DIVINE QUALITY IN THE SAINTS
[p. 28] DIVINE QUALITY IN THE SAINTS
My desire in proposing this scripture was that we might consider the thought of quality in the things of God. Verse 41 says, “there were added in that day about three thousand souls”. But God’s people have to prove their genuineness, and so in what follows we find that “they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles”. Acts 1:15 says, “the crowd of names who were together was about a hundred and twenty”; these, however, were the result of the Lord’s own work, and the occurrences in the interval between His going up from them, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, proved their suitability to receive Him. Chapter 2 records that the Holy Spirit descended upon them, and as a result of the preaching three thousand souls were added. It does not say by whom or to what they were added, as at the end of the chapter, evidently intimating that they had not yet proved the reality of their profession.
In Luke 14 we read that the house is to be filled; but it will be filled with what is suitable to it; all that is extraneous will be excluded; thus in chapter 15 the prodigal is brought in as a Son; he is set up in entire suitability to the house. There is nothing said as to repentance in chapter 14, but the prodigal (chapter 15) repented in the far country, and he rose up and went “to his own father”, Luke 15:20 and “while he was yet a long way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell upon his neck, and covered him with kisses”, Luke 15:20 showing that the prodigal was delightful to him. Every step in the return journey of a repenting sinner is pleasurable to heaven. Some think of repentance as one act, but here we read, “there shall be joy in heaven for one repenting sinner” Luke 15:7 — [p. 29] repentance is evidently an element in his mind from beginning to end. Besides the father’s loving reception, the prodigal gets the best robe, and the ring, and the shoes; he is made in every way suitable to God’s house. As we draw near to the end, the Lord is aiming at quality in His saints, and we are challenged as to it. Paul, in writing to the Philippian assembly, indicates that it was marked by quality. He does not take the ground of an apostle, but coupling Timothy with himself, writes as “bondmen of Jesus Christ”. Philippians 1:1. Their practical state is evidently noted in this; for where there is spirituality and consequent humility, there is no need to emphasise authority. So he prays that their “love may abound yet more and more”, Philippians 1:9 and that they may “judge of and approve the things that are more excellent”, Philippians 1:10 in view of Christ’s day. Those who were convicted by Peter’s word as he stood up with the eleven were prepared to be persecuted by their own people, for as baptised “in the name of Jesus Christ”, Acts 2:38 they would be hated. It was no private matter, but a public confession of faith in Him whom the Jews slew; and they were “added”. Then verses 42 - 47 give us the Spirit’s description of them; it is in a way a continuation of the teaching of Luke 15. Their repentance was proving itself in their continuance; “they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles”. The apostles were upstarts in the eyes of Jerusalem, for they were Galilaeans with no social or religious status at all; but the three thousand persevered in their teaching and fellowship. Then there was the beautiful spirit of subjection and love among the brethren; they “had all things common” and were all together. This spirit was seen in perfection in the Lord, and it is specially attractive to Him in His own. Subjection will be seen in Him eternally, for we read “then the Son also himself shall be placed in subjection, ... that God may be all in all”. 1 Corinthians 15:28.
[p. 30] A subject spirit is delightful to heaven, for it reflects Christ. In Philippians 2 the apostle says, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 2:5. The apostles denote the authority of Christ; they were “sent” by Him; so these believers continued in their teaching and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers; these features expressed their subjection to Christ, affection for Him, and dependence on Him. We have to ask ourselves, where are we in regard to them?
In Acts 8, though there were great results from the preaching of Philip in Samaria, the believers did not get the Holy Spirit until Peter and John went down to them and laid their hands upon them. In this way the authority of the apostles would be impressed on them. We cannot make the gift of the Spirit automatic on our believing on Christ. We have to leave it with God; it is His gift, and as we desire it and ask for it, He is pleased to give it to us. The Holy Spirit coming in makes an impression. There are evidences of His indwelling the believer. I would like to hear such a believer pray; for there are certain indications of the presence of the Spirit in a man’s prayer. Now with some who might profess to have the Spirit because they believe on Christ there may not be those indications; but if not, why not? There is nothing said in John 3 about receiving the Holy Spirit. New birth is spoken of, and then the Lord says, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” John 3:6 — that is to show the quality, the character of what is born, it is “spirit”. The Lord says in John 3 that unless you are born anew you will not even see, much less enter into, the kingdom of God. Many think that when one believes the gospel he immediately receives the Holy Spirit, but I see no ground for such a thought in Scripture. The apostle comes to Ephesus (Acts 19), and finds certain believers there,
and says to them, “Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye had believed?” Acts 19:2. They were genuine believers, but they had not even heard that the Holy Spirit was come. Then they are “baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus”, Acts 19:5 and it is only when Paul lays his hands upon them that they receive the Holy Spirit. So that when the apostle says, “in whom also, having believed, ye have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” Ephesians 1:13, he is not speaking of anything automatic, but of something subsequent to a state of faith. God is the giver of the Holy Spirit. It is the question of a certain state of soul; He gives the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him (Luke 11:13); He gives Him also to those that obey Him; Acts 5:32. We must not deny Him His pleasure in giving the Spirit, nor seek to make it an automatic thing apart from our state as suited to receive Him. It is the dispensation of God’s pleasure, and He gives the Spirit as He pleases. It would help us if we studied the two chapters to which we have referred; Acts 8 and Acts 19. In the first we are told that the Spirit did not come upon the Samaritans until Peter and John laid their hands upon them; and in chapter 19 it needed baptism to the name of the Lord Jesus, and the laying on of Paul’s hands before He was received.
There are evidences when any one has received the Spirit. As was said, one’s manner of praying would give an indication; then in 1 Corinthians 12:3 it is stated that no one can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit; then in Romans 8 we see that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” Romans 8:14; and in Galatians 5:22 there are nine fruits of the Spirit enumerated — distinctive fruits not to be mistaken. We take too much for granted, but at the first it was a heart matter; they said in Acts 2: “What shall we do, brethren?” Acts 2:37. They were in deep earnest, and Peter said, “Repent, and be baptised, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of sins, and ye will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Acts 2:38.
[p. 32] Things have broken down publicly today, but God has not lowered His standard, and persons taking the place of believers in baptism must prove they are genuine. So in verse 47 the Lord recognises the features spoken of in the verses immediately preceding, and adds to those who had them. These qualities seen, whether in an individual or in a company, testify to the fact that they have the Spirit. If these features are present, then the Lord will add to us. “And fear was upon every soul” — that was not slavish fear, but holy fear.
The breaking of bread (verse 42), is our response to the Lord; we testify our love to the Lord Jesus as we break bread in remembrance of Him; and we need to pray, by which we testify to our dependence on God. The result of this is that believers learn to stand on their own feet, and moving on this line they get confirmation. “Many wonders and signs took place through the apostles’ means”. This would maintain their authority and show that God was with His people. This is how christianity was inaugurated — “Together” (verse 44), would imply that they were together in heart and soul, and where that is so, we shall not want to keep away from the meetings. We shall soon find ourselves gathered together in assembly, and we shall realise the great disadvantages of being absent. We ought to be together whenever possible that we may enjoy the love of the christian circle. We are exhorted to love one another; it is His commandment. And “we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren”, 1 John 3:14. Jesus is not here, but His people are here, they are our loved brethren, and we would be with them on every opportunity of coming together. We cannot afford to miss the precious experiences of being together. In chapter 4, when they had prayed, “the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”. Acts 4:31.
[p. 33] Where there is this dwelling together in unity, there is blessing — “There the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore”. Psalm 133 speaks of the “precious oil” that ran down upon Aaron’s beard, to “the hem of his garments”. Psalm 133:2. The “hem” would suggest a finished thing — something complete; not loose principles, but divine things held in order and completeness. Oil is one figure of the Spirit, and then the dew is another: “As the dew of Hermon that descendeth on the mountains of Zion”. Psalm 133:3. The mountains would speak of strength, and “there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore”. Psalm 133:3. The features of Zion are seen here; what Zion will be by and by as the centre for God, is seen here, and the Lord added to that. Salvation is in Christ, but then it is realised in these conditions. These early saints were governed by the light that governed the moment; they were breaking bread, and also “constantly in the temple”. They were a testimony to God in it, for He was still waiting on Israel. So chapter 3 opens with Peter and John going up “together into the temple at the hour of prayer”. Acts 3:1. It was the most beautiful sight that the temple had seen since Jesus Himself had been there; it was a testimony to Him. Later on the temple doors were shut (Acts 21:30), but at this point God was waiting upon Israel in grace and patience.
Everyone converted today comes into what exists; the Holy Spirit is here in the assembly, and my concern should be to receive Him, “for also in the power of one Spirit we have all been baptised into one body ... and have all been given to drink of one Spirit”, 1 Corinthians 12:13. You drink for satisfaction. So that as merged among the saints one is not irksome but in happy liberty there.