The second thing I would notice is this – Does the scripture foretell the failure of the Church of God on earth in outward testimony? There are sad and abundant proofs that failure did set in even during the lives of the apostles. (See 1 Cor. 11:18-2118For 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. (1 Corinthians 11:18‑21).) Shameful evils, divisions, and drunkenness, and the Lord’s hand in judgments, because they had not humbled themselves. In Titus, unruly vain talkers, etc., are found and rebuked. Terrible failures in 2 Peter 2, and in Jude, are spoken of. But this is not all; the Spirit accurately describes the fearful apostasy of the last days of this church – time or period (2 Tim. 3). “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” Read the description of these days. We may say those days unto the end of the chapter.
It may be asked, If God set up the one assembly of God, one church, one body, then is not the church of Rome that one church, and ought we not all to belong to her?
If the church of Rome is the church of God as found in the scriptures, then undoubtedly we ought to belong to her. But is this the case? I am not aware of one single particular in which the church of Rome is the same, or like the church of God as found in scripture. At a future time, if the Lord will, I may compare the church of God with the church of Rome. Professing Christendom, as was foretold by the Lord, has become a great tree, and evil men lodge in its branches. It has become the great house of 2 Timothy 2.
If this is so, what instructions has the child of God for his path in these last days? Is he to remain in fellowship with all this evil, or is he to separate himself from the evil?
Hear the answer of God: “The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold, and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge [or separate] himself from these; he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use,” etc (2 Tim. 2:19-2119Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:19‑21)). And again, “From such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:1-51This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1‑5)). The path of the obedient Christian need not be more plain. Hatred and persecution it must bring (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)), as all have found it who have obeyed these divine instructions for our days.
I now return to the church of God as found in the scriptures.
What is its Ministry?
I just remind my reader that in looking carefully at the history of the church in the Acts, we found one all-important fact as to Ministry – the divine presence of the person of the Holy Spirit. Bearing that fact well in mind I ask your attention to the three chapters on ministry, that God has been pleased to give us, with other scriptures (1 Cor. 12, 13, 14) Will you read these chapters, before we proceed? Observe this is the very subject. Chapter 12 contains the great principles of the Christian ministry; chapter 13, the spirit in which that ministry should be exercised; and chapter 14, those ministries in exercise. The Spirit of God will not lower or degrade the person of Jesus – a most important test in these days. And again, no one can truly maintain the Lordship of Jesus but by the Holy Spirit. Great care is then taken to show that the various gifts of ministry are not held by one man! There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; different ministries, but the same Lord; diversities of operations, but it is the same God that worketh all in all. And then, after enumerating different gifts, the divine sovereignty and guidance of the Holy Spirit is maintained. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” Thus we have the constitution of the church as to ministry – Jesus, Lord on high; the Holy Spirit using the gifts as He will on earth. It may be said, Some of those gifts are no longer manifested now. True; He divideth severally as He will, then and now.
This then is the principle of ministry as set up of God, the ministry that is of God. “And God hath set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers,” etc. I do not however find such a thought, that God set up one man to be the minister or priest of the assembly.
Now that is important, as we wish to learn all that scripture brings before us on this subject.
(To be continued.)