An Earnest Entreaty To All Who Are Born Again

by STOOPE, S. | Category: General | Nov 1954

Prior to concluding the work of redemption at Calvary, the Lord Jesus prayed that those who would believe in Him "may all be one," a visible unity of disciples to bear a united testimony on earth; "that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me." It is, alas, evident on every hand that most of the children of God are found in sectarian associations instead of being found in this divine unity. A brief glance through the Church Notices of any large newspaper should convince any sincere believer who loves the Saviour that, so-called, Christendom to-day is in a chaotic state. The multiplicity of sects amongst God's redeemed children is entirely contrary to His word; sects being described by the apostle Paul as of "the works of the flesh " namely " divisions, heresies " (Galatians 5.19, 20 R.V.)

This disunity of believers is to be much regretted since Bibles are so plentiful and the Scriptures so plain and definite about the behaviour, worship and service of a heavenly people scattered among the nations, yet gathered together under the all-authority of the Lord Jesus.

Dear young believer, our Saviour in the days of His flesh prayed that together with other believers we might be in one united testimony on earth, even in the place of the Name where God's will through His word is being done. "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth" (Matthew 6.10). A close examination of God's word, the sum of which is truth (Psalm 119. 160), will reveal the divinely appointed place in this our day where the prayer of the Lord Jesus:

"that they may all be one" can be effected, and who may be in it. In Deuteronomy 12. we gather that God is particular about the place where His people were to bring their offerings:

"Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: but in the place that the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee" (Deuteronomy 12.18, 14).

This scripture would teach us that of old the offerings of Israel could only be accepted in the place chosen by Jehovah. Of course those offerings have now ceased since Christ through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish unto God; nevertheless the principle of the specific place remains the same.

The offerings to-day are spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2. 5), and to be acceptable to God they must be offered in the divinely-appointed place by a sanctified, obedient people. Light is shed on this divinely appointed place, even God's house, in Paul's letter to the Hebrews

But Christ as a Son over His (God's) house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3.6).

We read of this dwelling place for God on earth being a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, built up of living stones-obedient believers who have understood, then willingly consented to baptism (immersion in water), then added to a church of God, to continue steadfastly therein according to Acts 2.41,42. Moreover God's house is conditional in character, for each living stone or obedient believer builded therein must hold fast his boldness and the glorying of the hope firm unto the end.

Concerning this truth of God's house we read, "Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Chief Corner Stone" (Ephesians 2.20). The twenty-first verse speaks of "Each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord." This is not an ecclesiastical building with ornate windows and spires, not is it the numerous group of believers, divided under various names. Note that the apostle is addressing the church of God at Ephesus (see Acts 20.17). In verse 22, be says: "In whom ye (the church) also are builded together." Therefore each several building can only be each church of God.

Paul's epistle to the Corinthians was addressed unto "the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1.2). This was another of the several buildings; as was also the church of God at Jerusalem (Acts 8.1), each capable of being fitly framed together, because there was concord in doctrinal teaching and fundamental principles laid down by the apostles; moreover they bore the hallmark of unity and there was a uniformity in name also, namely, "the churches of God" (2 Thessalonians 1.4).

The house of God (1 Timothy 3.15), being the church of the living God, and corresponding to the tabernacle of Exodus, is the aggregate of all the churches of God in this dispensation of grace. It is a house of prayer for all men (1 Timothy 2.1-3). It is the place where the believer may know how to behave both Godward and manward. It is there where worship may be offered and accepted. "LORD, I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place of the tabernacle of Thy glory" (Psalm 26.8 R.V.M.).

So should we love the "Fellowship" of 1 Corinthians 1. 9 and Acts 2.42. This term is to some' extent misunderstood by many children of God as being linked in some vague way with "the church which is His (Christ's) Body" (Ephesians 1. 22.23). The teaching of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2.18) is that the Fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord is the association of baptized, called-out believers-even though they are scattered widely over the earth, they are gathered into the one thing for God on earth, in response to the prayer of the Master-" that they may all be one."

The call in 1 Corinthians 1.9 is a call to the believer into the Fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us analyse how each person in the church of God at Corinth responded to the call of a faithful God into the Fellowship. Firstly, as unsaved sinners they believed with the heart when Paul preached to them Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1.23). They then by an act of baptism (immersion in water) shewed their obedience to God's will revealed through Paul's ministry to them (Acts 18.8-11). The apostle himself admits baptizing several saved ones-Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas, he swiftly adds however that Christ sent him to preach the gospel, not to baptize. Other disciples were baptized by other fellow-workers not mentioned. These men and women were gathered out and planted as the church of God in the city of Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 3.6). There' were, of course, no other bodies of Christians in Corinth at that time. Philosophers there were by the score but nothing in agreement with the mind of God. As time passed others were saved, baptized and added to the church, thus heeding the call of God into the Fellowship of His Son.

Let us view the various churches of God as gateways into the Fellowship. The first gateway we read of was at Jerusalem (Acts 8.1 ; Galatians 1.13). The number on the roll there was about one hundred and twenty (Acts 1.15). To this were added about three thousand souls. They heard and received the words of the apostle Peter with gladness. We have no example in Scripture of any unbaptized believer being received into the Fellowship. Truth is as important to the believer in Christ as grace is to the sinner.

These two handmaidens, light and truth (Psalm 43.8), gently lead the saved ones to the place where God in wondrous grace tabernacles with His separated people in the house of God. Enquiries will be' most welcome by the publishers of this magazine, who will gladly forward any further information on the unity of God's people and where the nearest church of God is located.

STOOPE, S. | Nov 1954
General