(Continued from page 71.)
Having looked at the administration of the mystery in our previous paper, we will now look at the truths relating to it.
A Holy Temple and a Habitation.
These two thoughts are developed in the second chapter of Ephesians. Man is seen here as dead toward God-there is no pulsation of heart God-ward. Out of this state God quickens with Christ. All therefore must be in God's sovereign grace. Jews and Gentiles are seen in the very same condition. The "ye" in verse 2 are Gentiles, and the " we " in verse 3 refers to the Jews. All distinctions between Jews and Gentiles are obliterated, as in Rom. 3 ; but this all sets forth God's sovereign and pure grace towards both.
In the raising of Christ from among the dead, is viewed, according to God's purpose, the quickening with Him of those given to Him, who were dead toward God. It is new creation, therefore; Jew and Gentile being in the same condition, are both alike quickened and raised in connection with Christ. The division wall of ordinances that had been erected between Jews and Gentiles is broken down and removed. Being reconciled to God by the Cross, the enmity between them being done away, both then have equal access by one Spirit unto the Father; the Gentile is no longer alien, but a fellow-citizen, heavenly in character, and God has a household, a true house. The apostles and prophets are the foundation, the Lord Himself the chief cornerstone. Here we touch i Peter 2:4-9 and i Cor. 3.
In the first named we have the same aspect as in Ephesians, it is the work of God, hence there is no admixture; while in Corinthians man's responsibility is in view-"Let every man take heed."
The "temple," in Eph. 2 :21, is evidently not looked at as complete, but as building, until all believers are gathered in. As spoken of here, this house is set up by God, and composed of the subjects of His grace.
In this "holy temple" God the Spirit dwells, and in i Tim. 3 :15, we are told it is "the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." It must ever be that; for " testimony" and "truth" can only be found there. In that house has been deposited a priceless treasure :that grand essential truth, " the mystery of piety "-God manifest in flesh. Upon this revelation are founded all relationships of God with men. How blessed-the eternal God, the Creator, has revealed Himself in the person of Christ. If any man corrupt this temple (introduce doctrines subversive to the fundamental truth), him God shall destroy.
In i Cor. 3 the house is looked at in relation to man's responsibility:the foundation is sure, but as man is building, the warning is, " Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon." All shall be tested; and that which is wood, hay or stubble, shall be destroyed. Confounding this aspect of the house, as under man's building, with the Body, formed by the Holy Spirit, has led to all kinds of error; it attributes to man's work what can only apply to God's work, resulting in the papacy and all that is allied to it.
In this connection it is interesting to compare the two epistles to Timothy. In the scripture already referred to (i Tim; 3 :15), the apostle says to his beloved son in the faith, "That thou mightest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God"-this, when all was in order. But in the second epistle the man of God is exhorted to purge himself from vessels to dishonor in what has become "a great house," in which are found both vessels unto honor and others to dishonor. This connects with i Cor. 3; for although the "great house" is not called "God's house," yet surely the same habitation is in view. We are assured of the stability of the foundation, but we are in company with those who "overthrow the faith of some." Profession then is here in view, called "a great house," in which " God knoweth them that are His." Here we must leave it. The danger is, when unity is recognized and has authority over the heart, that the individual may compromise and go on with that which is manifestly evil rather than break the external unity.
But the path of faithfulness is clear-God is holy -" Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, for ever," and those who name that holy name must dissociate themselves from all that is contrary to that name. This is individual; it is only thus we can cleanse ourselves from vessels to- dishonor. Personally cleansed (1:e., separated from that which involves fellowship with evil), such are meet for the Master's use. This is not the spirit of " I am holier than thou," but it is a question of individual responsibility to walk apart from that which dishonors the Lord and grieves the Holy Spirit who dwells in the house. Whatever may be the sorrowful condition of that which professes to be God's habitation, the individual Christian is called upon to be faithful to the Lord and His word. Indeed, the darker the day, and the greater the departure from the truth, the greater the privilege of the individual to witness for the Lord-both by our confession and the position taken.
We have reached the end of the dispensation; the early energy, when "mightily grew the word of God and prevailed," is no longer in evidence; but the Lord, writing to the assembly in Philadelphia, says :"Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word and hast not denied my name," by which we see how He values any measure of faithfulness. Such may be of little consequence in the eyes of men, regarded as "narrow-minded," or " bigoted," but they are in the company of Him who was "despised and rejected of men," or, like the apostle, treated as the filth of the world and the off scouring of all things (i Cor. 4:10-13). What a rebuke were these words to the ease-loving, carnally-minded Corinthian Christians! "Ye are rich," says the apostle to them, "ye have reigned as kings without us!" How strikingly these two scriptures illustrate the difference between the Lord's commendation of Philadelphia and the solemn reproof of Laodicea.
The path of faithfulness and separation is not necessarily the path of isolation. God had, in Elijah's day reserved seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal, though Elijah thought himself the only faithful witness. He surely ought to have known some of them, and they him:herein is a lesson we do well to take to heart. Let us take heed to that exhortation in 2 Tim. 2 :22 :" Follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Here we are in good company; our responsibility individually is to follow these things ; the Lord will manifest others like-minded, who call upon Him out of a pure heart. J. W. H. N.
( To be continued.)