THE Lord promises His presence in the midst of those thus gathered: “Where two or three are gathered together in (or unto) My name, there am I in the midst of them” (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 the 16th chapter the Lord Jesus asks His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?” The reply shows that He was unknown in spite of His words and deeds. Simon Peter, taught of the Father, confesses Him: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our Lord replies, “I also say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell (hades) shall not prevail against it.”
The Rock is Christ known according to the confession Peter had just made of Him. Jesus Himself is the builder, but the Church was then future, “I will build.” Built in resurrection, the power of hades cannot prevail against it. Hades is the state of separation between the soul and the body, which are reunited in resurrection. The Church is founded on the risen Lord, and will be glorified with Him.
The 18th chapter presents this assembly during the time of the Lord’s absence from this scene, endued with authority from Him, and characterized by His presence in the midst.
As soon as our Lord is risen from the dead, He begins to fulfill His promise to be present in their midst. “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you” (John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)). He was there, in their midst, and His presence was Peace. He occupies them with Himself, with His sufferings for them: “He showed unto them His hands and His side” (vs. 20). Eight days later they are assembled, and again Jesus came and stood in their midst (vs. 26).
Do we know, beloved brethren, what it is to meet the Lord when we are gathered to His name, and to be occupied with the memory of His sufferings, of Himself? (1 Cor. 11:23-2623For 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. (1 Corinthians 11:23‑26)). Nothing should be allowed in our hearts which puts Him on one side, when we are thus gathered in His presence. Judgment of ourselves in His cross, in His death, that His life may be practically the life we live; His love enjoyed unhindered in the soul, that our heart’s affections may be fully set on Him, is that our daily portion? If it be, when gathered in His presence, He Himself will be our object, and we shall show forth His death till He come. What He is to the Father, how He has glorified God, His perfection in lowliness, humiliation, and death, His present glory, what subjects of praise for the child of God!
Every company of believers who meet as such, are they gathered to His name? Is the Lord Jesus Christ present in their midst? Is it sufficient to meet as Christians to have the Lord’s presence?
Let me remark before continuing further that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church, and the presence of the Lord in the midst of those gathered to His name, are two distinct blessings. The presence of the Holy Spirit is continual (“Ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you,” 1 Cor. 3:1616Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16); Ephesians 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)). The presence of the Lord Jesus is conditional on being gathered to His name. His presence is of course spiritual, for He is thus present with every such company, while He is bodily glorified at God’s right hand in heaven.
The name expresses what the Person is. Lord Jesus Christ expresses what He is as Lord, as Christ, and as Jesus, this latter being His personal name. “The Christ, the Son of the living God,” is Peter’s confession of Him, the Rock on which He builds His Church.
The truth concerning His person must be maintained, or there is no gathering to His name—only the false pretension of it. There may indeed be ignorance on the part of many of those truly gathered, for it is not a question of knowledge or attainment, but of the truth confessed and maintained.
Lord Jesus Christ is His full title as risen and glorified Man, He who is the Son of God (Eph. 1:22Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:2); 1 Cor. 1:2, 32Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2‑3), &c.)
Christ—He is the Head of the Body, the Church (Eph. 1:20-2320Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:20‑23); Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18); 1 Cor. 12:2, 272Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. (1 Corinthians 12:2)
27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27)).
Lord—His authority over His own is expressed by this title, “No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Cor. 12:3, 53Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:5); Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)).
These are but a few examples to show what is involved in His name. Every truth concerning His person, His work, His lordship, His Church, both as the Body and the House of God, must be maintained in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in dependence upon God.
The truth of the oneness of the Church, His Body, when realized in the soul before God, should keep us from that practical independence which is one of the many forms of unbelief.
His presence in the midst of His gathered saints is the authority to which we are all bound to bow: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” It is not merely a question of submitting one to another in the fear of Christ (Eph. 5:2121Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21)), but of recognizing practically the Lord’s presence in the midst of His gathered saints, and of submitting ourselves to Him who is there.
May we have, beloved brethren, a sense in our conscience and heart of what the Lord’s presence is, in the midst of His gathered saints. We shall then bow to Him, be jealous of His glory, and humbly seek from Him grace wherewith to serve Him, and to maintain what is due to His name.