EXTRACT

The thought of fellowship is one of the most important subjects in the two epistles (Corinthians). It is not local in itself; fellowship is general, but it works out locally. The economy of the assembly involves different local assemblies, but really there is only one fellowship. It involves the general thought, for He has called us “by whom ye have been called into the fellowship” and “for we all partake of that one loaf”. They had been called, but what they had been called into was the same as Paul was in; they all partook of the one loaf.

“The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of the Christ? Because we, being many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf”, 1 Corinthians 10: 16, 17. The persons who would receive the ministry would have their part consciously in what is universal, but it would have a certain local expression. The economy of the assembly in its provisional side down here will cease when we enter on our heavenly position. She comes down from God out of heaven—one great thought—but at the present time the fellowship works out in localities, whether in this town, London, or New York. Here we are in heathen surroundings. In London we are in nominally christian surroundings, but the position is the same in each place, for what is characteristic of the place is usually what Satan takes up in opposition. However great the difficulties, the faithfulness of God enables us to overcome them.

This fellowship is one of the means that God employs to maintain things through the whole of this dispensation. “Who shall also confirm you to the end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye have been called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”, implying that this is the means employed to keep us to the end. God is the dominating thought—Paul is apostle by God’s will; the letter is to the assembly of God at Corinth, and he thanks God in respect of the grace of God. It seems as if God has undertaken the matter; He had invaded Corinth in a most striking way. Paul is under great pressure. God had invaded the city through Paul and asserted His rights through him. The Lord said, Do not be afraid, I have much people in this city. He would see him through. It was a most difficult place, but the Lord would see him through, and so this epistle has the same thought—God would be with them now that Paul is away.

Fellowship is a real bond—“Jesus Christ our Lord”. He is for us all, but then we are also for one another. There are many who readily admit that they are responsible to the Lord for everything they do, but they would perhaps hesitate to say that they are responsible to the brethren for everything. That the Lord should look into their affairs would be admitted, but if the brethren do, they complain; it is not their business. That is independency, because we are obligated to one another in the fellowship—it is a protective obligation. If a person is worldly and wants worldly things, his worldliness involves the brethren; he is dragging the brethren into it—in this sense, what one does, all do. That is a serious side that many do not recognise.

This matter of obligation to one another is a thing that ought to be observed. There are those who say, You are interfering in what is my business, and the Lord knows my heart. That is an indication of a state of soul incompatible with the fellowship.

J. Taylor (Vol. 52, pp.410, 411)

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