“I believe in the
communion of saints,” many repeat from the Apostles’ Creed, who but little
enter into its Scriptural meaning. First, “communion” is what we have in common,
both to enjoy from God and to hold as a trust for Him in the midst of all
opposing forces. Then it is the “communion of saints,” and saints are
God’s saved ones, “holy brethren” (Heb. 3:1), called out of the world to
Himself. Further, it is “a communion of saints” we are said to “believe in,”
and so are not to treat it as a holiday matter, for now and then, but as an everyday
one of which we seriously assume the responsibilities, as we would enjoy the
privileges.

      There is, at present,
much talk about fellowship with all Christians. However, as a matter of
fact, none are in fellowship with all Christians, and as a matter of
obedience to Scripture, none certainly should be. Christians are found
walking in all sorts of unholy ways, holding all manner of heresies, and in all
kinds of evil associations. Hence, in the measure that we really “believe in
the communion of saints,” we shall endeavor, not only to be in fellowship with
saints (a first consideration), but also as saints who are “holy brethren,” and
are by that fact held responsible to maintain what is consistent with it, both
in themselves and in their fellowship. Some say that “a circle of fellowship”
is not of God; but perforce there can be no fellowship without it being
in a circle, or having its limits, whether they be true or false. We realize
that in the maintenance of such a circle, there is call for great watchfulness
against a sectarian spirit and ways. The apostle Paul teaches “a
circle of fellowship” in 1 Cor. 7:17; 11:16; 12:26; and 14:33; were he here
with us today, we believe he would help us to sacredly regard the Scriptural
lines he then laid down as the minister of the Church, amid the evils of our
own days. He would not be in fellowship with all Christians, we know,
from his attitude toward the brother put away at Corinth, and the assembly that
for the time being was defiled by his presence.

      We cannot go to
all, that is plain if we would obey 2 Tim. 2:19-22, which is not yet obsolete.
But neither can we receive all, for the simple rule of Scripture is two-fold:
“Receive one another … to the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7), and “let all things be done unto edifying” and “decently and in order” (1
Cor. 14:26,40). These terse words put the bars up against the ditches on the
sides of both extremes. We are to receive one another because we
are the Lord’s; but we are to receive to the glory of God, and this does
not mean receiving all Christians. Christ receives sinners as such, when
it is a question of salvation, but God receives His people as they walk in ways
of obedience and separation to Himself (2 Cor. 6:17). We would regard fully
the word, “Of some have compassion, making a difference” (Jude 22),
knowing that we are to “love mercy” as well as “do justly” (Mich.6:8). But to
hold the door of fellowship open to all Christians is to do worse by God’s
house than we do by our own. Likewise, to wink at the corruptions and evils of
an apostate Christendom will not help the beloved souls who are groaning in
bondage there. “A true witness delivers souls” (Prov. 14:25), and this calls
for both the maintenance of Scriptural fellowship and the teaching to others of
what this involves.

      (From Seed for the
Sower, No. 123.)