of the living God," as their center and home, they went out, in the power of the Holy Ghost, to spread the knowledge of the saving name of Jesus; and they were marvelously blessed in the conversion of souls.
The great open-meeting of all believers for true and Spirit-led worship, mutual edification, and the observance of the Lord's Supper, having fallen into desuetude throughout Christendom, we plead for its restoration in the name of our dishonored Lord, and on behalf of His much-injured saints. Meetings for evangelists to preach the gospel to the world, and meetings for true and Spirit-taught ministers to teach the saints are right; but it is wrong to omit the great scriptural meeting of apostolic times, the assembling of the Church as such, "on, the first day of the week," for the breaking of bread and the worship of God.
We are happy to find an attempt being made at present towards having an open-meeting among believers on all other days save the Lord's day: but it seems strange to stop it on that day, seeing that the great open-meeting of Christianity, according to Scripture, is the assembling of the saints "ON THE FIRST DAY of the week" for the breaking of bread and the worship of God; and no human substitute for it will nourish and perpetuate the spiritual vitality of the children of God. Let all believers, renouncing sectarian practices and human expediency, and acting in the spirit of "love to all saints," and on the ground of the divine principle of being "members of Christ," "come together" for worship on the divine footing of being of the "one body" of Christ, and they will verify His promise— "there am I in the midst of them.”
Our meaning will be made plain if you bring our modem churches face to face with the First Epistle to the Corinthians, for they will there see an assembling of the saints in the unity and freedom of the communion of the Holy Ghost, which finds no counterpart within their limits.1
The Word says,—"Let all things be done decently and in order." It would not be decent, nor in order, for the head of a house to be subject to the rules of the children. If you ask—Where then am I to worship? Where Christ's presence is—that is, where' there is a people gathered to His name (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 there is "the absence of all fixed order;" where there is "no superintendence of any individual or class of persons regulating the services in the church assemblies;" and where the worship "goes on spontaneously," or rather, under the sovereign control of the present Spirit. If you worship on other principles, and according to a system ordered by man, and where the services are regulated and conducted by a special class of men—priests, clergymen, or ministers—it is not worship after the pattern found in the New Testament; and it is a shame for any saved soul to go on with that which was not "from the beginning," and which is not "according to the Scriptures," and cannot be countenanced by Christ's presence; being, as it is, a dishonor to His holy name.)
The testimony in our day is sadly out of proportion to the blessing. Many souls have been converted; but how few are gathered to the name of Jesus outside of everything that He does not own or allow! Every saved soul should be there in proof of his love and faithfulness to Christ. It is not Christian like to take His benefits and not think of His glory. "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the vine?" (Luke 17: 17.) “These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David ... Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can gut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Rev. 3:7, 87And 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. (Revelation 3:7‑8)).
Christ is the center of worship in heaven!
Christ the rejected One here amongst men:
None other Name of salvation is given;
Sound it, believers, again and again!
Christ is the Sacrifice! Christ is the Altar
Christ is the mercy-seat sprinkled with blood!
Come, ye desponding ones, fear not nor falter,
Christ is our Peace in the presence of God.
Christ is the Victim divinely appointed,
Spotless, accepted, attested by fire;
Christ our Melchisedec, robed and anointed,
Royal and priestly His seamless attire.
One only Sacrifice, one only Altar,
One only mercy-seat God doth allow;
Dream not, O man His decretal to alter,
Sealed with the blood of the Holiest now!
One only Offering God hath appointed—
Stretching His hand, He withheld not the knife!
One only Priest He hath crown'd and anointed,
Jesus! the Way, and the Truth, and the Life!
Jesus! the center of worship in heaven.!
Jesus! despised and rejected of men!
None other Name of salvation is given—
Worthy is Jesus, the Lamb that was slain!
"Gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God," describe the spirit in which they lived in their family and social intercourse. The people who had been in the depths of mourning because of their sins, were on the mountain-top of exultation, and not a sinister thought passed through their minds, which were full of joyful exultation, simpleness, and praise to God. Their hearts were full of Christ, and the Spirit who gave and maintained the feeling of oneness, so shed abroad the love of God in their hearts that they were dwelling in God and God in them, and brimful of living praise. This describes the spirit and life of young believers as we now see them. They are full of the spiritual exuberance of a new-found joy; there is transparent simplicity in their social intercourse, and they are in their normal state of happiness when they are "praising God." Their whole life is a life of praise to God and love to "all saints;" and were evil thoughts contrary to "the simplicity that is in Christ" not imparted, they would love "all the holy brethren," and be "praising God" with ah believers in one Spirit-filled, love-pervaded assembly. Woe be to that man who teaches sectarianism, and thereby sows discord among brethren!
"And having favor with all the people." This is generally the effect first produced by any prodigy of goodness. It was so with the Lord (Luke 2:5252And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)); and this great outpouring of the Spirit and conversion of souls. We have seen it repeated in our day in the work of God: but how soon all is changed, and it ends in persecution, imprisonment, and murder!
DAILY ADDING TOGETHER.—” And the Lord added to [the Church,] daily those that were to be saved" (verse 47).
I put the words "the Church," which literally means "the assembly," within brackets, because they tell us that "correct criticism, as well as external evidence, requires that the words should be rejected as an explanatory gloss;" and "the words translated ‘together’ in next verse, brought back to their place, and the meaning which it bears in this passage (see verse 44)—viz. together, in the sense of making up one sum, one body assembled in one place." Probably we should read, "The Lord added together daily such as should be saved.”
The sense is substantially the same as assembly; and hence, in Acts 4:2323And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. (Acts 4:23), it is said of Peter and John they went to their own company. There was now a new association to which they belonged, distinct from the old congregation of Israel; and this beyond a question is formally called the Church, in chap. 5:11, not as if it were then, called into being, but most evidently as subsisting and known. It is clear then, that, independently of the phrase in chap. 2:47, "the assembly," in a New Testament sense, did in fact begin at Pentecost, as is confessed even by Pearson, Whitby, and others. The great fact stated is, "the Lord added together" in one Church such as should be saved; and whatever stones the Lord builds into the spiritual house shall never be taken out: all His building stands: much that man builds is wood, hay, and stubble. The place into which the Lord puts saved ones now is the Church. "Such as should be saved" are the remnant in Israel that God was sparing. It is a class of persons of whom the Seventy speak as the remnant the prophets describe. This very word was used. It was this class of persons whom God was saving: they were saved without doubt as to their souls, but it is not a state but a well-known class. Compare Luke 13: 23: "Are the SODSOMENOI (that class), few?" The Jews discussed this point much, but Christ took them from the mental to the moral question—Will you?
The Lord added to them, to the Church, daily those who were to be saved from the judgments that should fall on the nation which had rejected the Son of God, their Messiah, and, thank God! from yet deeper ruin. God brought them into the Church—thus owned of Him by the promise of the Holy Ghost— those whom He spared in Israel. A new order of things had commenced, marked by the presence of the Holy Ghost. Here was found the presence and the house of God, although the old order of things still existed until the execution of judgment on it. "The Church was formed therefore by the power of the Holy Ghost, come clown from heaven, on the testimony that Jesus, who had been rejected, was raised up to heaven, being made of God both Lord and Christ. It was composed of the Jewish remnant who were to be spared (the Sodsomenoi), with the reserve of bringing in Gentiles whenever God should call them.”
Coincident with the Holy Ghost's presence we have the Church; and this agrees with 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13), where it is said that "by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body;" that is to say, the formation of the body depends upon the baptism of the Spirit.2 Acts 1. shows that the baptism of the Spirit had not taken place; Acts 2. shows that it had; and immediately the fact is apparent that the Church was there as a thing actually found upon the earth, to which "such as should be saved" were being added by the Lord—that is, the Lord now had a house upon the earth. The stones were there before, living stones: but they were separate; there was no building of God in this sense here below. The Lord now acts upon his own words, "Upon this rock I will build my Church." He brings the living stones together; He builds them into one and the same house, the house of God, and this not by faith merely, but by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, as this chapter shows.