The Assembly
Table of Contents
The Assembly: Part 6, The Gathered Remnant
What love we see in our Lord to those who are His members. It is not only that. the gates of hades shall not prevail against it, but also that all the journey through, there are the promises of His grace for it, in whatever way His members need it, as we have seen in 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. His Word and Spirit are with us (1 Cor. 2:12), and prayer, "praying always" is the proper attitude of our souls. We have Him who loves us, and gave Himself for us; and as our Advocate, if any man sin (1 John 2:1) to restore our souls to happy communion with the Father.
This is what He desires for every true child, not only to be assured that we are children, but to be in happy communion with God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Then, if it is sustaining grace we need, we have Him as our Great High Priest, ever living to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25). And He does sustain, and has said, "Because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19.)
We have the throne of grace where He takes charge of our pleadings, and therefore can assure us that it is ours to approach boldly to the throne of grace, where we receive mercy, and find grace for needed help. Nor are we told how long it may be before we realize our blessed hope.
The assembly has no foundations on earth. Our instructions given at the beginning, continue all the way through. The two-pence given to the host for the man in the inn, will not be all used up when our Lord comes for us. (Luke 10:35).
The sufficiency of Christ is infinite: His love passes knowledge; His riches are unsearchable; His peace given to us passes all understanding, and well may we rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory in anticipation of what will soon be ours in full fruition. All the way along, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest," and is as true for us as for Moses, to whom they were first spoken (Exo. 33:14), though in a higher and more blessed way. Well may we say again, "The gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Rom. 11:29.)
What shall we say about our worshiping place, and character?
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." (Heb. 10:19, 20.) There we enter Within the holiest of all, Cleansed by His precious blood, Before the throne we prostrate fall, And worship Thee, O God!
Boldly the heart and voice we raise, His blood, His name, our plea; Assured our prayers and songs of praise Ascend, by Christ, to Thee.
Because He is there, we go in with holy boldness. Yes, even if we have come to the smallest number-two, He has said, "There am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20.) As in John 20:19, where "the door was shut for fear of the Jews," so now, retired from the Christ-rejecting world, we find a place with Him outside the camp, and inside the veil, where our souls can enjoy a taste of heavenly atmosphere, and, by Him, offer the sacrifice of praise-the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
There are many things we have seen in the profession of Christendom that we need to deplore, and confess how we, as part of this profession, have not responded to the privileges given us by the Lord. We must remember that while seeking to walk in a separate path outside of man's religion, we are still in this great house, and there Christians will be till the Lord comes for all His own. Let us ever remember, and seek grace to walk in the path pleasing to the Lord, and this we may do, though we never can put the assembly, as a whole, right.
In the Epistle of Jude, where the apostasy of the assembly is predicted, the Spirit now addressed only the beloved ones. In verse 11, "Woe unto them," and "The Way of Cain," "The Error of Balaam," and "The gainsaying of Core" are seen developing. There Enoch is alluded to as prophesying of the Lord's coming in judgment upon them, but picturing for us those who walk with God, and who, while waiting to be caught up themselves, tell of coming judgment soon to fall on the religious world. Verses 17-19 warn them of those who, call themselves teachers, yet are only natural men, have not the Spirit, and walk after their own ungodly lusts. Then the beloved are exhorted to build up themselves on their most holy faith; to pray in the Holy Ghost; to keep themselves in the love of God, and to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. All this is useful and necessary instruction for us, for these days have come now, and everything should show us that the coming of our Lord draws nigh; when the great separation will take place; when they that are ready will go in with the Bridegroom to the marriage, and the door will be shut; shutting out those who, though professing to serve the Lord, were not born again, and had no oil in their lamps; and shutting in the true believers to be forever with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:15-18).
How blessed that will be! Jude 24 tells us, the Lord will present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Satisfied to have them all with Him at last, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. (Eph. 5:27.)
The Lord has shown us how to get on with each other, notwithstanding our varied dispositions. We need to remember that the flesh is in us all, and if allowed to work, it brings trouble upon us. Thank God, He has given us a life whose nature is to love each other, and to be humble and lowly in our spirit, as the Word says, "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, bearing with each other in love." (Eph. 4:2.)
He would ever turn our eyes to Christ our Lord, and to have Him as our pattern, to love one another, "as I have loved you." Satan seeks to divert us from this, and gets us to look at each other through his eyes, and magnifies others faults to us, and to hide our own faults from ourselves.
When we pack glass together of various shapes, we need lots of packing; and we are like that, we need lots of forbearing love to pack between us to keep from jostling and hurting each other. Love active in us will do this, and teach us to carry out this gracious dealing with each other, and endeavor to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:3.) This is the only way for us to be able to walk together now.
Thank God, when the Lord comes, we shall get rid of the flesh, and all that grieves, and what a glorious day we shall see when the myriads of saints will surround the Lord-not one absentee. All present with and like the Lord, and with one heart and one voice to praise our blessed Redeemer.
"Not one will seem a stranger,
Though never seen before.”
How simple all this is in Scripture, no organizing, no unions, no membership, but just to recognize what 'grace has done for us. Grace has made us' children of God the Father; grace has made us members of the body of Christ; grace has made us temples of the Holy Ghost. "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body;" the joining is all done. We now want to walk consistent with this vocation.
May the Lord enable our hearts to lay hold more firmly on what His grace has given us.
The Assembly: Part 8, Matthew 18:20
MAT 18:20We will now look at the supper as seen in I Cor. 11:20-34. It was a distressing state into which the assembly at Corinth had fallen. Sects had begun among them, and those who did not join in this, marked the difference (Verse 19). Their behavior was such that it took away the true character of the Lord's supper. They did not all take it at one time. Some had a feast of their own as well, so that one was hungry, and another was drunken. It was as if they despised the assembly of God. The apostle could not praise them for such behavior, though he had praised them for heeding other instructions he had given to them (Verse 2). All this was allowed to happen that they might have the truth, and the Lord 's supper might be set in its true place before us.
Verse 23. Paul gives it to us as a message he had received from the Lord in glory, and now delivers it to them. He was not present when it was instituted, nor did he get it from any who were there. In getting it direct from heaven, it gives it to us in such a way that it claims our heart's attention, and gives us to see its importance in the Lord's mind for us. The Lord tells him of that night of His betrayal, and with all that sorrow before Him, how He thought of our need of having brought before us the story of His sufferings and death. It was communion of the gathered saints in Chapter 10. Here it is individual remembrance, meant to touch the heart, and bring before it the love of Christ who gave Himself for us.
So the bread comes first. The Lord took bread (a whole loaf in Chapter 10), and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, "This is My body which is for you: this do in remembrance of Me." In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood: this do, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of Me." Chapter 11:24, 25. N. T.
How all this is meant to, claim our hearts' affections, and to make the Lord's supper a means of drawing our hearts out to Him afresh; and His word, "This do in remembrance of Me," linking our hearts with His, we think of His wondrous love that gave Himself for us. We think of how He glorified God in His death. We think of what was needed to put away our sins, and to meet the claims of God. It is a remembrance of Him, not as He is now alive in glory; we know Him there: and we have His presence now in our midst here. It is what He did on the cross, and how He was forsaken of God,' and that His precious blood was shed,-the witness that atonement was accomplished. So if the truth in 10:16, 17, tells of our fitness to be at the Table, Chapter 11 speaks of what we enjoy in the supper, and He also receives our worship and adoring thanksgiving. Then the apostle adds, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye show the Lord's death, till He come." "Till He come!" Does not that speak to us of how important it is to Him that we should be constant in our remembrance of Him? Should we make a religious ceremony of what is so affecting? No, it is His dying request, and it speaks of how much or how little our hearts are taken up with Himself, and whether we go to meet Him there.
Verse 27. The apostle warns them of the danger of not connecting the eating and drinking of these symbols with thoughts Of His death, This is eating and drinking in an unworthy manner. We are worthy, because we are believers. There is no thought of unconverted ones partaking of the Lord's supper in this chapter, but of believers getting cold and careless, and not esteeming the privilege of being in His presence, and getting into formality. This is what is before the mind of the Spirit here, and thus, partaking of it, they would be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Notice again in Chapter 10, it was the blood of Christ, and the body of Christ. Here it is the body and blood of the Lord.
Verse 28 is important. "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat." It does not say, "So let him stay away." No, the Lord gives us no excuse to stay away, but ever encourages us to come into His presence.
Verses 29, 30, tell of God's discipline upon saints who had so misbehaved, "Damnation" should read "judgment," but it is only in this life, for these are believers, and it is stated in Verse 38 that they are chastened of the Lord that they should not be condemned with the' world. The world will be condemned forever; the believer is chastened now in this scene,some are sick, even to death of the body. If we would judge ourselves, the Lord would not need to do it.
Verses 33, 34, now give instructions that since the apostle wrote, there is to be a time most convenient for all to meet together, and all are to observe the supper together. They are not to connect it with any other meeting, lest its importance and solemnity should be interfered with. This is the most important meeting of all, for the two or three gathered to the Name of the Lord. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is. We are to show the Lord's death till He come. There are other meetings shown us in Scripture; meetings for prayer; meetings to read the Word; meetings for ministry. All are needed in their place, and the Lord is with us in them all; but the Lord's supper, to remember Him, is of the greatest importance for His glory and our blessing.
The Word of God guides us, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, how to wait on the Lord, and is as sufficient for the meetings, as for the man of God. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17.) The guidance given to the assembly at its beginning, is still available for the behavior of the remnant, the poor little two or three who are left gathered to His Name, and surely that is where all the members of the body of Christ should be found. Indeed, the Lord has not two or more different paths for His believers to walk in. The Name of the Lord Jesus is our gathering point for earth, as well as when we are in heaven. There all will be gathered round Himself, and with one heart and one voice, shall praise the Lamb, and sing, "Thou art worthy.”
The blessed Lord can, by His Spirit, give us a little foretaste of that now. We find in Heb. 10:19, these words, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He bath consecrated for us (all the redeemed), through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." And there, "By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name," (Heb. 13:15.)
This is our heavenly altar, where the redeemed can worship the Father in spirit and in truth now. What a loss men's arrangements -and forms have been and are to God, depriving Him of the worship of His saints, and depriving His saints of their privilege of so worshipping. "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Soon our longings may be realized and then as never here, the one song shall fill each heart.
"Praise the Lamb!" the chorus waking,
All in heaven together throng;
Loud and far each tongue partaking
Rolls around the endless song.
Grateful incense this, ascending
Ever to the Father's throne;
Every knee to Jesus bending,
All the mind in heaven is one.
(Continued from page 298)
The Assembly: Part 7, Revelation 2-3
In these chapters the Lord Jesus as Son of Man is giving us a prophetic picture of the state of the assembly from the time John wrote, till the Lord judges it. It is not the writer's purpose to give an exposition of these chapters, but only an outline, to point, out the downward course that the assembly pursued. There were actually these seven assemblies existing at the beginning, but these have all passed away. The Word of God remains for the benefit of believers until the last. "The Word of the Lord endureth forever." There is no part of it but may be of use to us now, as the Holy Spirit sees that our souls need the lessons contained in it.
It is not the aspect of the body of Christ in which the assembly is looked at here, but in its responsible character as a light for Him in this dark world. And we know that before His judgment falls upon the corrupt assembly, all the members of the body of Christ will be taken out of it, and home to glory. There is no condemnation for His own. He cannot spue them out of His mouth, as He will the professing assembly that is left behind. Their blessed hope is to be with Himself who loved them and gave Himself for them.
In this historic picture, we see declension begun in Ephesus. The Judge recognizes all the good His unerring eye sees in them. To every one else it was a beautiful assembly, but He had against them that they had left their first love; their bridal affection had waned. He was no longer the loved object of their hearts; they are a fallen assembly. No outward display of zeal for Christ could make up for their heart's affections, and the assembly is warned to judge this evil, or their candlestick must be removed. In each one of these seven assemblies we, find overcomers spoken of.
In Smyrna there is no fault found. It is their sufferings that He speaks of. I know thy tribulation and thy poverty. It was the time of persecution for Christ, so we find some brightness. There was a legal company, the synagogue of Satan, saying they were Jews, who railed at them, but the Lord encourages them to go on suffering for Him. It was only suffering for time; the second death could never touch them. This was the time of the ten periods of pagan persecution, but it was limited. His eye watched over them. It was allowed for their good, and for His glory.
In the third, Pergamos, we have the assembly sunk into the world. "I know where thou dwellest, where the seat, or throne, of Satan, is." The wiles of the serpent accomplished what the roar of the lion could not do. The persecution died away, and the friendliness of the world ruined their spirituality. Evils came in, and were taught as doctrine. The doctrine of Balaam taught them spiritual fornication; and the deeds of Nicolaitanes, which God hates, sets up a clergy that claims and gets from man a more spiritual place than the laity, or people, and robs God of the worship of His own, putting them practically at a,distance from Him. This has, in Pergamos, become doctrine, as if it was truth, but God hates it. The Judge threatens them with the sword, and promises the overcomer a special mark of His appreciation in the glory. The way the Lord presents Himself to all these assemblies is important to notice, and helps us to read the character of each assembly.
This is seen in Thyatira, where, as Son of God, His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass, He speaks forth judgment on the fallen assembly, while acknowledging what good may still be there. But it is Jezebel here, and her abominations are practiced, and there is nothing for her and her children but judgment and death. It is works and more works, and ignorance of the finished work of Christ, who, in the end, will give to every one according to his works. Now we find a remnant marked out for the first time as different from the whole. (2:24.) "But unto you I say, the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine"-these are found holding fast till the Lord comes. These are not like the many, seeking dominion in this world, but are promised it when Christ reigns, and they will have the Morning Star. So we see the state pictured in Thyatira runs on to the end. Notice the words, "He that hath, an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies." Now follows the promise to the overcomer, which indicates that the body of profession is not addressed here. This leads us to think of the darkness of the assembly before the reformation began. It marked that period, and while other things have come in, this state continues, though in a more hidden manner in most places.
In Sardis, we might notice what follows the reformation period. The reformation itself was truly an important movement of the Spirit of God, and was a testimony against some of the evils of popery. God used it for the deliverance of many. But what is seen in Sardis is an attempt to set up the assembly afresh, but this could not be it resulted in what the Lord says about it, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." In this we get Protestantism, which, while there are in it many dear children of God, yet it stops short of the truth, and so becomes formal religion. At first, in the reformation, "justification by faith" was held and taught, but as it is said, "I have not found thy works perfect before God." "Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain." This has not been done, so He says, "I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come upon thee." That really means that He will treat them as the world (compare 1 Thesis. 5:2, 3), but those that are His own people, their names cannot be blotted out of the book 'of life. He will confess their names before His father, and before His angels.
In what is said to the assembly at Philadelphia, 'we have the revival of truth that was given nearly 100 years ago, which brings before our souls the blessed person, and work, and coming, of our Lord Jesus as Head of His body and His bride, the mystery of Christ and the assembly, that for such a long period had been lost sight of. (Rom. 16:25, 26; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 3:4-6; Col. 1:26, 27.) He presents Himself as He that is holy, He that is true, He has the Key of David. All the treasures, and all the power are under His control, and He promises an opened door to them. Here, too, we get the legal opposition distinctly marked as the synagogue of Satan, but they have the promise of His coming. The promised reward shows that they were weak and despised here, but they were associated with His despised name, and will be associated with it when it will not be despised. The name "My God" repeated four times, showing their state, is stamped with God's appreciation, as well as Christ's new Name. This is the last revival that we see recorded by the word for the assembly. May we seek to be in separation to the Lord, who is holy and true, and holiness and truth become each one that names His Name. May we all take this into our souls, that we might hear Him say, "Thou hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.” We may not be able to say it of ourselves. We need to wait, and watch, and walk, in His ways till He comes, if we are to be counted an overcomer.
Laodicea, the last of the seven, is a very sad state, The Lord speaks here as "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." He makes all God's glory good. He is alone as the faithful and true witness. As the beginning of God's new creation, He has gone through death, and in resurrection, surrounds Himself with His brethren. All must be real. Then He tells this assembly that they are neither cold nor hot. They are nauseous to Him, for they have no heart for Him. Their riches are not His riches, and what they boast of is nothing to Him. They do not know that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. He counsels them to buy of Him gold purified by fire; white garments to clothe them, that the shame of their nakedness do not appear. He wants to give them eye salve to anoint their blind eyes, to make them see. What a sad picture of what calls itself the assembly of Christ, hut among those in this sad state, there are those whom He loves. He rebukes and disciplines them. Do we, beloved brethren, hear His voice? "Behold, I stand at the door, and am knocking." Have you another object to live for but Christ? Does this lukewarm condition have its effect on you, though you are one of His loved ones?
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from among the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee." He says, "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". Precious promise!
The end is near. No new state of the assembly is now to be looked for. The apostasy is now begun. What we need is to be on our faces before God. The assembly's failure is my failure. If I seek to keep His word, and not deny His name, I will be humbled to the dust about myself, and the whole assembly of God.
May we use our few remaining days or hours, as the case may be, till the Lord comes, in true devotedness to Christ, obeying: His word and confessing His name.
It is evident to the spiritual mind, that, with the exception of the Lord's coming, this prophecy has become history. The last four states are collateral now. The last grows increasingly prominent. Knowledge is increased, but so has, indifference increased. Toleration is the cry of the day. The person of Christ as the Son of the Virgin, and as the blessed God, His atoning Work, the integrity of the Word of God, the judgment of the wicked, are laughed at by many who are called men of character. The wet blanket of indifference is thrown over the profession of Christianity. Those who seek faithfulness to Christ at all costs need to suffer reproach-the reproach of Christ.
The Assembly: The Dwelling Place of God - Ephesians 2:21-22
EPH 2:21EPH 2:22It was at Pentecost that both the "Body of Christ" and the "House of God" began. The one hundred and twenty disciples were, by one Spirit, baptized into one body, and thus united to Christ, the Head, on high. At the same moment they became the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit taking up His abode in them. He is here now dwelling in each individual believer, and in the assembly as a whole, and will be till the Lord comes and gathers up all His saints to be with Him in glory. Precious privilege! Would that all God's people knew and enjoyed it.
It was the testimony of those already saved and sealed by the Spirit that now reaches others, and the giving of the Holy Spirit to all who believe, adds them to the body already formed.
To the disciples is committed their reception into the house of God, baptism being the rite used to indicate their reception into the assembly on earth. Men are the builders. This is seen in 1 Cor. 3:10. "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
The foundation is one, there is no other. It is Jesus Christ, yet on this foundation may be built a mixture of materials, which will not stand the test of fire that is to try it. Here men are the builders (verse 12), and it is a fact that cannot be denied, that whatever in Scripture was committed into man's hands was soon corrupted. So it has been in the assembly also. There is no fear that God will fail to carry out His purpose to give His Son a body and a bride to share His place in glory, but we have to own the ruin man has brought into the assembly on earth.
In Acts 8, Simon, the sorcerer, was brought in, yet Peter and John declare-that he is still a slave to sin.
In Acts 20:29, 30, Paul warns the elders of what is sure to come: there were grievous wolves to enter in among them, not sparing the flock, and these were surely not children of God., In ver. 30, "of your own selves," and here we find they were children of God, but not walking according to the truth that there is one body, for they speak perverse things to gather disciples around themselves. They do not walk in the unity of the Spirit, else they would gather the disciples around the Lord as members of His body.
In 1 Cor. 3:14, 15, 17, there are three samples of builders. One is building in accord with the great Architect's plan, and he is rewarded. One is a saved man, but his building is not approved. One is a wicked man, he and his work are destroyed, yet it is all under the name of Christ. The wicked man is responsible for his work, and what is done is recognized by God, though not approved of. The unsaved that have the name of Christ upon them (Gal 3:27) will not be judged as Jews or Gentiles, but as the professing assembly of God. (1 Cor. 10:32.) Israel brought out of Egypt forms an illustration of the professing assembly. (1 Cor. 10:1-12.) False apostles, are seen in 2 Cor. 11:13-15. Some made the apostle weep in Phil. 3:18, 19.
In 1 Tim. 3:15, there are instructions about how to set things right in the assembly, and chapter 4:1-3, also tells what is coming. In 2 Tim. the ruined state has come, and is growing worse. (3:13.)
With all this manifestation of departure from the truth, we must see for our comfort and blessing that God's purposes and counsels cannot change. Ephesians gives us their unfoldings, and we look on to see the assembly in glory as the body and bride of Christ, and as the dwelling place of God.
“Unto Him be glory in the Assembly by Christ Jesus, world without end, Amen." Eph. 3:21.
One can see how the broken and scattered state of the assembly hinders the blessing of God's people, but the Holy Spirit has not departed. He is here to bless and to guide and to help all the Lord's people who look to the Lord for it, that they might be taught of Him.
The Lord in His Word views all believers as members of His body, united to Himself, the glorified Man, their living Head in heaven. The Holy Spirit has united them to Him and to each other. From Pentecost till the Lord comes (1 Thess. 4), it is ever true, that here on earth, there is one body. (Eph. 4:4.) Faith will take up what God says to walk according to it, looking on all believers as members of that one body. They believe the gospel of their salvation, they were sealed with the Spirit, and thus added to it. It is now their privilege to walk in the unity which the Spirit has formed, and to gather together unto the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, where His presence can be enjoyed, even if only two or three. (Matt. 18:20.) To encourage us, the Lord has given us the smallest possible number to form an assembly. 1 Cor. 10:16, 17, tells us it is the basis of our central act of worship, redeemed by the blood, and united by the Spirit. The cup is the communion of the blood of Christ, and the one bread (loaf) is the communion of the body of Christ.
It is the provision the Lord made; obedience to it sets aside all divisions and gives us the divine ground of gathering. The Holy Spirit will not gather the members, except to Christ. He is the only center that God can own. This is the original ground as given in the Word of God. Efforts of men to make a union that will embrace all Christians, are futile; the only way is to own the union that God has made. He could say to some, "Thou hast kept My Word, and has not denied My Name.”
The assembly is the pearl of great price for which the Merchantman sold all He had and bought it. (Matt. 13:45, 46.) Christ also loved the 'assembly and gave Himself for it. (Eph. 5:25-27.) There we find His love for it so great that it led Him to die. "That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word." There is His present service toward it, gathering out and fitting it for Himself, that He might present it to Himself a glorious assembly, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Will it not please our Lord, therefore, if we are found in the current of His thoughts, counting dear to us what is dear to Him?
In Eph. 4:8-16, we find that same love making provision by giving gifts unto men, and that is ministry. It comes from Christ in glory, as the Head, caring for the members, and leading them to care for each other. It is given "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till 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 fullness of Christ." Verses 15, 16 describe the healthy action of the members holding the Head.
As the dwelling place of God the Spirit on the earth, we are "builded together," "and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (of the New Testament) Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." This looks on to the blessed result in glory. Fitly framed together shows the divine workmanship. "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Here the household of God is builded together as His dwelling place, and looked at in its normal condition, taking no account of the scattered condition, and our faith is to take it in as our privilege now, that He dwells with us, as well as in us (John 14:17), going on with His faithful service to all true believers wherever they will give heed to His ways and teachings of the Scriptures. Since the Holy Spirit has come, it should be easily understood that we cannot pray for Him to come, He, dwelling in us, helps us in prayer. If we grieve or quench the Spirit, He does not leave us, but we deprive ourselves of the comfort of His services. To grieve the Holy Spirit is in our walk and ways generally. To quench the Spirit is more in the assembly, or with each other, as it is followed by "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:19-21.) Both hearer and speaker are exhorted in this way.
1 Tim. 3:15, Paul wrote, "but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." We cannot get the assembly together now as it once was when this was written to Timothy, but the same truth applies to the two or three that are gathered to His name, not claiming that they are the assembly of God, but caring to see that the Lord's honor is cared for, both in the doctrines they hold, and in their walk. Holiness becomes God's house forever. Evil persistently allowed destroys the claim of any to be on the ground of God's assembly.
Where the will is subdued, and the ear is open to hear of Christ, and to keep His Word, the Holy Spirit delights to minister to such, whatever part of the great profession of Christianity they may be in, still God carries on His work.
The Church or Assembly: Part 1, Matthew 16:18
MAT 16:18The only time this word, in the Greek, is used for a building made with hands, is in Acts 19:37. It should be idol temples. At that time there were no buildings called churches. In verses 32, 39, 41 of same chapter the word "assembly," is rightly translated. The assembly here was the heathen mob, opposing the truth. In Acts 7:38 it is the assembly of Israel going through the wilderness. In all the rest of the places in Scripture, it is used for the assembly formed by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We will, therefore, use the word assembly in this paper.
Matthew 16:18 is the first mention of the assembly in Scripture. The Lord has been rejected by Israel, and He has rejected them, but He is also thinking of God's purposes, which are unfolded to us in the Epistle to the Ephesians, and of which He had spoken in Matt. 13, as the pearl of great price. It is not Israel as a nation that is now before Him, but those gathered out from Jew and Gentile, brought by redemption, into a new place and relationship. He is not speaking of Himself, as Messiah, but as Son of Man, the rejected Son of Man, and He asks His disciples, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" And again, "Whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church (assembly); and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
It was not any suggestion of the mind, or discernment of Peter's own, that led him to say, "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God," but it was a revelation from the Father in heaven. Flesh and blood had no part in it. Thou art Peter (a stone), and upon this Rock (Christ, the Son of the living God), Peter and all true believers (living stones), would be built as His assembly.
“I will build," tells of the Lord's intention to do this when the proper moment came. He had to suffer and die to glorify God about sin, and it was when He was risen and glorified that the Holy Spirit would come (John 7:39), and not till then would this word be fulfilled, "I will build My assembly." There can be no mistakes here. It is a divine Builder, a heavenly Architect; He knows each stone, each has eternal life; each partakes of His new risen life as Head of the new creation. In John 20:22, He breathed on them, and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit." It is a life like His that can never die, and the Holy Spirit is its power. The gates of hell (hades), the power of death, shall not prevail against the assembly. It is different from Israel, or the nations. The power of the enemy has destroyed them, but in Christ's assembly, which is made up of all who believe on Him, all are eternally secure.
There are other aspects of the assembly, where there are professors in it, without life, a name to live, and yet dead (Rev. 3:1): but every true believer is included in Christ's assembly, and no condemnation can come to them; they are built on the Rock which nothing can shake.
There are no keys to the assembly, and there are no keys to heaven. The keys given to Peter were keys of the kingdom of heaven; that is the profession of Christ's name on earth. Peter, in s preaching in Acts 2, opened the door for repentant Jews; and in Acts 10, for the Godly Gentiles, and the keys are not needed any more. The door is open; all may enter in and be saved through the precious death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter's writings are in accord with Matthew 16:18. The hope of setting up the kingdom of Israel in the land of Palestine, had died out, and they were scattered into many lands. But those who believed in God, by Jesus Christ, were through abundant mercy, begotten again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and a heavenly inheritance was now before them. They were born again of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever. And again, "To whom coming, as unto a living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. Ye also as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." It is a house of priestly worshippers, whose right from God is, to worship in His presence as holy priests, and the exercise of it was meant for us here on our journey through the wilderness. And have we not realized a little of it when gathered as in Matthew 18:20, around our Lord Jesus to remember Him?
The confusions and divisions that exist now are far from the normal state of Christ's assembly. His saints suffer loss through this, and the Lord does not get the praise due Him, because His people do not know their portion and liberty as holy priests. Man's arrangements have interfered with their liberty, yet we thank God for the full assurance His Word gives of the eternal security of every dear, blood-washed child of God. (Rev. 1:5.) None can pluck them out of His, and the Father's hands, are His words. (John 10:28, 29.)
There are other ways in which this assembly is revealed to us. As the body, and bride of Christ: as the house, or dwelling place of God, and also in its responsibility on earth, and its perfection in glory.
We may look again at these again, if the Lord will.
The Assembly: Part 2, Acts 2
ACT 2Before the Lord could build His assembly, the work of redemption must be accomplished. "The Son of Man must be lifted up." In John 12:23, 24, Jesus said, "The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." Also He said, John 16:7: "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." After He rose from the dead His disciples saw Him, and received instructions from Him, by the Holy Spirit, for forty days. They were to wait at Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (John 14:16), as it reads, "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." He would not say whether the kingdom would be restored to Israel at that time. God's long suffering extends to the utmost limit before He gives men up. The prayer of Jesus on the cross was to be answered by giving them another offer, if they would repent (Acts 3:17-21), but they would be His witnesses when they had received power, after the Holy Ghost was come upon them. (John 15:26, 27.)
In his Gospel, Luke has told us that He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. While He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried, up into heaven. And in Acts 1 a cloud received Him out of their sight. While they were still gazing steadfastly toward heaven, as He went up, two men in white apparel stood by them, and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner/ as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”
This is true for the future godly remnant of the Jews who, on the Mount of Olives, will wait for Him, and see Him coming, with all His heavenly army of saints, for their deliverance from their enemies. (Zech. 14.) When He comes for His heavenly saints, they shall be caught up to be with Him; they shall meet Him in the air. (1 Thess. 4:15-18.) The dead raised incorruptible, the living changed to immortality, and ruptured into His presence. What a moment of bliss for all His redeemed up to that time!
The disciples returned to Jerusalem, and for ten days more waited on the Lord in prayer. They appointed one to fill their number-twelve. They did it intelligently, as their Scriptures led them, and the Lord gave understanding. (Luke 24:45.) When the fiftieth day was fully come (that is what Pentecost means), they were all assembled together with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Cloven or divided tongues, as of fire, sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other languages than their own, so that the foreigners from all the different countries could hear in their own tongues the wonderful works of God. The Holy Ghost had come, and two wonderful facts were accomplished at the same moment.
The body of Christ was formed, that is, all who were sealed with the Spirit were believers (John 7:39), and were united to Christ in glory, their risen Head, and to each other as members of the same body. (1 Cor. 12:12, 13.) The second thing was: They were builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph. 2:22.)
These facts were true of them, but were not yet unfolded to their faith. But they knew the Holy Ghost was come, and they knew the Lord had sent Him from the Father (Ver. 33), so they had the guidance of the Spirit in what they did. Peter's address convicted many of their guilt of murdering their Messiah, whom God had raised from the dead, so that about three thousand souls separated themselves from the perverse generation, and were baptized into the new, redeemed company. These were the godly remnant of the Jews, often spoken of as Old Testament saints, now brought into the Christian assembly. 'God was now gathering His children into one. (John 11:52.)
As yet they were all Jews, and on Jewish ground, waiting to see if the Lord, at that time, would restore the kingdom of Israel. Peter gave them another offer in Chap. 3:17-21, but they still opposed, and put some of the apostles in prison, and lastly stoned Stephen, fulfilling Luke 19:14. His spirit is received up, and Jesus sits down (Stephen saw Him standing), till His enemies be made His footstool. We are now introduced to Saul who was consenting unto Stephen's death. He takes up the service of persecuting, even unto death, those who believed on Jesus, and he thought he was serving God.
God, by means of persecution, scattered abroad in different directions the assembly at Jerusalem, except the apostles. And those that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word. Philip went down to Samaria, and preached Christ unto them, and there was great joy in that city. It is to be noticed here that though the Samaritans had believed the gospel Philip preached, and they were all baptized, yet none of them had received the Holy Ghost. They were born again, and brought into the profession of Christ (Gal. 3:27), yet they were not sealed. At Jerusalem the apostles heard of Samaria having received the Word of God, and they sent Peter and John who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost, then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. The breach is gone; the saints at Jerusalem, and at Samaria, are one in redemption. In this case we also see the difference between the work of the Spirit in conversion, and in His dwelling in them.
Another noticeable fact is, that Simon, the, sorcerer, himself believed, and was baptized. He seemed to be a true believer, but the apostles discerned that he was not converted at all. (See John 2:23-25 and 6:66-69.) In this we see the beginning of failure, in what was committed to the servants. (1 Cor. 3:12.)
In the eunuch we see a godly Jewish proselyte, who has been to the empty temple at Jerusalem to worship, returning as empty, and as ignorant, as when he went up, but the Lord sent Philip to meet him. The story of Jesus in Isa. 53 lays hold of him, and Philip, at his request brings him in also. Philip is caught away, and the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing to carry the story into dark Ethiopia.
Chap. 9 tells of Saul of Tarsus, the instrument that the Lord knew (yes, like Jeremiah, before his birth Jer. 1:5 and Gal. 1:15, 16) and had formed and fitted for the work of an apostle. A man trained in Jewish self-righteousness, breathing out threatenings and slaughter, seeking authority from the high priest to destroy Christianity, and wipe out the name of Jesus from the earth. He lived in all good conscience before God (Acts 23:1), and wrote of himself, "Touching the righteousness of the law, blameless." (Phil. 3:6.) He thought he was serving God in his blind, mad career. (Acts 26:9-11.)
In Chap. 9 we see him arrested by the Lord Himself, convicted and converted, humbled and broken, asking, "Who art Thou, Lord?" "What wouldst Thou have me to do?" The Lord sends Ananias to show him the way, and to bring him in, also, to the assembly, the house of God.
Straightway he preached that Jesus is the Son of God, and went into retirement for a time to learn more perfectly the ways of God. (Gal. 1;16, 17.) He conferred not with flesh and blood. With his message given from the Head in glory, he goes forth. "Paul an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised Him from the dead." Acts 26:16-18.) He knew that suffering and rejection from man was to be his lot for Christ's sake. (Acts 20:23.)
From the glory and the gladness,
From His secret place:
From the rapture of His presence,
From His radiant face-
Christ, the Son of God, had sent him
Through the midnight lands;
His the mighty ordination
Of the pierced hands.
And what were his thoughts of himself then? "The chief of sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15); "less than the least of all saints" (Eph. 3:8); "the least of the apostles:" "not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
But by the grace of God, I am what I am." 1 Cor. 15:9, 10.
This is the instrument God had taken up to carry out His message. The Lord said unto Ananias, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.”
We shall endeavor to look at his teachings in connection with the assembly in another paper.
“What is, the joy of the Redeemer, but the joy and communion, the happiness of His redeemed.”
The Assembly: Part 5, 2 Timothy 2:19
2Ti 2:19 Paul's Epistles to Timothy give instruction to the man of God to direct his path in connection with the assembly. The first gives instruction as to how to put, and to keep things right in it, in view of evils foretold as coming in among them.
In the Second Epistle, the evils have come in, and are developing to such an extent, that the apostle marks out the path for the man of God through the confusion which he cannot put right,-a path in which he can, like Enoch of old, walk with God, and know, as Enoch did, that it is the path pleasing to God.
We have seen that we, as believers, are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and are members of the body of Christ. This means that we are united to Christ the Head in glory, and to each believer down here, and that we are children of God the Father, in conscious enjoyment, able to look up, and to say, "Abby Father," and in happy, full assurance, give Him thanks that we are made fit to be partakers of the portion of the saints in light, and also that these relationships are eternal.
Our behavior may often be poor, but our relationships cannot fail. These do not depend on our behavior, but our behavior should flow from our enjoyment of what God's grace has conferred upon us. Though there may be difficulties to meet in order to walk with God, we may rest assured that such love that did not spare His own Son, will not fail to point out the true path to us, if we are in earnest to do His will. (John 7:17.)
We notice that these Epistles do not unfold these relationships, but in the Second Epistle we see what the believer can rely upon when everything outwardly has been corrupted, what faith can lay hold of, and see here what is God's path for him, "A path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen." Job 28:7. The Lord will make it plain to the one who seeks His face, and desires to follow in the steps of our blessed Lord, who ever did His father's will while here on earth.
In 2 Tim. 1:1, Paul speaks of himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.”
Verse 9 tells of God "who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began.”
Verse 10 speaks of the One who won the victory over Satan's power, and has brought life and incorruptibility to light through the gospel, Though man has rejected this testimony, and Paul is a prisoner because of it, he is not ashamed, and says, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that clay." He also exhorts Timothy to "hold fast the outline of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Division in heart had begun, and all that were in Asia were spoken of as having turned away from him.
Nevertheless, Chapter 2:1, begins, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that that is in Christ Jesus, and the things thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." This teaches us that the more the failure is seen, the more we should set ourselves to go on with the truth. The apostle exhorts the man of God to be like a true-hearted soldier that endures all manner of hardships and deprivation, that he may please the One who called him to be His soldier, -that is, with purpose of heart to please the Lord; "a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
Verse 5, likens him next to an athlete, striving for the masteries, but he must strive according to the rules of the game, and will not get the laurels except he strive lawfully. This is obedience to the Word.
Verse 6 should read, "The husbandman must labor before partaking of the fruits," exhorting him thus to go on to plow, sow, cultivate, and then wait till the harvest for his reward. Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, did not get the blessing till He had been rejected, crucified, then raised and glorified; and Paul, as: His apostle, must also have the rejected place, an example of devotedness, and in suffering, for love to Christ, and to His saints, and in righteousness, in which we also have the privilege of suffering with Him. The apostle said, "I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”
It is suffering in faithful ministry of the truth in love that goes through every difficulty, in afflictions, and desertion, to accomplish what God had counseled for His saints, and this was a faithful saying, If we have died with Christ, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If any deny Him, He would need to deny them. (Peter denied that he knew Him. He did not deny that He was the Son of God.) If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful (that is to the failing believer), He cannot deny Himself. He cannot deny any of His own.
Further, he was to put believers in mind not to enter into discussions to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers, but he was to study to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing and applying the Word of truth. He was to shun profane and vain babblings; which only increase unto more ungodliness. These evil discussions eat as does a canker: like the two mentioned here who erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrew the faith of some.
Amid, and in spite of all the evils that had come in, "The foundation of God standeth sure." Blessed fact! All God's purposes will stand. The eternal life in Christ Jesus, cannot be lost. All the blessings God has given, endure to the end; yet there are two sides to this seal, First, "The Lord knoweth them that are His." We may not be able to discern, or pronounce on the multitude of professors, nor are we called upon to try.
The second side is, "Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." This is surely a blessed privilege. We need not go on in fellowship with evil; we need not go on in unequal yokes with believers, or unbelievers. There is a clean path through all the confusion of Christendom. We cannot get out of this great profession, but we can find out the path of obedience to the Word of God, and of separation from all unrighteousness.
Verse 20 compares this profession, which takes in all baptized Christendom, to a great house, where gold and silver, wood and earthen vessels, are mixed up in confusion, some to honor and some to dishonor. Who can straighten out the tangles, and put it in order? None, but God. We cannot set up the assembly anew. To try it would only make another sect, full of pride and assumption.
Verse 21 tells how we are to act,-in humility and lowly self-judgment. We are to purge ourselves from these, that is, the mixture; and in holy separation, be a vessel meet for the Master's use.
This is seen in Verse 22 to go deeper than mere outward separation to be meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work, for we need to flee youthful lusts, and this is the application Of the death of Christ to our own natural lusts and habits, as in Rom. 6:11, reckoning ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, giving us power to keep our eye upon Christ, and to follow him. Then we are to follow, not people, but righteousness, faith, love, and peace, -practical righteousness in our walk, active faith that lays hold of the Word to obey it: love in activity going out in response to His love to us, and then going out to all His saints; and peace with each other, but not at the expense of truth. This is to mark out the character of the new company, as it says, "with them that call 'on the Lord out of a pure heart," that is, in sincerity before the Lord.
The behavior of the Lord's servant is next seen. He was not to contend; he was to be gentle, leading others on in the truth, instructing opposers in meekness, if God might work in them, breaking down by gentle words, their stubborn opposition. What a lesson for us all!
May the Lord exercise each believer to find out this path of faith, and to seek grace to walk in it. It is only the path of obedience to God and His Word that glorifies Him.
In Chapter 3 we are told of evils still to come among those who profess the name of the Lord, and these have a form of godliness, yet denying the power thereof, and from all such we are to turn away. These work by imitation of the truth, as James and Jambres withstood Moses, and in this way resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate, or worthless, concerning the truth.
Verses 10 to 12 we have Paul's teaching and life in simple-eyed service for the Lord: purpose, faith, long-suffering, love and patience. Then his sufferings in service, and the Lord's deliverance out of all the dangers, and adds that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. It is the path of following the One whom the world has cast out.
Verse 13 tells us of progress in evil, and exhorts Timothy to continue in the path, and in the truth given by the apostle, and directs him to the Scriptures, known to him from a child, and which were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is given by inspiration of god (God breathed), and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God can, by giving attention to it, be 'perfectly furnished unto all good works.
Then in Chapter 4, he is charged before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Judge 'of the living and the dead, at His appearing, and all through His kingdom, that he preach the Word, in season, out of season, that he reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.
Is it not plain that we have come to those difficult times, that men are choosing their own teachers who will tell them the things they like to hear,-not sound teachings, but fables.
The path marked out for every man of God, is the path 'of 'obedience to the Word, the path Of full separation from all that would dishonor the name of the Lord, or deny the holiness of His Word. The time of the apostle's departure was near at hand. Now, he and the rest are gone, but we that are left, have those blessed things that remain, as long as the assembly is on earth,-Christ's presence as a Center to gather to (Matt. 18:20). The Holy Spirit dwelling with us and in us. The blessed infallible Word of God to be our guide, and His grace for each one who seeks it.
The Assembly: Part 3, Ephesians 4:4
EPH 4:4The Lord met Saul of Tarsus at his conversion with the words, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" For the first time the truth of the believer's oneness with Christ was there told out. The assembly is one with Christ, united to her risen, glorified Head, the Son of man. To Paul was given to unfold this blessed truth, "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus by the gospel; whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power." Eph. 3:4-10. And we find in Col. 1:25, that this subject completes the Word of God, "the mystery hidden from ages, and from generations, but now made manifest to His saints." In Eph. 1: to 2:10, is an unfolding of God's purposes and counsels about Christ. How God has called and blessed those who are to be His companions, and has made His will known to them, that Christ will be the center of all His ways and glories, and in verses 22, 23, "hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the assembly, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.”
Here the body is seen in its entirety, not one member wanting. It is that which was the completing of God's thought for His Son, as seen in type in Adam and his wife. (Gen. 1:27, 28; 2:23; 5:2.) This is what the assembly will be to Him for all eternity-His body and His bride (Eph. 3:21). No failure can hinder God in carrying out His purposes. The result will be as God has designed it.
We have seen how the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, uniting all the believers in Christ into one body. At first it was composed of Jews, then Samaritans, proselytes; and lastly, Gentiles were added. I Cor. 12:12-23, takes them all in, and all on equal ground, and all working together as one body. "We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Rom. 12:4, 5. Everyone ever since then, who has believed the gospel of His salvation, and has been sealed with His Spirit, has been brought into the body of Christ. Those who have passed away to be with the Lord are not looked at as in it just now, as the body is here on earth, but they will be in it when the Lord has taken us all up to be with Him in the glory.
This is the only membership we find for believers in Scripture; none but believers are in it. It was God who put them in it by giving them the Spirit. Baptism with water has nothing to do with this. Rom. 12:4, 5, is their mutuality. 1 Cor. is their practical working together, exercising their functions. "There is one body" (Eph. 4:4), is what the truth asserts, and it is the principle of the gathering together of the saints now to the name of Christ. The one loaf on the Table at the Lord's Supper expresses the truth that our communion is on that ground. (1 Cor. 10:16, 17). Eph. 4:8-16, is the ministry the Lord provides for it till perfection is reached.
He loved the assembly, and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25), that was up to the time of His death, before ever it was formed. Verse 26 is what He is doing for it in this present time, separating it from the world, fitting it for Himself; and verse 27 is what He is going to do for it when the last member has been added to it. Then His pearl of great price will be seen in all His beauty that He had put upon it (Matt. 13:45, 46), and will be with Him forever.
O God! with great delight
Thy wondrous thought we see,
Upon His throne, in glory bright
The bride of Christ shall be.
Sealed with the Holy Ghost,
We triumph in that love;
Thy wondrous thought has made our boast,
“Glory with Christ above.”