234
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
May 1930
The Glory of the Qhurch B y D r . F . E .’ M arsh (London, England)
HEN we speak of “the Church,” we mean more than the house of Christendom. We refer to what the Spirit calls “the church, which is his body” (Eph. 1 :22, 23). Some would tell us it is the Church which makes Christians, but we believe it is the Chris
question has been raised as to whether the Church is included in the reference to the firstfruits. In other words, does it refer to Christ absolutely in His personality, or does it refer to Christ mystically-—that is, to Christ and His people, as Head and members of His body? I think the latter. Believers are always said to be “in Christ” ; and, therefore, are never seen apart from Him. What is true of Him, is true of them; hence, they are already raised in Him, as we are distinctly told in Eph. 2. It is not without meaning that “Christ, the firstfruits,” is given, and not “Christ, the firstfruit.” The plural instead of the sin gular is used. The same word is used again by the Apos tle Paul in his second epistle to the Thessalonians. The word is rendered “from the beginning,” instead of “a first- fruits.”* The verses should read: “But we are •bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you [a firstfruits] to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:13, 14). Eugenie de Guerin was so attached to her idolized brother, she had become so identified with him by mutual love and common suffering, that when he died all joy went out of her life. Her lament over her brother’s coffin is most touching: “My soul lives in a coffin, interred with thee, my brother. Just as I used to live in thy life, I am dead in thy death; dead to all happiness, all hope below.” We may use the words of the lamenting sister, and apply them to our Divine Lord, in a holier, higher, and happier sense, and say to Him: “Lord Jesus, we are not only dead with Thee and risen with Thee; but we are seated with Thee, in all the glory of Thine acceptance, at the right hand of God ; and when Thou dost come again, we shall be manifested in Thine own splendor, and be ad mired in the glory Thou hast put upon us.” This is no picture colored by a fevered imagination. I f any one doubts our identity, let him look at the seven “with him’s” in Colossians. Let us look at them in the order of Christ’s experience and ours. “Dead with * Christ” ( 2 :20 ). “Quickened together with him” (2 :1 3 ). “Buried with him” (2 :1 2 ). “Risen with him” ( 2 :12; 3 :1). Five of the “with him’s” are true for us in Christ now; and the other waits, as Christ waits, until the time of His manifestation. Mark the “when” and the “then.” ♦The Greek word arche is generally rendered “begiririing.” It means that which is first, such as, “In the beginning w as the W ord.” The word rendered “firstfruits” is aparche, that is, the prefix apo is added to a rch e; it is given, “from the beginning.” ♦The preposition sun is used seven times in Colossians. It sig nifies to be united to anything, as “the old man with his deeds”; a being together with another, as “quickened together with him” ; something in common to both, as Tychicus was with Onesimus in ministry (4 :9 ). The seven places where the word occurs a re : 2 :5, 13, 20; 3 :3, 4, 9 ; 4 :9. “L ife hid with Christ in God” (3 :3 ). “Appear with him in glory” (3 :4).
tians which constitute the Church. The glory of the Head of the Church will be shared by the members of Christ’s body. There are many stars of truth on this.aspect of the topic which flash out in the firmament of God’s Word, but we note the following five constellations :—Continuity of purpose, identity of place, conformity to type, eternity of bliss, and immortality of being. C ontinuity of P urpose “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified : . and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8 :3 0 ). “H e which hath begun a good work in you 'will perform it until the day o f Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1 :6 ). “I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am” (John 17:11, 24). In each of these passages of Scripture there is a continuity of thought and purpose. We need not be disturbed or distressed by the reference to God’s foreknowledge, for all it means is, as He seems to say, “Thou dost adhere by faith to Him whom I gave thee as thy.Saviour; He will, therefore, belong to thee wholly, and I shall not leave thee until I have rendered thee per fectly like Him.” We cannot explain the subtle difference between God’s election of the believer, and the believer’s surrender to . God, or the" preservation of the saints and their persever ance. All we know is, they go together. The saints make their election sure by adding to their faith the graces of the Spirit, and the Lord makes their election secure by His keeping power, for no power can sever the saved from the Saviour. “Death cannot sever The ties that bind our souls through mortal years— They last for ever.” The law of continuity is this: Nothing passes from one state to another without passing through all the inter mediate stages. The state of glory will only be entered by those who are justified, the justified are the called ones, and the called ones are the predestinated ones. With God’s secret purpose we have nothing to do. Have we responded to God’s call? If so, we are justified by His grace; and we are assured the justified will be glorified. The seed of a plant will furnish us with an illustration. The seed has in it all that the,plant will be. The seed of God’s purpose has in it the stem of His call, the foliage of His justification, and the fruit of His glory. I dentity of P lace Among the similes which are used to illustrate Christ’s worth and work is that of the firstfruits. “Christ, the first- fruits,” says the Holy Spirit, in speaking of the coming of the Lord Jesus in resurrection power and glory. A
Made with FlippingBook HTML5