If we turn over to Ephesians 4:22With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2), we find the Apostle speaking of the responsibility that lies at the door of every child of God. “With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (vss. 2-3). Now, returning to my illustration, I can rejoice that Christ is preached at A.T., but I cannot cross the threshold with a good conscience. I can show no fellowship to one who said she believed all the Word of God except that little bit written by the Apostle Paul. I cannot show fellowship to an institution founded upon the denial of Paul’s doctrine, for in the chapter that she was referring to, the Apostle Paul said, “The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” “If any man think himself to be . . . spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). Woe be to the Christian servant, man or woman, who stands up and deliberately sets aside any part of the sacred Word of God! I would not wish to stand in their place at the judgment seat of Christ, and I trust by the grace of God that I may be kept free from such departure, for it is a serious one. “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit” (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)).
Now God speaks about a unity that He calls “the unity of the Spirit.” If God talks about it, it must exist. Where is it? Yesterday a rather unusual thing happened. I found an old schoolmate of mine at the little meeting where I was. He had just dropped in, a converted man, whom I have known for 45 years. At the close of the little meeting where we remembered the Lord in His death, his poor wife was in a restless fever to know who we were and what name we went by. To her it was a strange thing that we did not care to speak of any place or name but that of Jesus. It seemed an odd thing to her, yet her husband parades a D.D. after his name — a D.D., Doctor of Divinity, whatever that is. And yet it was a strange thing that we met owning no name but the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh beloved, that is the only name there will be in heaven — the only name worth contending for! When we begin to glory in man, we are doing an injustice to that One who deserves every bit of praise that your lips and mine can speak. Perhaps some of us are attracted by what the world calls the magnificent displays that are going on now in connection with Christian effort. Huge, immense conventions can fill Madison Square Garden — 20,000 people, wild with enthusiasm about hearing the gospel and worked up to a pitch of high excitement by trained bands and choirs and musical instruments of all kinds. Some of our young people are attracted by that kind of thing. Again one would reply, If any soul finds Christ there, we are glad. We are glad when anyone gets saved. Do not forbid them. “Costing thousands of dollars” is another attraction for these much advertised gospel efforts. Oh brethren, let us ever remember the exhortation, “Let no man glory in men” (1 Cor. 3:21).
Again I say, I rejoice that Christ is preached, but, brethren, you and I have a blessed, precious opportunity, in these last, closing days of the church’s history here on earth, to tread the path of rejection and to follow in the footsteps of a man who said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). That man was one of the greatest saints that ever lived, and to him was entrusted the revelation of the mystery of Christ and the church. That church is very dear to the heart of Christ. Yes, the gospel is dear to the heart of Christ. That is true. I know that; I hope it is dear to my heart. I know I rejoice whenever I hear it preached. One time my wife and I were stranded in Jacksonville, Florida — we did not know a soul in town — and we saw a father and a son playing a guitar and singing songs about Jesus. It warmed our hearts to hear others speaking the praises of our Saviour, though they were strangers to us. I rejoice whenever I hear the name of Jesus spoken well of. Most dear of all to the heart of Christ is His bride, the church. “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)). How much do you and I love the church? If we love the church, we will desire to go on consistently with the doctrine of the church, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.