WHERE TRUE SERVICE BEGINS

WHERE TRUE SERVICE BEGINS

The “candlestick” is not before us when Christ is walking through the churches in a judicial character; ———— is all wrong. The gospel was to be preached to all — to gather out a people for His name, but all was properly to flow from the assembly (see John 20); and as I understand John 15 the eleven come out from being inside with the Lord to be disciples, fruit-bearing, but their centre is in keeping with Christ’s commandment, “Love one another”. Here true service begins, as I judge; evangelists go out as missionaries from the assembly, sent by Christ, to draw to the assembly. J.N.D. used to say, ‘The twelve had not fulfilled the great commission. Paul did.’ What an idea ———— has of election that one chosen before the foundation of the world can be lost because the light of God’s grace has not reached him through an evangelist! Who converted the thief on the cross, or Saul of Tarsus? The gospel is the testimony of God — a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.