THE VALUE OF THE ASSEMBLY
R. J. Campbell
Matthew 13: 45–46; 16: 15–18; Ephesians 5: 25–27; Acts 20: 28
I read these scriptures, beloved brethren, having been affected by the value of the assembly to divine Persons, and that we might be encouraged as contemplating it, that the assembly might mean more to us. In these scriptures we get some impression of the love of Christ for the assembly; the way that He has loved the assembly; the way that He has served the assembly; the way that He presently loves the assembly and is presently serving it.
I think we would have some sense, too, beloved brethren, of the value of the assembly to the blessed Spirit; the way that the Spirit is serving the assembly in view of her being prepared for that day of presentation to Christ. What a journey it has been, as with the Spirit. What a journey it is, what a journey it will yet be in view of the presentation of the assembly to the heavenly Man. Well may we say, like Rebecca, as we contemplate the love and service of the Spirit, “I will go”. May we be prepared to be submissive to the Spirit in His operations and service in relation to the assembly in view of that day of presentation. He providing the energy, the spring, so that when we see Christ we move spontaneously towards Him.
What I had primarily in mind was the love of Christ for the assembly. He has been spoken of as a connoisseur seeking beautiful pearls. What a service, Christ looking for beautiful pearls! It says, “Having found one pearl of great value, he went and sold all whatever he had and bought it”. Who can measure that, beloved brethren; what Christ had, what He was prepared to surrender, what He was prepared to sell, that He might have the assembly for Himself—one pearl of great value. I think we would be impressed as we realise in some little way what Christ had—“all whatever he had”. How much Christ, we may say, has surrendered that He might have the assembly for Himself. As it says in Ephesians 5: 25, “Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it”.
I just have this impression, beloved brethren, that Christ was looking for something. You think of Him looking, searching what pearls, beautiful pearls! But it says, “Having found one pearl …”. That could only refer to the assembly, and He sold all whatever He had that He might have it.
We have the impression in Matthew 16 as to what is completely outside of man’s mind. The natural man could never think of these things. Indeed in Matthew’s gospel and Luke’s gospel the Lord refers to what the Father has hid from the wise and prudent and revealed to babes.
Take the wisest man in this world—these things are completely outside his knowledge. It involves the Father’s revelation and also the service of the blessed Spirit to apprehend these great thoughts. The Lord says, “But ye, who do ye say that I am?”. Peter says, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. What a confession, beloved brethren! What an impression Peter had of this Man of whom he spoke. I believe, in some sense, he had it by experience, though he was to be formed in it still further through experience with Christ and his knowledge of Him. I believe he saw features in Christ that called out this confession. It was revealed to him by the Father. The Father’s sovereign operations were involved in revealing this to Peter; and yet I believe that he saw before him someone completely superior to every other man—“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus says, “Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly”. What a confession by Peter! Christ has built on that.
Nothing will fail in the hands of Christ. What a Rock He is, beloved brethren. The assembly will be completely secure in the hands of Christ. Even the great administration of evil, hades’ gates, will not prevail against it. What a comfort for us in these days, that things are secure and safe in the hands of Christ.
I believe that the Lord’s word, “Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly”, involves the rock-like character of the divine work in the saints that, as committed, will see the testimony through. There is what is secure and absolutely sure in the hands of Christ, but as the divine work is there in the saints things will be preserved. I believe that in “two of you” in Matthew 18: 19 there is what is of rock-like character that will maintain the testimony right to the end. In localities “two of you” assembly-minded persons—is what is required, beloved brethren, to maintain the testimony to the end. Think of the work of Christ, “On this rock I will build my assembly”. What the assembly means to Christ!—“My assembly”. And we have things worked out in Matthew 18, but worked out in all the preciousness of what the assembly is to Christ. I believe we will hold things rightly in our local settings, and value the assembly in its universal setting, as we appreciate what the assembly means to Christ—“My assembly”.
As to Ephesians 5 I am thinking not only of the way that Christ has loved the assembly—it says, “Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it”, and in some sense that would be historic—but of His present service—He is presently serving the assembly by the washing of water by the word. Even an occasion like this Christ would use to protect and preserve the assembly pure for Himself. It is not here to free it from sin; it is to maintain it fresh and pure for Himself. He will maintain the assembly in view of that day of presentation.
What a day that will be, beloved brethren! I think Christ longs for it, that day when he will have the assembly complete, glorious, without spot or wrinkle or any of such things. His own present, precious service is maintaining the assembly in this way with no spot or wrinkle or any of such things. Beloved brethren, we should appreciate the way that He has loved the assembly, but too the way that He is presently loving and serving it. He would use an occasion like this, He would use our reading meetings, He would use our occasions of fellowship together. He would use three-day occasions, in view of the assembly being maintained fresh and pure for Himself—His present, loving service to the assembly, the washing of water by the word. May we be affected by it.
Finally, we have that touching reference in Acts 20, where the beloved apostle is speaking to responsible persons in Ephesus. He is about to leave them, but he feels the need of a warning. He says, “Take heed therefore to yourselves”. I believe there is a need for this kind of self-judgment being maintained with us in view of a right outlook in relation to the assembly. We should maintain ourselves, beloved brethren, in relation to the truth, in view of the truth being maintained in our local gatherings. This will only be as first of all we take heed to ourselves.
Paul says, “Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock”. What a responsibility, and yet what a privilege, to have some little service in maintaining what is here for the heart of Christ!
Here it is God’s assembly. Indeed, I think in Scripture there is as much reference to the assembly of God, to the assembly in relation to God, as there is to it in relation to Christ, therefore we should value the assembly as the great vessel that stands related to God Himself, in view of praise, and in view of maintaining things here in testimony. Paul says, “to shepherd the assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own”. Think of the value to God of the assembly—“purchased with the blood of his own”. I think that is one of the most touching references in relation to the assembly. Well, Paul is using this as a lever.
He is using this to influence these elders in Ephesus, and it would come down to each one of us as having any sense of responsibility, that we might appreciate the assembly and devote ourselves in service to it. That involves the personnel. It is not an abstract thing; it involves maintaining principles, maintaining the truth, seeking to maintain persons in relation to the truth, in relation to principles. There is much on us, therefore, beloved brethren. The assembly as maintained here for Christ is the vessel which serves Him in praise, that delights His own heart as He comes into His garden. Think what the assembly means to Christ, “a garden enclosed ... a spring shut up, a fountain sealed” (Song of Songs 4: 12)—the assembly maintained wholly for Christ. How much it means to Him, beloved brethren! It is this vessel that Christ uses in the great service of praise, “To him be glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus unto all generations of the age of ages. Amen”, Ephesians 3: 21. Beloved brethren, we form part of that great and august vessel. May we appreciate what the assembly is to Christ and to God Himself, and commit ourselves in devotion to serve the assembly in view of things being preserved to the end. May it be so, for His name’s sake.
Word in meeting for ministry, Helston
2 July 1974