Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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Perhaps we could turn first of all to Matthew chapter 16 and verse 13, Matthew 16 and verse 13. When Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that? I say that I, the Son of Man AM? And they said, some say that the Baptist, Sam, Elias and others Jeremiah are one of the prophets. He says unto them.
Whom sayeth I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Barjona, For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven.
And I say also under thee that thou appear, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Well, I believe that this is the first revelation of the truth of the church that we find in the Bible. In the Old Testament, God dealt with a special people, a privileged people, the nation of Israel. He called them out from among the nations.
And then he made them the specs of his dealing ways.
Out of His favor, and as it tells us in the 5th chapter of Isaiah, what more could have been done in my vineyard that I have not done in it? And then it says the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plants. And so God picked those that nation, He did everything that could be done, gave them most wonderful laws, separated them from the other nations, other nations.
Gave them that beautiful temple.
Approach into his presence. All these things were given to them as a favored nation, but we know the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew came down and presented himself to that nation. To that nation. John chapter 1 Says He came unto his own and his own received him not. He was rejected by the very ones that he had come to bless.
And so the Lord takes his disciples here to the very utmost limits of the land of Israel. And he asked them the question, whom the men say that I, the Son of Man, am? Now they surely ought to have known, because they had the testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures, they had the testimony of John the Baptist, and they had the testimony of the Lord's life and works.
All ought to have pointed and shown them who the Lord Jesus really was.
But isn't it strange, the various opinions that they had? And so it will always be, unless we are taught by the word of God, unless we are taught by the Holy Spirit, why we will always have our own opinion. But it's very important that we set aside our own opinion in the things of God.
The Scripture says of the man thinketh that he knoweth anything. You know of nothing yet as he ought to know it. Because the only way we can learn truth is through the one who is the truth, the one who said I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh under the Father, but by me. So with these various opinions about who the Lord Jesus is.
But Peter openly confessed who that blessed person is.
And I just paused to say here, if there's anyone here tonight who doesn't yet know him as your own personal Savior, I trust that tonight you will be brought to know Him. The Scripture says, acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace thereby good shall come of it. And to be acquainted with the Lord Jesus as your own personal Savior, as the one who went to Calvary and died for you, is the beginning of all blessing for our souls.
And the only way that we can really know that we are saved, the only way that we can know that we have that which suits us for the holy presence of God, is to rest upon the precious, unchanging Word of God.
How wonderfully simple verses in the Bible that show us how we can know are saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Again in John 5 and 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me half everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. And I would say that everyone in this room who.
As the assurance that he is saved is not resting on an experience or a feeling, he is resting upon the precious Word of God. That's how we know. And the Lord said when Peter made this confession, flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven. Your Father can't save you, your mother can't save you, a preacher can't save you.
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But God can make himself known, and he is pleased to make himself.
Known through his word, Scripture says, Thou hast magnify thy word about all thy name. In other words, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God and others says, being born again, not a corruptible seed, but an incorruptible, but by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. So I say again, that everyone in this room tonight who knows that he or she is saved.
What being able to say, I know it because God's word has told me, and that's the only ground on which we can have real assurance Indeed, it says in John's epistle, he that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son. Well, I'm saying these things because.
Our assurance and our knowledge of salvation is founded upon the Word of God.
But isn't it, isn't it a very strange thing that when people come and tell you, yes, I know I'm saved, I know the Lord is my Savior, and you ask them the next question, with whom do you fellowship? Why, you'll get all kinds of answers. Very, very seldom will they point you to the word of God. They'll perhaps tell you, well, I found a nice little group of Christians and I worship with them or the groups that we're.
Is doing a good gospel work, and I think we can have part in that work. Or perhaps they'll say about how much fellowship they're having with some particular company. But very seldom will you meet someone who will say, well, let's sit down for a minute and I'll show you from the Word of God why I am in that particular company of Christians. Yet what other assurance do we have about the Word of God?
How can we know?
When the Lord was about to prepare the Passover for his disciples, or have them prepare it, I should say, then he told them definite directions. They said, Lord, where wilt thou that we prepare? And so he gave them directions, and they went and found as he had said unto them, and they made ready the Passover.
After his resurrection, there was a meeting place where he said.
Now that he would meet with them, it says in the end of Matthew that the disciples came together into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them, and when they saw him, they worshiped him. So there was an appointed place where they kept the Passover. There was an appointed place where he met with them after his resurrection. And only just like in a simple way to bring before our hearts a little bit tonight.
About this, the importance of this subject, and that is first of all, what the church really is, and then how we can meet in such a way that we follow the directions of the Word of God and gather to remember the Lord Jesus in his death. Well, first of all, and in the 16th of Matthew, we find what the church really is. Is it something that was constructed by men? Is it a voluntary gathering of people?
So, well, the Lord said on this rock, I will build my church. Was there anything here about people voluntarily doing something? No, we find that it was a work that the Lord Jesus himself said He would do. Now, of course, it had not as yet begun, and that is the Church of God did not begin on earth until the day of Pentecost. If I can use the expression, that was the church's birthday.
That was the beginning of the Church of God on earth. But the Lord is Speaking of something being rejected by the nation that favored nation about to lose its place and privilege as the Lord told them why he announces something new, something very blessed. He said I will build my church and without turning to it. We'll see how that Peter understood what the Lord was speaking about because.
In his epistle he says he also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to OfferUp spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
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Says our foundation, can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. And these two things were revealed to Peter. The Lord said on this rock that is on the rock of Peter's confession, Peter had confessed who the Lord Jesus is. And so that's the very foundation of all it says. Again, I want to quote the verse again.
All your foundation can No man lay than that is laid which is.
Jesus Christ, he's the rock, He's the foundation upon which the church is built. But the word Peter means a stone. And so Peter understood what the Lord was speaking about and he realized that he was going to be a living stone in this building. And when addressing the believers in his epistle in the 2nd chapter, first Peter chapter 2, he says ye also.
Stones are built up a spiritual house, and so there is a work going on in this world. It's not a building constructed like this where no Workman hired and built this building. This building is not a church. It's just a convenient meeting place. But every person in this room who is saved is a living stone builded in by the Lord Jesus himself.
Because, he said I will build my church.
He also it says, in the 2nd chapter of Acts, when the Church of God began, the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. So in the 20th chapter of Acts, the church which he hath purchased with his own blood. Then it says in the 12TH chapter of Hebrews, the Church of the first born, which are written in heaven.
Don't all these verses make it clear that the Church is really a spiritual?
Building composed of living stones built in by the Lord Jesus himself added as they are saved as a living stone into the building purchased by the precious blood of Christ and their name written on the only true church role, and that's in heaven. That's what the Church of God is. That's what the Lord Jesus was speaking about, what he was saying that he was going to build.
It hadn't yet taken place.
But it was going to take place because, as I say, Israel, who had occupied that place of favor, was about to be set aside. And most of us, I think, know that in the year 8070, some 30 years after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, why Jerusalem was laid in ruins, the temple was destroyed.
And they were no longer able to go on with all that ritual and ceremony that was connected.
With what God had established in Judaism well on the day of Pentecost.
It tells us. And here we all turn to the second of Acts first verse. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with 1 accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, And there appeared unto them clothing tongues like as it fire, and it sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began.
Speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
He turned to 1St Corinthians chapter 12.
We'll see what.
Took place here as it's brought before us in First Corinthians 12.
Verse 12.
For as the body is 1 and hath many members, and all the members of that one Body being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by 1 Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bombed or free, and have been all made to drink into one spirit.
And then in Ephesians chapter one, verse 22.
Well, perhaps I should read from the 20th verse, the end of the 19th. His mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. For all, 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. And hath made him to be head over all things, and hath put all things under his feet. And.
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Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth All in all.
Well, on the second of Acts, we in the second of Acts we have the coming of the Holy Spirit of God down into this world. And this was the beginning of the Church of God. And we're told in First Corinthians 12, which we read by 1 Spirit, we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles. Then we're told in Ephesians chapter one, who is the head of the body of the church?
You know, previous to the day of Pentecost there were many individual believers. And on the day of Pentecost something very wonderful happened, something, as I say, that hadn't taken place before. The Spirit of God came down to earth as a divine person and united all believers into one body.
And supposing I had on this table about 120 beads.
And then I took a string and I put them through the 120 beads and I held it up. I could say now I have one necklace. It's composed of 120 beads, but it's actually one necklace. And on the day of Pentecost, individual believers were united by the coming of the Spirit of God into one body. And that's what took place. That's what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is.
I say this because.
Some people talk about waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is no mention of anyone ever waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost.
Previous to that, if I read the first chapter of Acts, you would see that the Lord told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait, and that they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. But you never heard Peter or Paul or anyone else telling people to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
And that was the formation of the Church of God on earth. That was the beginning of that which the Lord had spoken of in the 16th chapter of Matthew, the formation of the Church of God. And so again I say, those 120 cease to be individuals in that sense. They were united to one another and to Christ the head in glory, because Ephesians, one tells us.
That Christ is the head of the body, the church, and if you're saved, you'll indwell by the Spirit of God and by the indwelling of the Spirit of God. You are united to every other believer on earth, whether you've met him or not. You're united to him whether he's a Jew or whether he's a Gentile or any nationality under the sun. If he has believed in the Lord Jesus, he has been sealed by the Holy Spirit of.
God, he's been added to the church and you're united to him and to Christ the head in glory. Now I just make a brief mention here of this being a very significant reason as to why the gift of tongues was given because.
Because before the day of Pentecost, as we mentioned, God was dealing with one particular nation.
And when the Lord Jesus was here, he said, I'm not sent but for the lost sheep of the House of Israel. He said to the woman in the 4th chapter of John's gospel, whom he spoke to at the side of the well. He said salvation is of the Jews. So we don't lead to the gift of tongues because God was dealing with a particular nation. But on the day of Pentecost, God gave a very significant sign that he was going to reach out beyond.
Nation. And if you read the chapter carefully, you'll see that there were people at Jerusalem on that occasion from every nation under heaven, and they heard in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. Never had such a thing taken place before. When the queen of Sheba came up, she didn't hear tongues. No, she had to accept the fact that Jerusalem was God's center and Israel were his chosen people. But now we see that God is showing what He is.
To do, to reach out, and it doesn't matter what nationality you are or what your tongue is, if you're indwelled by the Spirit of God, you are united to every other believer on earth and to Christ ahead in glory. Now there was no promise that that sign would continue, but it was a very significant one to bring before us what God was doing upon the earth when.
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We when he formed the Church of God, we know that.
People today who profess to have it, but I say, is there any group that could ever do what was done on the day of Pentecost, Gather people from every nation under heaven and talk to them in their own language without learning it?
Have you ever seen such a thing? I've seen lots of imitation, but I have never seen the reality of it. But it took place in reality here on the day of Pentecost. It was God who was doing this and was showing what He was introducing here upon earth. A very significant, a very wonderful thing. Well, soon we have then the formation of the Church of God on earth. And I'll just read the last verse of this second of Acts just to get.
The context again.
47 for is praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved, but every day the person is saved there is one more added to the church. Now we hear the mention like this in Christendom. Well up here saved you better join a good evangelical church, but you don't read that in the Bible. The Lord does the adding.
The Lord does the adding. It's true. We should seek out a company with whom we can be gathered according to the Word of God, because that doesn't make you part of the church. In fact, no company that is meeting according to the Word of God receives people who add them to the church. They receive them because they're already part of the church, only to give expression to that blessed and wonderful truth.
That there is one body. So then we see what the Church of God.
God really is upon earth a wonderful thing. People often say, well, where are your headquarters? Well, the headquarters are where the head is, and the head is in heaven. The Lord Jesus is the head of the body, the Church, and he is the one who is the one, as we're told in the in Colossians, and ye are complete in him.
Who is the head of all principality and power?
To turn back to Matthew chapter 18, just for a moment.
Matthew, Chapter 18.
And just the 20th verse.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
What a very precious verse this is because as soon as we begin to speak of the church, people so often want us to mention some name that men have recognized and set up. But here it tells us where two or three are gathered together in my name. And I read to you in Ephesians chapter 1.
That God has given to the Lord Jesus a name.
Which is above every name has the head of the body, the Church, and So what a precious privilege it is. Do we need any other name but the name of the Lord Jesus? Isn't that altogether lovely name? The name of the head of the body, the name of the one who is the bridegroom of the church? Isn't that sufficient? Surely it's sufficient for salvation?
It says neither is there salvation in any other, for there is not.
Other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved. And if that name is sufficient and all sufficient for salvation, do we require some other name as a gathering center? Oh, how blessed and how simple this precious verse is, where two or three are gathered together in my name.
There am I in the midst of them. Now you notice it says are gathered.
I call attention to that because the Scripture never speaks of the gathering of Christians as a voluntary gathering about water, a work of the Holy Spirit. Just as the salvation of a soul is the work of the Holy Spirit, so I believe gathering together to Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit and of any group of Christians.
Say well, we gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Don't we have a right to look into the scripture and see if they are gathering according to the word of God?
One brother illustrated it very aptly, something like this, and I thought it was quite striking what he said. He said disposing. You were walking down the street and you see a sign out in front of a building, a nicely painted sign, and it says doctor, so and so, physician and surgeon. Well, you are looking for a.
Doctor So you walk in and you sit down in the waiting room and you look around and they usually have the diploma. Quite often it's framed in the waiting room. You look around and you don't see any diploma that's framed there at all. And so you go to the girl at the desk and say, does this? Does this doctor have a diploma? What college does he have a diploma from? Oh, she says.
The sign outside is enough. We don't.
Need to have a diploma. Didn't you see that sign? It said Doctor Som saw physician and surgeon. Oh, what you say? He had no right to put that out unless he had an authoritative diploma. Now you, you and I have no right to profess to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ unless we're gathering according to His Word. I think that's a very significant thing, brethren. I believe that we need to be able to show from the Word of God.
Why and how we gather as we do if we claim to gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and because He is the Head of the Body, the Church. And so He tells us that we have the authority to use His name. But the Spirit of God never leads contrary to the Word of God.
I quote a significant remark by Mr. Darby which struck me very much.
He said the spirit and the word cannot be separated without falling into fanaticism on the one hand or rationalism on the other.
That is, if we, if we talk about the Spirit apart from the Word, we're very likely to become very fanatical in our ideas because we're shutting out the direction of God's Word. And so there are people who talk about the leading of the Spirit and that they can't show from the Word of God that it is really the leading of the Spirit because the Spirit of God always leads according to the Word of God. Never.
Contrary to it, because this precious book is inspired by the Spirit of God. And how could the Spirit of God lead you to do something contrary to this book? For all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
So if you find somebody who rationalizes the Scripture, he may take the the Scripture apart from the Word and from the Spirit. And then you may find someone who makes a great deal of spirit that doesn't follow the Word. We need to bring the two together. The Spirit of God always exalts Christ. 1 is often said. You can make a simple test of any doctrine that is presented to you by just asking.
One question does this doctrine exalt man, or does it exalt Christ? If it's the truth, it will exalt Christ, because John 16 says that the Spirit will lead us into all truth. And then an expert says, He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. There's a lot that's going on in Christendom that glorifies man.
There's a lot that's going on that exalts man, but the truth of God doesn't exalt the first man, it exalts Christ. The truth will always glorify and honor Christ. And so that name is about every name. That name is the gathering center. But in order to use His name according to the will of God, we must be in accord with the Word of God.
For the word of God.
Will teach us through the spirits leading how to give honor to the Lord Jesus and to gather in such a way that he is All in all. It tells us in Colossians 3 Christ is. We find in the Bible that they met in different places. They met in the House of Priscilla and Aquila. They met in the House of Philemon.
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They came together in the school of Tirana. There were different places where they met, and on another occasion they were meeting in an upper room at Troas. So when you see there were different places where the early Christians met, the the place was not an important thing. It was only a convenient place to gather. The important thing was the person to whom they were gathered and whether they were gathered according to His word.
Let's turn now to the 20th chapter of Acts, the 20th chapter of Acts.
And the seventh verse.
And 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.
Now if I had taken time, I could have read different scriptures. In the second of Acts it says they continued steadfastly and the apostles doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers. And I might mention, I think most of us realize this, that the day of Pentecost was the first day of the week. You can see that if you check it with the 23rd of Leviticus. It tells us when that.
Pentecost was it was. They were to count 7 Sabbaths complete after the waving of the sheaf of firstfruits, and then it was the Morrow after the 7th Sabbath. Now the Sabbath is Saturday and the moral after the 7th Sabbath means that there were 50 days from the time the Lord Jesus was crucified until the day of Pentecost, and that was on the first day of the week.
And that was the commencement of the breaking of bread in mature in the assembly. The Lord instituted it on the night of His betrayal. But as an assembly gathering to break bread, the first time they did it, it was on the first day of the week. And we can gather from this 20th of Acts that it was their custom to do this, because we're told upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread.
We're told later in Corinthians that.
They were to lay by them in store on the first day of the week, a collection for the Lord. We're told that when John was in the Isle of Patmos, even though he couldn't gather with the Saints to remember the Lord, that still he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, so that the first day of the week called the Lord's Day was the Christian's day.
Now we're going to turn to 1St Corinthians 10, but I just want to mention what is stated in First Corinthians 11 in this connection, and that is that in First Corinthians 11, the Lord, we're told as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come.
So the question then might be raised, how often? How often? Well, haven't we got a divine pattern? I know that some groups say, well, once a month, once every three months, sometimes even less, they will gather to remember the Lord. The Holy Church apparently did it on the first day of the week. There's no rule laid down because in Christianity it's holy liberty.
But since the Lord has said as often, and He has given.
The pattern in Scripture, I think that satisfies the heart that wants to respond to him. And especially, brethren, when we think of the nearness of the Lord's return, are we going to let a first day of the week go by when we realize that he might return before the next one? Doesn't that make you think, well, I'd like to remember him on this first day of the week because perhaps before next first day of the week, he'll have given the shout and called us home as.
Often as he eats this bread and drink this cup, he to show the Lord's death till he comes. So if I can put it this way, I don't believe the Scripture lays down a rule about how often we're to remember the Lord. But it does seem to me that the heart that responds to his love and to his claims would want to do it as often as the Scripture gives us the pattern. And so on the first day of the week is our happy privilege, I believe, to gather together in his.
Way. Now let's turn to 1St Corinthians 10.
And verse 15.
I speak as to wise men. Judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ, The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one blood. Behold Israel after the flesh.
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Are they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What?
Say I then that the idol is anything. That which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything but. I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God. And I would not that she should have fellowship with devils.
Now First Corinthians 10 is bringing before us the truth of the Lord's Table, and I might say that.
It is quite significant. Perhaps I should read the 21St verse just to get the context here.
He cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. He cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils. This is the only place in the New Testament where the Lord's Table is mentioned. And so surely, if we want to know what the Lord's Table is, this is the place to find it out, because this passage is the only place where it speaks about it.
And the point that is established here, and it's a very important point, is.
That the act of partaking is the expression of fellowship.
So there were three things that existed at the time Paul was writing, and there was a Jewish, there was a Jewish worship, there was a heathen worship, and there was the Christian worship. Happily, the Assembly of God hadn't been divided at this time, but He brings before us what the Lord's Table really is. And to my own heart it speaks in this way.
That the place where I want to have fellowship is where.
The truth that we have set before us is expressed. I don't believe that we could call tables where groups of Christians assemble table of devils. I don't believe that's right. But I would say that there is only 1 scriptural way to gather, and that is to gather as members of the body of Christ. And the Lord warned that the wolf would scatter the sheep. They'd still be sheep, but they would be scattered.
They would still be sheep, I say, but scattered. And so Paul had to say too, that there were those in his time that were saying, I am a Paul and I have a Paulus, and I have Cephas and I have Christ.
The Lord Jesus prayed that his own might be one in testimony. And so here we find what the Lord's table really is. And I believe if if you're really saved and know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, it must be very important to you that you would like to be gathered at what the Scripture sets before us as the Lord's table.
Perhaps we could say to be called the Lord's Table, the Lordship of Christ must be owned. How could it be called the Lord's Table and gathered in some other name?
How could it be called the Lord's Table and not be gathered according to His word? That would not be owning the Lordship and the authority of Christ.
How could it be called the Lord's Table if the precious truth of Christianity, which is the truth of the one body, is denied?
It's quite significant to my soul that in this only scripture where it talks about the Lord's table, it brings out that the loaf on the table is the symbol of the one body of Christ. Notice this 17th verse.
For we being many are one bled and one body. For we are all partakers of that one bread or that one loaf.
So here we find that what is spoken of is the Lord's Table, is an expression of the one body of Christ.
And isn't this very important?
Did the Lord Jesus intend that there should be all different groups under different names, each one giving expression to the fact that they're a member of such and such a group? The only membership in Christianity is a member of the body of Christ. That's all a member of the body of Christ. And so when we break bread and we put one loaf on the table, we are practically saying.
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That amid all the confusion of Christendom and people meeting under all kinds of different names, some of them associated with evil doctrines, some of them associated with so many things contrary to the Word of God, every Christian, no matter where or who he is, is represented in that one loaf. Because there is one body, there is one body.
And so when we gather and put that one loaf on the table.
We are simply saying that every member of the body of Christ is united to one another and to Christ the head in glory. That's what is expressed at the Lord's table. Well, you might say, well, how can that be expressed by only a small company? Because all these others are members of the one body of Christ? But supposing that they choose to meet under other names?
Supposing they choose to form organizations and call themselves by different names, we have to lead them where they are. But we recognize them as members of the body of Christ, and we have no scriptural right to meet in any other name but the name of the Lord Jesus. We have no scriptural right to meet in any other way but as members of the body of Christ.
And in simplicity, that is what is expressed at the Lord's Table, the oneness.
Of the body of Christ. Now of course, we could look at other scriptures that show we must be in separation from evil, moral and doctrinal, because it says put away from among yourselves that wicked person. But I'm not speaking at this point how disciplined, but simply what it really brings before us here in connection with what the Lord's table really is.
And of course, if it is the Lord's Table, he is holy and true.
And so evil can't be allowed there.
When the man in the 5th chapter of First Corinthians had to be set aside from the Lord's Table, he was a member of the body of Christ, but he lost the privilege because of his careless walk. And not until he had humbled himself could be he be restored. But he was still a member of the body of Christ. But the privilege he didn't enjoy, but he was still a member of that one body.
And so how beautiful this is to think that we.
Can gather as members of the body of Christ. I've often used a little illustration, something like this. Perhaps someone heard it before. But I think it helps to make this thought simple. Supposing that there was a father and he's dying and he has ten children, and he says to his ten children, after I'm gone, I'd like you to Remember Me.
And I'd like you to remember something else. How that where one dear one family.
Your one family. So the fire passes away. The the father has asked them to do this. And he has specifically said when you do it, if you just put one loaf on the table and that one loaf to you will represent the fact that your one family, 10 children, one family. He said. You'll fulfill my request. You'll Remember Me and you'll Remember Me as one family.
Well, after he's gone, the whole 10 come together.
Happily responding to what their father asked them to do. What a lovely thing took place on the day of Pentecost, when they were, as it says they were, with 1 accord in one place. The multitude of the disciples were of 1 heart and one soul.
Let's suppose after a little time goes by, 5 of them say oh we're not going to come anymore. We're going to set up ourselves on another St. and we'll call ourselves by another name and we're not going to come anymore.
What are the other 5 going to do?
Say, well, now we can't fulfill our father's request anymore. Or could they come and put the one loaf on the table and say, we want to remember our father? He asked us to do it as one family. We're sad that the other five are not here, but we're not going to give up doing what our father asked us to do. But we'll see them all represented there, even if they're not there.
Will they not be fulfilling what their father asked them to do? Would you suggest they'd give up because.
The other five wouldn't come. Would you suggest that even if it got down to two that they should say it's no use because the other 8 won't come? I think if their father were alive, his heart would be thrilled to think that two of them wanted to fulfill his request. And two of them still said there's still only one family and there are 10 children in it. And we want to do what our father asked us to do because he loved every one of the 10.
00:45:14
Children and far away. Well, I believe they would be fulfilling what their father asked them to do. I believe that's what the Lord's table is, brethren, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. And so the loaf on the table is the expression of the one body.
Now there's something significant about this 10th chapter, and that is that the cup comes first and not the loaf.
I think all of us realize that when the Lord instituted the feast, He broke the bread 1St and then afterwards He passed the cup to them. Why was the cup 1St and then the loft?
Well, there's some thoughts that I I really precious to my own heart in this connection. And that is first of all that I believe the cop comes first because when I think of it being the Lord's table, the first thought that would come into my mind is what title do I have to be at the Lord's Table? What title do I have?
Well, we have the answer. I believe in Hebrews 10, having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. And So what gives me title there is that I have been cleansed in the precious blood of Christ. That gives me holy boldness to come into His presence and sit at His table. I don't sit there because I'm better than somebody else, but I sit there because His precious blood has given.
A title to be there. Then it's significant that when the Lord built the bread and we have it in First Corinthians 11, he said this is my body, which is given for you. He was talking about his physical body, but there's something that's added here and that is that the loaf in the 10th chapter is the symbol of the mystical body of Christ.
Composed of all believers and so.
As we break bread, why, we come there first of all, fitted to be there through the blood, and we take our place there not merely as forgiven sinners, but as members of the body of Christ. Now to me that's very, very precious. And perhaps in order to make this point a little clearer to you, I could use a little illustration.
Back in the Old Testament, we read about Rahab the harlot in the book of Joshua. She was a person who had been living a sinful life in the city of Jericho, but she put her trust in the God of Israel. She hung the scarlet line in her window. She was delivered when the judgment fell upon Jerry Cole. And there's more to the story.
She married into the royal line of Israel.
She became the wife of a man whose name was Salman.
Let us suppose now that after this she comes to sit down at the table across from her new husband, and she looks across the table to him, and she says, oh, it's wonderful to be at your table as a forgiven harlot.
I can just imagine how he would look dark across the table. Oh, you're certainly forgiven, but I don't think of you that way at all. I think of you as the person that I love and I chose to be my bride. Oh, I want you to sit here in a liberty feeling that I don't look at you that way. I look at you with love and with affection. Now, isn't this lovely, brethren?
And I to me, it's so lovely. I'm invited to the Lord's table. I have titled through the blood.
But he says, I want you to know that when you sit there, it's true, you're forgiven, but you're much more than that. You're a member of the body of Christ and you break bread not only as a forgiven Sinner, but in a place as though the Lord looked across the table to you and said, while it all fear my love, there is no spot in me.
You'll never enjoy the Lord's table like you should if you don't realize the preciousness of what it really is. Is there any wonder that it talks about provoking the Lord to jealousy after this? Could you ever think I really have wanting to go back with her old friend after that?
And so, you know, true separation is founded upon love. If we really learn what it is to be gathered at the Lord's Table as members of His body, if we really, as it were, seen him speaking in that way to us, we'll say I'm satisfied. That's the only way I want to remember him. That's true separation. Separation is founded upon love. It certainly isn't marriage. Separation is founded on love and at the Lord's Table.
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How precious to be there? So he says, do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? He said, would you want to be any place else but at the Lord's table when you know, at the Lord's table really means what it really stands for? Well, to me, that's exceedingly precious.
Well, I just Passover briefly to the 11TH chapter.
I might say it's rather interesting that we have those three things brought before us in this chapter, separation. And then in the 11TH chapter, the first verses of the 11TH chapter, we have submission, the woman accepting her place in submission to her husband. And then next of all we have sobriety.
And then we have the truth of the Lord's Supper.
So we come to the 23rd verse, and I, I just like to read here a few verses. For 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. And when he had given thanks, he brake and said, Take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you, this dew in remembrance of me. After the same manner also He took the cup when he had sucked, saying.
This cup is the New Testament in my blood. This do ye as often she drink it in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He comes. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself.
And so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation, or the margin says judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world.
Now in the 10th chapter, we have the subject of the Lord's Table. In this chapter, as you'll notice in the 20th verse, the subject is the Lord's Supper.
We first of all think of our place and privilege of being there, and I believe if we can look at this chapter in a simple way, it's what it costs the Lord to bring us there.
It's a wonderful privilege to be there, but we're there to remember what it cost the Lord to bring us there. And brethren, Mrs. Most Precious, what did it cost the Lord Jesus? And that's why we have the loaf 1St, and then the cup. The loaf, His own body given in death for us, and the cup speaking to us of His precious blood, that blood that flowed from His precious side that brings before us accomplished redemption.
And so we come there, we sit down at the table, having titled through the blood, being there as members of his body. And now we're thankful as we think of what He went through to bring us there, we think of what He endured for us at the cross. It moves our very inmost being as we sit in his presence and as we break the bread in remembrance of His body. For he bore our sins and his own body on the.
We were taking the cup and we think of his precious blood that was shed. Oh, what a, what a touching thing it is. As I might say, I'm invited to your table. I feel happy there. I feel accepted there. And then as a meal comes on, I think of all the trouble you went to in order to prepare that meal so that I could be sitting there and enjoy it. And so I've been brought to his table.
But I also think of the cost to himself.
And these things do move our very inmost affections as we think of what he has done and show forth. His death announces it were that although the world would like to forget about that death, it means everything to us. It means everything to us. The world would like to forget Calvary, but to us it means everything. It's the ground of every blessing that we'll know for time and for all eternity.
And how long do we have this privilege?
Until he comes, until he comes, Oh what a what a lovely thing to remember him until he comes.
00:55:05
Well, I'd just like to say a few words of these verses that follow because they might be helpful to someone just to consider them.
I sometimes said, if I had been writing this, I might have put those verses from the 27th to the end in the 10th chapter, and I would have connected them perhaps with the thought of the 10th chapter. Why does the Spirit of God put them in the 11TH chapter?
Well, I think it's very precious. Now that is in the 10th chapter. What better title could we have than his precious blood?
What other place of nearness, more wonderful place of nearness, could we have than members of His body?
But these verses bring before us, if I can put it in a simple way, a worthy way to remember Him and an unworthy way to remember Him. That's the point.
And so he says in his 27th verse, Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
I wonder if I could illustrated something like this.
Supporting through carelessness, I get deeply into debt.
I have debts that I can never pay.
And you come along and you say, Gordon, just give me all the bills. I'll look after them for you.
And so I hand you the bills. It means that you have to put a mortgage on your house or sell it or something in order to get the money to pay these bills for me. You place them back into my hands and say, here they are, Gordon. They're all receded now. There's not one of them outstanding. They're all paid.
And I thank you.
But the next week I think, well, I guess I can start spending money again now. And I go out and I incur some more debts. And after a couple of weeks I come over and I start to pull out my heart and tell you how thankful I am that you paid those bills for me.
And you look at me and you say, Gordon, is it possible that you have gone deeply into debt again after all I did for you?
Surely how can you come and thank me and yet be so careless? It costs me so much. Brethren, can we sit at the Lord's Table to remember Him in His death and be going on with things in our lives that caused the Lord Jesus all that suffering?
If I came over and I said, oh, I really appreciate what you did, but I'm exceedingly sorry I got careless and I want to tell you how very sorry I am. I haven't forgotten what it cost you. That would be a different way, wouldn't it? Now, you know, for a Christian to come on Thursday morning to remember the Lord and to be going on with the very things that caused the Lord all that suffering and going on with them unjudged in his life.
It says he's guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. That is what he's doing caused the Lord all that suffering.
Would we want to remember Him in such an unworthy way? Doesn't the thought of gathering to remember him make us think of what it cost him? I think it's so beautiful to my soul that the clearest verses on self judgment are associated with the Lord's Supper. For I don't believe we really judge ourselves properly unless we do it in light of what it costs the Lord to put away our sins.
And to say, well, I'm sorry I told a lie, or I'm sorry I did that, or I'm sorry I did something, It seems to me it means a lot more when I think of the Lord on Calvary bearing that very sin so that I could be in his presence and be accepted. And so the thought of remembering the Lord ought to produce self judgment, and more than I'll say a little more I believe, if it did.
The the little sins would never.
Go into big sins in our lives. Big sins in our lives are the result of not judging the little ones.