THE ASSEMBLY AS A SPIRITUAL SYSTEM

What is before me in writing this paper is to consider the assembly, not in its public and local character as seen in the first epistle to the Corinthians, but in its spiritual constitution as seen in the epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians. In other words the mystery as unfolded by the apostle Paul.

In the epistle to the Colossians it is the body of Christ, in which He is reproduced here while He is personally absent. As risen from the dead, He is the Head of the body, the assembly. The Head expresses Himself in the body. It is what answers to the “me” in Acts 9: 4. In Colossians it is that side of the mystery, “Christ in you”. In Ephesians it is the other side of the mystery, “the assembly in Christ Jesus”, the body is seen united to the Head in heaven. In Colossians the body is seen on the earth as complete at all times from Pentecost till the Lord comes. It embraces every saint living on the earth at any given time during the present dispensation. Every saint is a constituent part of the assembly.

Viewed in this spiritual aspect the assembly is wholly the work of God, a new creation. Nothing of man after the flesh comes into it, therefore there can be no failure or breakdown, all is perfect. “The body is of Christ”, Col 2: 17. It derives its being and character from the Head. It subsists in the life and nature of the Head, and derives its constant supply from the Head: “From whom all the body, ministered to and united together by the joints and bands, increases with the increase of God”, Col 2: 19. It is a spiritual living organism, animated by the life of the Head. This life should display itself in every member of the body.

The assembly viewed in its spiritual character is outside of all that is of flesh and blood, outside of all that is of the first creation, therefore can only be apprehended by those who are spiritual. Hence the importance of our understanding and accepting the circumcision of Christ. In His death He passed out of all those natural and earthly relationships into which He entered as born of a woman, and out of the condition of flesh and blood into which He came according to flesh, so that we no longer know Christ after the flesh, as the apostle says, 2 Cor 5: 16.

In resurrection He entered into an entirely new condition of life and into a new and heavenly relationship, the pattern of a new creation. So that as circumcised in the circumcision of Christ we pass out of our natural condition and relationships according to flesh, to enter into a new and heavenly condition of life and relationships. “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God”, Col 3: 3. “If any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new”, 2 Cor 5: 17. As risen with Christ, we are on new ground, we enter upon an entirely new order of things, outside of our flesh and blood condition, and outside all that belongs to this present world. “If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as if alive in the world?” (Col 2: 20), &c. In the assembly we are apart from all that to which Christ died. In the new man there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman, but Christ is everything, and in all. The new man is a new creation, embracing the work of God in all the saints, a collective thought. It is something new and distinct from all that is after flesh.

Yet for the time being what is of nature is owned of God, and to be held sacred by us. But it does not belong to the new and eternal order of things. “That was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual”, 1 Cor 15: 46. The natural comes to an end, the spiritual abides to eternity. While in our present flesh and blood condition we must recognise these various relationships and states in nature. So that we have to take account of ourselves in two senses, that is, as having links with the two systems, the natural and the spiritual. It is not a little remarkable that in the two epistles, Colossians and Ephesians, in which the spiritual system is most fully developed, the natural relationships are most fully recognised.

Doubtless the effect of the spiritual should be seen in the natural conditions of life, giving a heavenly colour to the life of responsibility in whatever state saints may be found. But it is specially in our relationships with one another, as saints, that the grace of Christ should be seen, in “bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any should have a complaint against any; even as the Christ has forgiven you, so also do ye. And to all these add love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts, to which also ye have been called in one body, and be thankful”, Col 3: 12-15. It is in this sphere that the life of Jesus expresses itself to the pleasure of God.

In the epistle to the Ephesians the apostle develops the truth of the mystery in connection with what God has established in Christ as the ascended Man, according to divine purpose. Christ is seen as the risen and exalted Son of man, the antitype of Adam, exalted as Head over the earthly creation. The assembly is the antitype of Eve, the woman taken out of the man and united to him. Nothing comes into the assembly but that which is of the Man, that is, Christ. God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and took one of his ribs, and of the rib He builded a woman, and brought her to the man, and she became his wife. That is what He is doing today, He is building the woman—the assembly—to be the bride of Christ. So also Christ is said to have loved the assembly, and given Himself for it, in order that He might sanctify it, purifying it by the washing of water by the word, that He might present the assembly to Himself glorious. How wonderful that divine persons should have such thoughts about the assembly, that such as we were should be taken up to form this glorious assembly. This is a great mystery, as the apostle said, Christ and the assembly.

In chapter 1: 23 the assembly is said to be “his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all”. In this epistle the body is viewed in connection with what is eternal. In the coming ages the body will be adequate for the display of the fulness of the Head, it could only be such as the workmanship of God, a new creation. The body in this sense includes all the saints from Pentecost till the coming of the Lord. It is important that we should understand that apart from all that is visible, or that can be apprehended by men, God is doing a great spiritual work in the souls of men, the result of which will abide eternally. The active agent in this work is the Holy Spirit, forming what is of Christ in the saints, a new moral being. When the Lord comes we shall be clothed with a spiritual body. He will transform our bodies of humiliation like unto His body of glory. Then the work which God has already begun in us will be completed. Though this work of God in the saints cannot be seen, the effect of it should be seen in a changed manner of life, in newness of life, displaying something of the moral character of God.

In chapter 4: 4 we read, “There is one body”. The body in this sense is viewed as always subsisting, including all the saints living at any given time, from Pentecost onwards till the Lord comes. On the basis of this we are exhorted to keep the “unity of the Spirit”, in the bond of peace. All the activities of the Head are exercised through the body on earth. He maintains the various gifts for the perfecting of the saints, and for the building up of the body. The body in this aspect is here for the display of God as He has been revealed in Christ, so that the life of God should be seen in the saints.

In chapter 3: 9, 10 it is the vessel in which the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies are learning the all-various wisdom of God, as it will be the vessel in which His glory will be displayed in the coming ages.

In chapter 2: 21 the assembly is spoken of as a building growing to a holy temple in the Lord. This holy temple is entirely the work of God, composed of living stones; man has no hand in it. It has been growing since Pentecost, and when complete it will be the eternal dwelling-place of God. Meantime the saints are said to be builded together for the habitation of God in the Spirit. God has in very truth been dwelling with men ever since the Spirit came down and took possession of the temple which Christ had builded.

In this spiritual structure builded by God of spiritual material which He has formed in the saints, there can be no failure or breakdown, all goes on to perfection, and will come out in glory. In view of all the present confusion and break-down in the professing church, which has become like a great house, containing vessels to honour, and vessels to dishonour, the result of man’s will and work, how important for us it is to know that in which there is nothing of man’s will or work, where all things are of God.

The assembly viewed as a spiritual system, is the masterpiece of all God’s works, that in which He will in the coming day display the exceeding riches of His grace, the greatness of His power, and His all-varied wisdom. It will be the vessel in which all His glory will shine forth to the admiration of a blissful universe. At the same time it will be the display of all the perfections of the second Man, when He will come to be glorified in His saints, and admired in all those who have believed. Then He will fully see of the travail of His soul and will be satisfied.

If God has been pleased to reveal to us what was in His mind, hid in God from eternity, what He is now working to bring to pass, it is that we may be in communion with Him as to these things, and so be delivered from the thoughts of men, and the course of this world.

As we contemplate this wonderful system, we may well say with the apostle, “To him be glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus unto all generations of the age of ages. Amen”, Eph 3: 21.

From The Believer’s Friend vol 21 (1929)