Why Do Churches Of God Exist?

by McCormick, F. | Category: Why Do Churches Of God Exist? | May 1955

THE GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS.

"And I turned to see the voice which spake with me. And having turned I sow seven golden lampstands" (Revelation 1.12, R.V.M.).

"The seven lampstands are-seven churches" (verse 20).

Note the individual responsibility of each church in its own locality, in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Each one is an individual entity; each one is a golden lampstand, Each one is made of the same material, the same in constitution, the same in design, the same in purpose. From each one it is intended that divine light will be shed abroad in the surrounding darkness, and in God's house, in the power of the Holy Spirit. While individual believers are to be seen as lights in the world, a church of God, as a lampstand, is viewed as a collective unit, a repository of divine truth, shining forth in united life and action, revealing that God's will is done on earth in subjection to the Lord Christ, seen in the midst of the golden lampstands.

Note, too, the relationship of each church to the other, for all are linked together in one kingdom: "And He made us a kingdom" (Revelation 1.4, 0).

There is one book for the seven churches (chapter 1.11). All are responsible to hear what the Spirit saith to the churches, and all are responsible to the one Lord in the midst, who is seen exercising authority over all. Were these churches fulfilling the purpose for which they came into existence? It is evident there was a variety of manifest evils which the Lord saw and revealed, of moral and doctrinal sorts, which called for repentance.

Spiritual condition also needed to be put right, and failure in one is threatened, with removal of the lampstand, unless rectified (Revelation 2.5; 3.10).

This shows that, in position or constitution, a church of God is not, as some assert, a local expression of the body of Christ. No part of the body of Christ could ever be removed out of its place. While all the saints in the churches of God are in the Body of Christ, all who are in the Body of Christ are not in churches of God, for many believers are manifestly a law to themselves, and know nothing of subjection to the Lordship of Christ. (We speak of course of members of the Body on earth).

Some of these churches had much to commend them outwardly, and had a name that they lived, but He whose eyes are as a flame of fire, who said, "I know," pronounced the church in Sardis to be dead. It is evident there was failure in these churches, as also in others, yet they are recognized, written to by God's command (Revelation 1.1-11), and called upon to repent. God had called them to be lightbearers; some were burning dimly, some well nigh going out. To fulfil the purpose of their existence there was need to bring beaten oil for the light. A Spirit-given ministry applied internally to the needs of God's people in order to keep the church in a right spiritual condition is absolutely essential to acceptable testimony. Each one in the church must needs also exercise his gift for the edification of the whole, as led by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians chapters 12-14). In such an atmosphere there will be power, and the unbelieving and unlearned coming in will in truth declare, "God is among you indeed."

Then from churches of God gospel testimony should be heralded forth in sincerity and clarity, in "holding forth the word of life" (Philippians 2.10). The Acts of the Apostles reveals the burning zeal of the church of God in Jerusalem to proclaim" the words of this life." In spite of every opposition "they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ." Of them too it could be said, "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad." "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly." Churches of God are responsible to fulfil the terms of the great commission, as seen in Matthew 28.18-20; it is one of the purposes of their existence.

THE HOUSE AND TEMPLE OF GOD.

God has a further design in bringing into existence churches of God. It is that He might have a house, a temple, for His habitation and service. Ephesians 2.21, 22 has often been interpreted as referring to believers being builded into the Body of Christ, but it is obvious from verse 21 that" each several building "(R.V.) or" every building" (R.V.M.), refers to buildings already in- existence, not to individual believers. It seems clear from verse 22 that the church of God in Ephesus was one of these buildings, as also was the church of God in Corinth, of which it is written, " ye are ... God's building" (1 Corinthians 3.9). We have before made reference to how these buildings, or churches, came into existence. These churches as they were formed were fitly framed together with all other existing churches into one thing, a holy temple in the Lord, "being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Chief Corner Stone" (verse 20).

"Holy temple in the Lord" brings before us the highest standard of God's requirements. Holiness is to characterize God's habitation. The highest standard of godliness is set before us in God's house (1 Timothy 3.15, 16). The most complete standard of separation is to be our objective. Separation from worldly, moral, doctrinal and religious defilement is demanded of those who are God's temple. This is no narrow mindedness, but the enlargement of the believer's vision and heart relative to God's purposes in connexion with His temple. 2 Corinthians 6.14-18 should be carefully pondered.

"We are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6.10,17).

God can only dwell where His will is acknowledged and obeyed. "In the Lord," as it were, is the atmosphere of the holy temple, all is to be done in subjection to the Lordship of Christ who is placed as Son over God's house, "Whose house are we, if we hold fast" (Hebrews 3.6). Again, as God legislated for His people Israel to offer their burnt offerings and sacrifices in the place of the Name, saying, "Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest" (Deuteronomy 12.13), so it is to-day.

"Ye also, as living stones are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices" (1 Peter 2.5).

Human sentiment says it does not matter, and many of God's dear children fritter away their time moving hither and thither in the sects and religious movements of the day, as though God had not spoken about His house, and the service and worship thereof. If God has spoken on this matter, what more is required than obedience? Better by far than seeking to shine in spiritual Babylon, is to find a place in God's house. Said David, "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple"(Psalm 27.4). In the midst of His obedient serving, worshipping people God finds the place of His rest on earth in His house (Hebrews 4.).

There is no resting-place for God among the abounding religious lawlessness contrary to His word so manifest on every hand, and the tendency of many is to join hand in hand in this hopeless confusion.

"To the law and to the testimony! " is the course for all Godfearing men. We see therefore that the reason why churches of God did, and do, exist, is that God may have a house and temple for His habitation, according to His own design and pattern, therein to be served and worshipped in spirit and truth. "This is My resting place," "here will I dwell," is true of God's spiritual house today. It exists for God's glory and pleasure, to show forth His excellencies, and to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Therein is the highest possible service rendered of which mortals are capable, as energized and controlled by the Spirit of God. May we offer such service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe!

McCormick, F. | May 1955
Why Do Churches Of God Exist?