FAITHFULNESS IN DIVINE THINGS

Hebrews 3: 1-6; 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22

P.v.d.B. I thought we might consider the Lord Jesus as presented to us here as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession and His place as Son over God's house. The Apostle represents the authoritative side, the Lord Jesus coming out from God, presented as on God's side as we have in the beginning of Hebrews, God having spoken in Son, authoritatively; that is the Apostle. Then He is presented on our side as the High Priest of our confession; and finally the Lord's faithfulness in relation to God's house. In the assembly we meet Christ as Son over God's house and His authority is there as the Apostle. The setting up of the tabernacle was to be according to the pattern which Jehovah showed Moses on the mount - that is authoritative. Moses acted according as. Jehovah had commanded him and the glory filled the tabernacle. Then there is the priestly service that is related to it.

In Corinthians we have the ministry of the apostle Paul, and the truth he presented was not subject to change. There was what was laid down authoritatively at Corinth, and the preaching of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, by Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus did not become yea and nay. It is God that establishes: "he that establishes us with you in Christ", and the Spirit is the anointing, the seal and the earnest.

We have great resources, dear brethren, in the present time in spite of the outward smallness of things we are in.

J.R.B. It is interesting in the scriptures read how attention is drawn to faithfulness. In the beginning of the first epistle to the Corinthians we have the word that God is faithful, by whom we have been called. We can always fall back on that in a day of departure, can we not?

P.v.d.B. I am sure we can. "God is faithful, by whom ye have been called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord", 1 Cor 1: 9. That fellowship is not subject to breakdown. Not that we claim to be the fellowship of His Son, but faithfulness is needed on our part to be true to it.

W.A.M. In Haggai He says "The word that I covenanted with you... and my Spirit, remain among you; fear ye not", chap 2: 5.

P.v.d.B. That is very encouraging and strengthening to us in a day of return as we have it in those three post-captivity prophesies, that God had not given up His thoughts. That is firmly established in those prophesies. The responsible side comes into Hebrews because it says if: "whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end". There is what is conditional as well as what is unconditional.

W.A.M. So that "if" challenges us; it would keep us from making any claims, would it not?

P.v.d.B. We do not make any claims; we are in John's day where the official side has broken down, but the moral side is carried through, and the purpose of God has not changed although breakdown has come in. The purpose of God stands and every thought of God stands; the assembly is the assembly today as much as it was from the beginning, and there is one Spirit and one body. All these things stand. We need to be in the stability of divine purpose so that we shall not be moved.

G.H.B. So is this really direction: "opening and laying down", Acts 17: 3?

P.v.d.B. That is very interesting. In Paul's ministry the truth is opened up to us, and in the last hundred and fifty years there has been a great opening up of the truth; the laying down is authoritative. The ministry in that sense connects with the Apostle.

W.A.M. We are tested by false claims of apostleship and claims of authority that are not on a moral basis, and I think the L ord has brought us back to this.

P.v.d.B. That is important. In Mark’s gospel we see the authoritative side of ministry stressed. The Lord Himself taught as one who had authority.

J.R.B. What would the bearing of that be upon us? Do you think it would be that as the truth comes to us it is not optional as to whether we answer to it or not? It requires an answer; is that the point?

P.v.d.B. That is right, and we find we are tested because of conditions of weakness on our part, but the Spirit of God is careful to present along with the authoritative side the priesthood of Christ as available on our side to answer to the truth as it is presented to us. In chapter 4 the word of God is followed by the priesthood of Christ: "Having therefore a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God; let us hold fast the confession. For we have not a high priest not able to sympathise with our infirmities, but tempted in all things in like manner, sin apart" (vv 14,15). What a comfort it is to have the grace of the priesthood of Christ to enable us to answer to the truth as it comes to us!

J.R.B. That is very wonderful because in our day, when things are so broken and so small outwardly, we feel our weakness. I think God is making us to feel our weakness and dependence. But then I was encouraged recently by a note that came into the city from a brother in which he pointed out that power flows out of obedience; that if from our side we answer to the divine requirement in obedience, power comes in. It is not of man, is it?

P.v.d.B. Exactly. That was the subject we had at Plainfield, the obedience of the Christ, and it was pointed out that we can only have the benefit of the priesthood of Christ on the basis of obedience. The moment you begin to move in faithfulness to the truth you find that you have the priesthood of Christ to help you in your weakness. The exercise of His Priesthood is not in connection with sin, it is in relation to our infirmities, but there must be obedience on our part.

W.A.M. If we seek to answer to the truth we find that we are weak. It is then that we prove the Lord is there to help us, but if I am wilful I will not have His support.

P.v.d.B. No. Well, that is the great difference. Hebrews 1 is the Apostle. It is the Lord in His greatness and glory presented as the Son. "God having spoken in many parts and in many ways formerly to the fathers in the prophets, at the end of these days has spoken to us in the person of the Son" brings in the authoritative side. The divine speaking is in the Person of the Son. As the Apostle the Lord is on God's side; as Priest He is on our side.

J.R.B. Yet, as Apostle, the authoritative side would not be hard or irksome because it is in the Son, it is in that relationship which sets out the greatest affections.

P.v.d.B. It is. How attractively John presents to us the Apostle: "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father)", John 1: 14. It is in that attractive way the truth came into expression through the incarnation. "The Word became flesh", the whole mind of God was expressed in Him. As you proceed in John's gospel you can see the Minister of the sanctuary moving into the holiest in chapter 17, the presence of the Father - "Holy Father". He intercedes for us: "Always living to intercede for them", Heb 7: 25. The Word in John is also the Priest. Luke speaks of those who were "attendants on the Word", chap 1: 2. The truth is in Jesus, and Luke's gospel stresses the priestly side, the grace of the Lord Jesus in securing us in the light of God's thoughts without ever compromising these thoughts, and there is priestly grace that is able for any need; there is no case that is too difficult for the Lord.

W.A.M. Do you think we need to apprehend what we sung in our hymn: 'When His greatness fills our sight' (No 211). Is that not where we start? We come into orbit in our affections in relation to the greatness of this Person, the Lord Jesus.

P.v.d.B. That is right, and the faithfulness in which He maintained the truth for God. John presents Him as the suffering Lamb - suffering rather than surrendering the rights of God. The assembly is r elated to Him in that. Inwardly the assembly is related to Him as the Word become flesh. But administratively, on the suffering side, the assembly is with Him in the maintenance of the truth as the Lamb's wife; she is thus identified in the scene where He Himself maintained the truth for God (see John 18: 37).

W.A.M. So, as was said, when the authority is in a person that we love it is not arduous.

P.v.d.B. Authority may be insisted upon at the expense of love; on the other hand you may think you exercise love but are not subject to authority. Both are to be in balance. The universe is based on that principle of law and attraction. In Psalm 19 you have the sun, typifying Christ in all His attractiveness; but it goes on to "The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul" (v 7).

G.H.B. I was thinking of what you said as to Luke. It has been said that they were to learn how to be priestly so that they would be at home in relation to approach and entrance into great things.

P.v.d.B. It is very important to be priestly. A priest will never surrender the principles that govern the house of God. He considers for God first and then he feels for the person as he seeks to bring in help. We need to be close to the Lord and consider, as holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus. What a presentation! How perfect is the way things have come to us! and what a contemplation as we consider the glory of the Lord Jesus! There is everything to help us; the Spirit would help us in these holy feelings that are presented to us in the gospels. On the one hand the Lord Jesus exerted His authority - He could look round with anger - and at the same time it says He was distressed at the hardening of their heart. There is a perfect blending of love and authority in the presentation of the moral glory of the Lord Jesus; there was holy perfection in His anger, priestly sorrow. How He felt the unbelief that was there! It was so perfect in Jesus. We need to consider that.

G.H.B. So Peter shines when he said that "we have believed and known that thou art the holy one of God", John 6: 69.

P.v.d.B. Yes, he discerned that there was One who had words of life eternal. Later, in his epistle, he brings out the holy conditions that would be suited to Him. Peter speaks much of holiness.

A.N.T. So is not the way the apostle brings forward the Lord Jesus to attract the affections of the saints to Him where He is unique? I suppose there has never been a more difficult time than this period of which we are reading; the saints were dispersed, and how much they had to meet. The answer is in Christ and the soul being occupied with Him and His glories and not with things around about us.

P.v.d.B. I think that is helpful. Those of the dispersion were addressed by Peter in connection with what he himself had learned in the presence of the Lord Jesus down here. In chapter 6 of John, as has been referred to he says "Lord to whom shall we go? thou hast words of life eternal". In his epistle he says "to whom coming". Think of the dispersion that has taken place! But the answer is in coming to Jesus - "to whom coming" - and to be built up as living stones in the spiritual house in view of the priesthood functioning. In Matthew's gospel Peter says "Lord, if it be thou", and he left the ship and walked upon the water to go to Jesus - a way that was impossible to nature. In considering the Lord Jesus he went out to Him. That experience had entered into Peter's constitution as he wrote his epistle. In Matthew 14 he comes to Jesus in the light of the assembly. In John he comes to Him in the light of the inheritance: "thou hast words of life eternal".

W.A.M. So what is in mind in the epistle to the Hebrews is to get us to leave the ship in that way and go out to Him.

P.v.d.B. Yes, it would result in our going forth to Him "without the camp, bearing his reproach", chap 13: 13. It is very interesting to see how Moses was identified with the reproach of Christ. He rather suffered affliction with the people of God and it was the reproach of Christ he identified himself with (see Heb 11: 26). Then at a critical juncture, when there was departure amongst the people of God, he pitched the tent far from the camp and there again you get the reproach of Christ. Moses as a servant was faithful in God's house and God said this of him at a time when he was spoken against. God stood by Moses: "Not so my servant Moses: he is faithful in all my house. Mouth to mouth do I speak to him... and the form of Jehovah doth he behold", Num 12: 7,8.

W.A.M. The reproach is here but the glories are up there, and as we have to do with the glory we are made equal to the reproach, are we not?

P.v.d.B. I think that is right. When we are identified with Him outside the camp we learn our privileges with Him inside the veil, which is a great recompense; the two go together.

A.N.T. The word 'consider' is a measuring word, is it not? It is consider the Apostle and High Priest. It takes our eyes off what is horizontal to what is heavenly. Do we not find that as our hearts are occupied with Christ the difficulties round about us dissolve?

P.v.d.B. I am sure that is right. We need a fresh view of Christ. The Lord went a long way with the two in Luke 24, and who could have given them a better outline of the Scriptures than He Himself? But it was when He manifested Himself to them that they turned back to Jerusalem. So the Lord would give us a fresh manifestation of Himself in view of recovery. It may not be the way you expect the Lord to appear to you. It may be He appears, as in Mark, "in another form" (chap 16: 12), but it has in view the recovery of the persons. He appears in another form in relation to the seven assemblies and John is as dead at the Lord's feet; he had not seen that presentation before. John identified himself with the current state of things; he is as dead at His feet and the Lord laid His right hand on him and said "Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the living one: and I became dead, and behold I am living to the ages of ages", Rev 1: 17, 18. The Lord presents Himself as the One who is able for anything in virtue of what He is in His own Person - "and have the keys of death and of hades", forces that are operating against the assembly.

J.R.B. So as we consider Him "who is faithful to him that has constituted him", how attractive He becomes in a day when we have known so much unfaithfulness and departure from our side. But as was said just now, we need help to get our eyes lifted above the level of things here, because we tend to feel that it is impossible for the truth to be carried through if we keep our eye on the horizontal side. But as we consider Him "who is faithful to him that has constituted him" we can see that, no matter what breakdown there is from our side, He is able to carry everything through in faithfulness to God.

P.v.d.B. I am sure that is right. Even "if we are unfaithful, he abides faithful, for he cannot deny himself", 2 Tim 2: 13. The Lord never gives us up; and it is important, as our brother said, that things need to be approached from the divine side. You may say there is so much that is discouraging on the horizontal side; but even in John 13 we get a beautiful picture in the inner circle. In spite of what there was current without, the Lord is seen binding something together that is going to be connected with the vertical side: "knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came out from God and was going to God" (v 3); He descends in lowly service and washes the feet of the disciples and binds together a circle here that could be connected with the place He was going to. I think everything in that circle needs to be worked out from where He is. As Son over God's house we do not meet the Lord on our own ground but on His ground. The assembly is not just a company of Christians that comes together to enjoy themselves; it consists of persons that answer to the truth and act according to the principles that govern the house of God; they recognise Christ as Son over God's house and find they are there on His terms. They cannot lay down any terms on which the Lord would be with them. The Lord would say 'this is My assembly and I want you to be there on My terms'; and you find that the priestly grace of Christ is available to sustain you in it.

G.H.B. So that those two who walked and were downcast in Luke 24 had to be pointed to the source.

P.v.d.B. That is right. They may have been discouraged but the Lord knows all about that. "What discourses are these?" He says. He knew what they were thinking and He heard what they were saying and He knew far better than they did. They said to Him "Thou sojournest alone in Jerusalem, and dost not know what has taken place in it in these days?" - how ignorant they were! The Lord has perfect knowledge as to what happens in Jerusalem. In the beginning of this gospel there is a man in Jerusalem who is a pattern man - Simeon - and when he received Christ in his arms he was ready to depart; he represents the priestly element that is ready to receive Christ. At the end of this gospel the Lord is carried up into heaven, and He would say to us 'that is your place; I am going to be there and I want you to be there with Me'; and that is greater than anything we might attach to things here. He is Son over God's house, the priestly family.

V.J.C. As to Simeon, it is not recorded that he ever gave up the Child. We know that he did give him back to his mother but it says that he "received him into his arms".

P.v.d.B. He was a true priest. The word 'consecration' in the Hebrew literally means 'filling of the hands', and the hands of Simeon were filled when he had Christ in his arms. It touches your heart as you think of it.

W.A.M. What an appreciation he had. It says "it was divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he should see the Lord's Christ", Luke 2: 26. Everything was there in that Babe; the assembly was there, the world to come was there, Israel was there.

P.v.d.B. Yes, and he came in the Spirit into the temple. It is a pattern for us as to how we come together, whether we are ready to receive the presentation of Christ in that way and also whether we are ready to depart.

W.A.M. And the timing is perfect. He just comes in at the right moment.

V.J.C. So many chapters are taken up with the priesthood; does it all have to do with the service of God?

P.v.d.B. I think that is important. There are two sides to the priesthood of Christ; one is that He is the Minister of the holy places, and the other is in relation to our infirmities, He gives us priestly grace and helps us. I think Luke has this in view; the Lord is able to meet everything here and the throne of grace was here. In Hebrews 4 we are exhorted to draw near to the throne of grace. Mr Stoney said that that was because they had got away from it.

W.A.M. We get away from it too, and have to get back to it.

P.v.d.B. Well, that is experience. Much may be set out objectively as truth in ministry - and we need objective ministry because we could not be subjectively formed if we did not have the pattern presented to us - but we do need help on our side. And the Lord is just there to help us.

G.H.B. Even the apostle Paul says of his own countrymen that they had zeal for God but not according to knowledge. It always has to be according to the pattern, has it not?

P.v.d.B. That is right. So that the priest's lips should keep knowledge and at his mouth they seek the law.

A.N.T. So it is that line of things that disturbed the Hebrews - to be transferred from what was given of God to Christ. What a difficult thing for them to come to! The apostle credits them all with being holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, but what mixed conditions were there! There appear to have been drawers back to perdition and there was weakness, but the answer to it all is in Christ Jesus, to get our eyes on Him.

P.v.d.B. That is good. Paul maintains the divine standards and he presents Christ; and we always need that presentation because things will not move without Him. He is the head of the assembly. The Spirit of God will always bring Christ in. Then we need to be in the stability of divine purpose as partakers of the heavenly calling. It is because of the heavenly calling that we need the priesthood of Christ. How could we answer to it without His priesthood?

W.A.M. The heavenly calling is what the enemy is against. If we drop down to an earthly level he will not attack us.

P.v.d.B. No, he will leave you alone then. The moment you are set in relation to the heavenly calling you find the forces of the enemy rallied against you. As soon as there is any expression of the assembly maintained here, the enemy brings everything to bear against that to disqualify it, but the gates of hades shall not prevail against the assembly.

W.A.M. I have often thought of Paul in Acts 20; he says "I have not shrunk from announcing to you all the counsel of God" (v 27). I used to wonder why he said he had not shrunk, but I think he would become a particular target of the enemy as he laid out all the counsel of God. If he had ministered on a lower level he would not have come in for such suffering.

P.v.d.B. That is just what the enemy is at, the topshoot as Mr Stoney said - where the heavenly line is maintained.

J.R.B. That is the exhortation to the assembly at Philadelphia. The Lord says "I come quickly; hold fast what thou hast, that no one take thy crown", Rev 3: 11. Is not the crown the top note, the crowning glory?

P.v.d.B. Exactly. That is something very precious that has come out in the recovery and relates to what was departed from at Ephesus.

W.A.M. "The name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem... and my new name" (v 12).

P.v.d.B. That is something to be weighed over but you can see how distinctly the Spirit of God has brought out the light of the revelation of God in the history of the recovery; and not only that, but the features of the assembly that are related to it, the way the assembly is formed in the light of the revelation of God as the vessel of His praise so that there might be a full answer to that revelation in that vessel. You can see how much conflict has entered into the history of the recovery in the maintenance of the truth, but the Lord credits the overcomer in Philadelphia with the name of His God. "I will write upon him" - He will impress indelibly on the overcomer the name of His God, the name of the city of His God, new Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven; and He also says "I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God". The truth as we have received it has largely come out in the temple, particularly through Mr Taylor's ministry. "Him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more at all out". The temple is here. It is not the holding of things merely in a historical way; for that is what in the history of the recovery has happened to so many that have missed their way in current issues at the time and they cannot see that there has been a living continuation of ministry in the power of the Spirit where Christ is held as Head; that will go through to the end of the dispensation and light comes into the temple and governs the saints in a living way. It is a living line of things, not something that took place historically in Mr Darby's time or in Mr Raven's time; it is the living thing going through related to what has gone before and going on until the Lord comes.

A.N.T. Is that why the apostle brings in the last verse we read: "whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end".

P.v.d.B. That is very important. You have more in mind perhaps.

A.N.T. I was thinking that this is in relation to experience, what we touch on the earth - if we touch it - and the apostle is appealing to all the saints; but this is a simple word; "if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end". The boast of hope would mean that there is something more glorious ahead.

P.v.d.B. Yes, there surely is!

A.N.T. And yet we are to touch the glories of Christ in the assembly now.

P.v.d.B. That is it. So we have here the words "hold fast", and again, "hold fast what thou hast" in connection with Philadelphia; and further, "Wherefore, even as says the Holy Spirit, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts". That is the present speaking of the Holy Spirit and that is the test: "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies", Rev 3: 13. The Spirit is distinctly speaking and it is a question of hearing the voice because what the Spirit says to us is the present mind of Christ in relation to each local assembly.

J.R.B. It is inconceivable to think of the Spirit being here and not having something to say, and therefore I need to be in constant exercise in my own soul to be related to that.

P.v.d.B. That is it, because the enemy has been very active in stopping the wells, but thank God there has been an opening up of things and God is making way for the saints. When they came to Rehoboth they did not strive, for God had made room for His people (see Gen 26: 22). The Spirit of God has been hindered in many ways but there is an area where He is free to unfold the truth and it is where these conditions of faithfulness exist. There would not be any local expression of the assembly today if there had not been faithfulness in maintaining things, and the result is that the Lord has what He has.

W.A.M. Is it interesting that the scripture in Corinthians goes on to being established?

P.v.d.B. Yes, we should come to that. We need to be firmly established. Peter too brings in the need for being established. We spoke of the pillar in the temple of Christ's God. Solomon named the pillars Jachin and Boaz (see 2 Chron 3: 17); Jachin means 'he will establish' and Boaz 'in him is strength', and we need to be strengthened and established. In the book of Kings the two pillars are said to be eighteen cubits each, but when you come to Chronicles it says thirtyfive cubits and I think it is because in a day of recovery the pillars are referred to as one: "him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God”.

W.A.M. I remember Mr Hibbert telling us that the idea of being established was a horticultural term, that when you put a plant in the soil and the roots get down and take hold of the soil, then you say it is established.

P.v.d.B. We need to be established in the truth. There is great need for being established so that we shall not be moved. There is no uncertainty as to what has come to us, but the enemy would divert us from that by what is related to breakdown and you will not get any help from that side. You need to come to God's side: "Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God, who also has sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts". The anointing is the spiritual dignity in which you are set up to function in the divine system under the Minister of the sanctuary. The Spirit is the anointing and He is also the seal. God has sealed us off by giving us the Spirit and He has also given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. He wants us to know what He has given to us - the inheritance - and the Spirit is the earnest of it. You can see in Hebrews how departure would deprive us of the good of the inheritance. The people were strewed in the desert because they did not believe the report of the land and hence they perished in the wilderness. Our establishment is in the land, the realm of divine purpose.

G.H.B. Do you think it is a little like the selection in Acts: "Look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men, well reported of, full of the Holy Spirit", chap 6: 3? They were those who could be depended upon and be able to minister rightly.

P.v.d.B. I am sure that is right. You might be inclined to think that they would have to be pretty good in dealing with material things but they had to be spiritual persons. One of them was Philip, the evangelist, and another one we know of is Stephen. There was something very distinctive in those persons. It brings up the level on which even the smallest matters are to be cared for in the assembly. And so in the apostle's purpose to come to Corinth there was no lightness. It was not yea and nay; the truth in the way it comes to us is yea in Him. It is not 'yes' today and 'no' tomorrow.

J.R.B. That is that every thought of God is to be carried through in Him. The tendency is, alas, to accommodate the truth in our own level, but things are being carried through for God in Him. God has in mind that we should be brought up to that level: "he that establishes us with you in Christ".

P.v.d.B. Very good. It shows that the substantial answer to the moving back of things in Hebrews is in considering the Apostle and High Priest; we are to be established in Him. The truth has its own authority and it carries its own credentials.

W.A.M. Would the 'amen' be priestly?

P.v.d.B. It would. There are seven 'amens' in the book of Revelation and there is no uncertainty as to what God is doing.

W.A.M. It is not only that things are affirmed but there is an answer to them.

P.v.d.B. There is; it is very important that there should be an answer to the truth. It is not to be held in a theoretical way, there is to be a practical answer in formation to it. It may be in two or three in a locality but the assembly is the assembly and it is to be respected. We are to have great regard for the assembly.

W.A.M. Paul did here, did he not? He establishes us with you, he says, not 'you with us'.

P.v.d.B. Very good. It shows how he was not independent. Great as his place was as an apostle (little as he was in his own estimation) he was never greater than the assembly, and no servant is greater than the assembly. The assembly is always greater than the servant and therefore we need to have great regard for the assembly and for the saints in their dignity as being anointed; we are not to dissociate ourselves in any way from our brethren.

G.H.B. Even in the Corinthian setting he says "for we are a sweet odour of Christ to God", 2 Cor 2: 15.

P.v.d.B. Yes, that shows how deep things went with the apostle. It was an odour of death in those that perish but there was something working in life and that is what we need to be concerned about today. There is much on the negative side and much has happened in a negative way amongst us, but as was said elsewhere, having a judgment of what is wrong, in itself, is no ground of gathering. We may have a full judgment of what is wrong but that in itself is never a gathering power; it is not establishing. So many that had a judgment of evil in 1970 have departed and have been dispersed. We need more than that. We need the divine pattern as it stands on the divine side and answer to it and not allow any feelings of our own to deviate from it, because we tend to give way to feelings where principles should govern. The priest considers for God and is governed by the principles that govern God's house, and then he would serve the persons in relation to it.

V.J.C. Are two things linked - God moving on His terms and yet we have to learn something of the priestly grace that goes with them? Perhaps you could say something about that.

P.v.d.B. I think that the Lord is perfectly acquainted with what has been going on amongst us and He has the answer to it, but He does not start off with a rebuke, He takes account of things in a positive way. He would say, What is there that I can credit in each local assembly? "I know thy works and thy labour and thine endurance"; the Lord knows all that and He would credit the saints with anything He can credit them with in any locality. But then there are certain other things that He has to say too: "but I have against thee", and that raises the question of obedience, whether we submit to what the Lord has to say; and we can count on the grace of the Lord Jesus, His priestly grace, to help us to meet things. Much is happening but things are to be done according to divine principles. The Lord knows all that is current, as to that side He is not a stranger in Jerusalem, but He has everything under perfect control and as the High Priest He is trimming the lamps. He has the charge of the lamps and is dealing with assemblies in His own way, but the need for us is to submit to what He says to us.

A.N.T. So is grace the power and unity of gathering?

P.v.d.B. That is important and confirms what has been said earlier, that a judgment of evil, in itself, is no ground for gathering. The paper that Mr Darby wrote, 'Separation from evil, God's principle of unity", was supplemented by "Grace, the power of unity and of gathering", which indicates that you need more than a judgment of what is negative. Well, it is important that we should be diligent "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace". Eph 4: 3. There is no breakdown in the body and no breakdown in the Spirit either. John's ministry was written when the breakdown had come in, things were broken up, but he gives touches such as in chapter 10 where you get the one flock, one shepherd, and in chapter 17: "that they may be one, as we are one", having that that is never given up. It is unaffected by the breakdown.

 

VANCOUVER

27 May 1978

 

 

Key to initials

G.H.B. G.H.Ballard, Vancouver; J.R.B. J.R.Bellamy, Vancouver; P.v.d.B. P.van den Berg, The Hague; V.J.C. V.J.Clarke, Victoria B.C; W.A.M. W.A.Moseley Vancouver; A.N.T. A.N.Thomson, Vancouver