Second reading
A.J.G. This morning, we have considered
the assembly being typified in the garden of Eden, in its local aspect, and corresponding to the truth presented in the epistle to the Corinthians. Now, in this passage here, we have the assembly from the points of view of the Ephesian epistle, that is to say that it is not in relation to evil surroundings but rather according to eternal purpose. We can see in the passage in Ephesians 1 that God is pleased to make us to know the mystery of His will for the administration of the fulness of times, which is to unite in one all things in Christ; and it is added, “in him, in whom we also have an inheritance”. I understand that this corresponds to the position presented in Genesis 2: Adam is presented as being established by God as head over the whole system which has been created by God. God has not only created the earth, but He has brought into existence a world of life on the earth, comprising the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth, as well as living things which are in the waters, a system comprising much variety of life. God placed man at the head of all that, having Christ in view, that is to say Christ personally as being
anointed head; he is established there over the whole heavenly and earthly system, and in that position, God has given him a helpmate. That helps us to see the elevated position of the assembly, as being furnished by God to be united to Christ in glory and to be with Him in the administration of the world to come. Ephesians also alludes to this, citing Genesis 2: 24 and adding, “This mystery is great, but I speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly”. Ephesians 5 also presents certain other features of the truth. It speaks of Christ who sanctifies the assembly in purifying it by the washing of water by the word. That evidently goes further than Genesis 2. There is nothing in Genesis 2 which suggests the service of the love of Christ. The initiative is taken by God; it is He who says, “It is not good that Man should be alone; I will make him a helpmate, his like”. It is said that, “Jehovah Elohim had formed every animal of the field and all fowl of the heavens, and brought them to Man, to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called each living soul, that was its name”. That is to say that God manifested the intelligence which was found with man. That would give us exercise to acquire spiritual intelligence because it is very evident that man would hardly find satisfaction in a helpmate who lacked intelligence; hence the great importance now of acquiring spiritual
intelligence. The Holy Spirit, taking us in hand to this very end, is ready to lead us into all the truth and to develop in us a perception and spiritual sensibilities. We can see the whole importance of that of which we are speaking in order to occupy the position relative to Christ as a helpmate who corresponds to Him.
Ques. Are you introducing the thought of what a locality is in considering the assembly like this?
A.J.G. No. Except that wherever an expression of the assembly is found, that is manifested in a locality. That must always be borne in mind, so that the epistle to the Ephesians, although universal in its presentation, is nevertheless written to a local assembly, and to saints marked by spiritual features. What was your thought in raising this question?
Rem. I only had the thought that in speaking thus of the assembly, the universal feature had to be considered.
A.J.G. I am sure that is indeed so, because the helpmate for Christ must evidently be the whole assembly; it must comprise all the saints since Pentecost until the appearing of the Lord Jesus. That will be clearly seen, for the first time, at the rapture.
Ques. Are you speaking now rather of the appearing of the Lord Jesus, when He will be manifested in glory, because the rapture will be secret?
A.J.G. But at the same time we will see the assembly for the first time when the Lord comes for us; that will be a marvellous vision , to see for the first time the assembly altogether; and that will be produced in the twinkling of an eye.
Ques. Will we see that on the earth?
A.J.G. It will be seen on the earth for a very brief instant. It is said that the dead in Christ rise first—that places them on the earth for an instant; and those who remain, we shall be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall be always with the Lord. That supposes that we shall see it on the earth for an instant.
Rem. The Old Testament saints will have their place at the moment of rapture; they will be raised with the members of the assembly.
A.J.G. Exactly so, but I have no doubt that the Lord will set aside those who compose the assembly, so that in 1 Corinthians 15, it speaks of the victory over death, which reigned from Abel to the end. 1 Thessalonians 4 makes reference also to the same event, having in view the assembly especially; it is said that “the Lord
Himself shall descend from heaven with an assembling shout.
Ques. Do we see the Old Testament saints in those who are invited to the marriage of the Lamb?
A.J.G. I suppose so, as far as I understand it.
Rem. John the baptist speaks of himself as the friend of the Bridegroom.
A.J.G. The Lord says that among those born of women there was none raised up greater than John the baptist, but the least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.
Rem. That underlines the distinction.
A.J.G. It is striking that we have a greater
place than men such as Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, and many others; it is a matter of the grace of God, and that He loves to show forth the glory of His grace. The assembly is a unique formation; so that Adam, seeing the woman who had been brought to him says, “This time it is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh”. Undoubtedly, he had taken account of the various creatures, each male creature having its corresponding female, but of Adam it is said, “he found no helpmate, his like”. We can well understand what Adam’s feelings were when he saw the woman who had been brought
to him, and we can well transfer all that to Christ in thinking of the feelings He has in considering the assembly divinely formed for Himself.
Ques. Is “this time” the expression of a heart that longs for the thing it desires?
A.J.G. Exactly.
Rem. And in attributing such sentiments to Christ, we must have corresponding sentiments.
A.J.G. We read in Genesis that Jehovah Elohim “built” the woman; she is not presented is being created, but rather built, which suggests a certain time. One is thinking of what is being produced now in the work of the ministry. Ephesians 4 speaks of the work of the ministry; it is said (v 12): “for the perfecting of the saints, with a view to the work of the ministry to the edifying of the body of Christ”, and Paul goes on to say, “until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at the full gown man, at the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ”. I think that shows edification, it is what is being pursued now. It is the work of God by means of gifts, by Christ.
Ques. Do we have the necessary state for such edification in v 16, the increase of the body to its self-building up in love, love being necessary for edification to follow?
A.J.G. Formation is according to Christ, the great end in view being to arrive at the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ; and the influence of Christ, which is an influence of love, must be constantly felt. We have to hold the truth in love, and we must walk in love as Christ also has loved us. What is therefore in view is the formation of the body and its edification, what leads to correspondence in the assembly.
Ques. Is it what Christ is as Man?
Rem. It is what is said about the body of Christ just now; and that corresponds to the truth touching the assembly complete in the future.
A.J.G. The epistle to the Colossians presents certain thoughts which may affect the saints, and it speaks of tings which are not according
to Christ in chapter 2: 8, at the end of the verse—“and not according to Christ”, which shows the apostle’s great exercise, who feared that one might bring in what was not according to Christ. At the end of verse 17 of the same chapter, it is said, “but the body is of Christ”. That shows us the measure that we must have before us in the ministry and that we must also have in all our exercises, not only as serving in the truth but in all our relations one with another. Our brother referred to Ephesians 4:
16: “from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love”. The apostle considers that we are also to build one another up in love; it is not only what the gifts can do by the power of Christ above, but what the saints do among themselves, as holding the truth in love.
Rem. God works on the one hand by the gifts which are made by Christ, and on the other by the mutual exercises of saints holding together in love.
A.J.G. That is why Adam speaks firstly of bones, and then of flesh; while in Ephesians it is the flesh first and then the bones. The bones represent the general structure, the framework that is inside what we see in the flesh.
Rem. It is essential for the edification of the body that each member has personal and direct links with the Head.
A.J.G. That is why it says in Ephesians 4,
“from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love”. Each part derives from the Head.
Rem. It speaks in the epistle to the Colossians of not holding fast the Head.
A.J.G. I believe that we must be impressed by the need to have the divine measure before us, because the work of God at the present time has in view formation of this wonderful vessel which answers completely to Christ as Man.
Ques. Does the exhortation in chapter 4: 3 have its full bearing and realisation in verse 16: “using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace”?
A.J.G. What we have in verse 16 is further on. In verse 3, it is mor that we are exhorted to keep the unity of the Spirit, implying that we will bear with one another in love; but bearing with one another in love is not enough; it requires the activities of love in a positive way.
Rem. I thought that was indeed the case, we do not attain to the whole scope of the body because we neglect the exhortation in verse 3.
A.J.G. That is why verse 3 is of the highest importance; but the principle of support for one another in love cannot of itself produce unity; it helps us against disunity, but to have unity, it is necessary to think of a single thing and to move positively in love: “walk in love, even as the Christ loved us, and delivered himself up for us”; so that the love of Christ must always be the standard for us.
Rem. Paul says in the Philippians “I exhort Euodia, and exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord”.
Ques. Would you make a comparison between the work indicated in chapter 4 and that we lead to self-building up in love,—work in which the saints are together—with what is given in chapter 5 which could be the work of Christ to present the assembly to Himself?
A.J.G. In chapter 5, we have the love of
Christ for the assembly following what we have in Genesis 2; and my impression is that what is that what is said of the present work of Christ’s love in Ephesians 5 has in view our
participation in the service of God in the assembly, that is to say that He sanctifies it, purifying it by the washing of water by the word. The Lord desires that we should be able to understand what we are according to God’s purpose, as being entirely for Christ, set apart from everything else by His precious death. Thus, there is the washing of water by the word; that implies intelligence to enter upon it, that is to say that the Lord produces in our minds, in our hearts, the reality of that which has been effectuated by His death. The fact that we are entirely set apart from all that we might be otherwise—so that we are entirely according to God’s work—should be found before our eyes, in the same way as it is found to be in God’s sight.
Rem. In considering the assembly in that way, the edification is already accomplished.
A.J.G. The Lord can consider things in that way, and the Spirit leads us in accord with that. He constantly sets before us the importance of the death of Christ and the influence of love which led Him to death: He loved the assembly. It is as if these thoughts of God came before Christ, speaking with all reverence. He loved it and delivered Himself up for it. Now, each time we come together, he would put this before us, in a fresh way, the sanctifying power of His death, so that we should be entirely for Him, as being conscious of being suitable to Him.
Ques. Does that correspond to verse 23, “the Saviour of the body”?
A.J.G. I do not believe that is would be the thought. Here we have the service of Christ in view of presenting the assembly to Himself glorious; and while that will have its full answer when Christ comes, I believe that it is what the Lord would do on the first day of the week: present the assembly to Himself glorious. In the Song of Songs, the Beloved says,
Thou art all fair, my love;
And there is no spot in thee.
(chap 4: 7)
Ques. Are you relating John 13 to this service of the Lord?
A.J.G. No, because the washing in John 13 is simply feet washing, while here the washing of water by the word has complete washing in view; that is the sense of the word used.
Ques. It is said that the washing of water is
by the word. Does this thought include ministry?
A.J.G. It is the service of Christ which is in view here. This would be the way in which the Lord would apply the truth of His death to our own intelligences, so that in the power of the Spirit we might be able to dissociate from everything to which the death of Christ has put an end, so that only what is of Christ remains.
That immediately puts us at ease with Christ; we are then conscious of being suited to Him, bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.
Ques. Is that new creation, of which Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 5?
A.J.G. Yes, and also in Ephesians 4, where it is said “having put on the new man, according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness”. There is the thought of new creation there.
Rem. If we have the privilege of partaking in what is actually the assembly’s response to the love of Christ, we completely lose from view what attaches to a locality; we see the assembly as it will be in the end, in glory.
A.J.G. The assembly is considered from that point of view; having no past history (it is not therefore a question of a past sinful history). But at the same time, in order to be a company suited to Christ, she must have a holy knowledge of good and evil; that is to say, a complete appreciation of good and a holy horror of evil; hence current exercises. Christ Himself is the great standard by which God operates; for He has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.
Rem. So it is that we can understand what the intelligence of the woman must be, since the man’s intelligence was set put at the beginning of our meeting.
A.J.G. One understands that in considering a horse, for example, which can be considered very attractive, Adam in naming it has indicated the feature of glory that God has given it; however, Adam could not find pleasure in a horse because a horse could not enter into an understanding of Adam’s feelings. Nevertheless, a horse expresses certain definite thoughts of glory, as we see in the book of Job. But the assembly must be capable, in affections and intelligence, of answering fully to the heart of Christ and to enter into all His interests as Man.
Rem. According to this scripture, all that is the product of the Lord’s work.
A.J.G. The work of God cannot perish, but it is carried on by the gifts made by Christ above, and by the operation of each one in his measure; hence the great importance of love and of understanding the love of Christ Himself.
Ques. Would you say something about the Lord’s declaration: “on this rock I will build my assembly” in connection with what we have said on the subject of edification?
A.J.G. As I understand it, that is not exactly
an eternal thought; it is what the Lord established on the earth in the presence of evil, “on this rock” is what was in Peter characteristically. He had confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and the Lord said, “on this rock I will build my assembly, and hades' gates shall not prevail against it”. The more the saints appreciate Christ, as being the Son of the living God, the more they will refuse every other strange influence against what is against Christ; and they will enjoy their part in the love of God. In consequence, they will be kept. Think of the times of the martyrs. Satan could not overcome them because they carried in their hearts the truth about what Christ was; they loved it, they would not abandon the truth, even if they would be put to death. It is thus that hades’ gates have not been able to prevail against the assembly. We can see that that is a bit different from the assembly envisaged according to divine purpose.
Rem. I would like to know if this expression of the Lord’s answers more to the house than the body.
A.J.G. I suppose so.
Rem. The administration in the millennium answers to the bride.
A.J.G. Ephesians 1 speaks of the
administration of the fulness of times, which has the millennium in view more than the eternal state; the bride becomes the vessel of administration in the millennium as well as in eternity; but the city prepared as a bridge adorned for her husband belongs to eternity.
Ques. Would it be right to say that formation is eternal, what is built is eternal?
A.J.G. Yes.
Ques. Does chapter 1: 10 in its setting, with the thought of heading up all things in the Christ, answer to the millennium?
A.J.G. Yes, it is the millennium, and the administration of the fulness of times has the millennium in view.
Rem. I thought more particularly of the fact of heading up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth.
A.J.G. That is God’s purpose; the administration of the fulness of times is the millennium. All things in the heavens and on the earth must be reunited in Christ, and all that is typified established by God’s work. There is a heavenly and earthly order of life. There are the birds that fly in the expanse, according to Genesis 1: 20. Then there are the beast of the earth and the creeping things. So there is God’s pleasure in a heavenly and earthly order of life. In eternity, there are new heavens and a new earth; but in the world to come, He reunites on one everything in Christ. Paul goes on in Ephesians in saying, “in him, in whom we have also obtained an inheritance, being marked out beforehand according to the counsel of his own will”. That sets the assembly as answering to the woman, partaking with the Man in His position as Head.
Ques. Would you say a word about the difference between purpose and counsel? We have both terms in verse 11.
A.J.G. I think that counsel comes in the first place, it is the counsel of His will. Purpose is the intention to effect what is His counsel.
Ques. Would you develop that?
A.J.G. The two are evidently closely linked to one another, but the first things has to be the will of God and the counsel of His will. Kit seems that divine Persons have taken counsel together, and the counsel having been formed, there has been purpose to brings it about, and another can hinder this purpose.
Ques. So you would link the reunion of all things in heaven and on earth during the millennium with purpose, as well as eternal things?
A.J.G. Yes.
Ques. “Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself for the administration of the fulness of times”. Would you say that “his good pleasure” is the same thing as “his purpose”?
A.J.G. “According to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his own will”. I believe that we must always remember that from the beginning, God knew everything; and He works all things together in a wonderful way, to bring about His purpose of love, and also to meet all the opposition which He has met in time. But it is very touching to see that God works all things according to the counsel of His will. One would be reminded of the days of Solomon, he made a remarkable throne of ivory covered in gold, having six steps to approach it; on each step there were two lions, and there was also a lion on each side of the seat. It was a throne covered in gold which, I believe, has the object of showing that God will be supreme in the end. The throne of gold represents the divine glory which shines supreme. It was approached by steps; on each step there are two lions; the lion does not turn aside for anything whatever. That has in view that we should grasp that, from the beginning, God has in view to secure conditions in which He Himself would be supreme in the hearts of the saints, and in reaching that end, He is not turned aside for anything. Satan may well seek to oppose, but God always goes on, so that here, when God created the heavens and the earth, some enemy introduced chaos, but God pursues His thoughts and introduces a greater glory, in which no enemy whatever is allowed to enter; God will triumph over evil. This when Christ was born, the enemy went to try and put Christ to death. The incarnation was one of these wonderful steps, and God went on, not turned aside for any. Redemption has been another step. Satan had thought that he would gain the victory when Christ was put to death, but God secured redemption at that point, always going on, going from glory to glory. Then the resurrection is another step, and as soon as the resurrection took place, a lie was spread all over Jerusalem. There has been constant opposition on the enemy’s part, but God goes on triumphantly. He has raised Christ from among the dead and given Him glory; man is exalted in the Person of Christ, and God shows thus what His thoughts are for men. Then the Holy Spirit has come down, and there were great new efforts of the enemy in opposition to the truth, effort having in view to displace the Holy Spirit in the assembly; but in our days, the Lord has recovered a lace for the Holy Spirit. We see that God always keeps going forward; He is not turned aside for any, and when the end will be reached, He will be supreme in glory. That is what is suggested by the throne of gold.
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