The Formation of One Body by the Baptism of the Holy Ghost

We have heard of the Lord's promise—"Ye shall be baptized by the Holy Ghost not many days hence" —brought to pass on the day of Pentecost. The little band of disciples—at first about 120 (see Acts 1:15), then about 3,000 (Acts 2:41), increased largely after-wards (Acts 4:4)—were baptized of the Holy Ghost, according to the Lord's promise, but still, this was only the Jewish side of the blessing. In Acts 10, Peter opens the door to the Gentiles. When they of Judea heard of this (see Acts 11), Peter was called to account for what he had done, and he rehearsed the matter from the beginning to them, and declared that the Holy Ghost had acted in a similar manner to that which He had done at the day of Pentecost with the Jews, and the Gentiles too had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Thus we have, in the clearest way, the Jew and Gentile receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (The baptism of the Holy Ghost is only used with reference to the corporate body of saints upon earth. By it individuals are brought into a corporate relation-ship to each other and to Christ.)
We must now turn to Paul, for to him alone of all the apostles was the revelation of the "mystery" committed, of which he speaks in Eph. 3:6, etc., which had heretofore been "hid in God" (v. 9), not even in "Scripture," but "in God"—His eternal purpose. "That the Gentiles should be joint-heirs, and a joint-body (with the Jews), and joint-partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Thus should the passage be read.
Paul describes at length this body in 1 Cor. 12:12-27, where he says, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is [the] Christ." (This name, 'the Christ,' is here applied to the members and head, as to Adam and his wife jointly, in Gen. 5:2: "He called their name Adam.") "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into [or of] one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many," etc. Here both Jew and Gentile lose their places, as such, and are brought into one body, and united by the Holy Ghost to each other and to Christ, the Head, a Man glorified. (In verse 27, the Apostle recognizes the assembly of God at Corinth as the Body. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular"; that is, in the principle and ground of their gathering they were the body of Christ.)
Now this body is in the world, as is the Holy Ghost, whose presence constitutes it. It is not in heaven. The Head is in heaven, and the members have a heavenly position by faith, while in fact they are in the world. This body has been passing along through the world, its unity as perfect as the day in which the presence of the Holy Ghost first constituted it. Nothing has ever marred its unity. True, the outward manifestation of this body, by the oneness of those who compose it, is gone; true, that the "house of God" as it first appeared in the world, has drifted into (or become like) a "great house" of 2 Tim. 2:19-22; true, that all that was committed to man's responsibility has, as ever, failed. But the body of Christ was in the world then—was here through the dark middle ages—is now in the world, remaining all through the ruin of the professing church, its unity perfectly maintained by the Holy Ghost, who, by His presence and baptism, constitutes it, for He, as ever, maintains the unity of the body of Christ!
Let me give an illustration which will convey simply the fact that the entire number of saints in the world at any given time (just as I write these words, for instance), indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is that which is recognized of God as the body of Christ. Let us suppose a regiment of soldiers, a thousand strong, goes to a foreign country and serves there for many years. All those who composed that regiment die off, or are slain in battle, and their places are filled up by others the numerical strength of the regiment is kept up. After years of service the time comes for it to return home. Not a man who went out is in it now, and yet the same regiment returns without change of its number or facings or identity. Thus it is with the body of Christ. Those who composed it in the days of Paul, are not here, yet the body has passed along through the last eighteen centuries, the members of it dying off, and the ranks filled up by others, and now at the end of the journey the body is here—the Holy Ghost, who constitutes its unity, being here— as perfect in its unity as it ever was.
The main point is easily seen to be the present actuality of Christ's body here upon earth. There are many vague notions as to this grand truth in the minds of the saints. Some have thought that the body of Christ is in heaven, some that it is in course of formation since the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost— a body gradually being formed, part of which is in heaven, part on earth, part (if the Lord tarry) not yet gathered in, that this formation progresses till a certain moment (the Lord's coming), when it is completed, and taken away to be with the Lord.
Now it is quite true that all the saints between those two great events are of the body of Christ, of it in the mind and counsel of God. But those who have died have lost their present, actual connection with the body, having passed away from the sphere where, as to personal place, the Holy Ghost is. They have ceased to be in its unity. The bodies of the dead saints, once the temples of the Holy Ghost, are now in the dust, and their spirits are with the Lord. Their bodies not being yet raised, they do not now enter into account of the body as recognized of God. As those on the retired list of an army, they have passed into the reserve, or freedom from service, as it were, out of the scene now occupied by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. We read, "[If] one member suffer, all the members suffer with it," etc. (1 Cor. 12:26); the dead do not suffer. The passage speaks of those who are alive here, in a place where they may do so.
Thus, the body of Christ, as now recognized of God, embraces all believers here upon earth, at this moment as at any given moment. 1 Cor. 12 speaks of the Church of God upon earth: healings, etc., are not set in heaven. The difficulty with many is not reading Scripture as God's mind at any given moment speaking of a thing before His eye. The apostles spoke of a thing before their eyes; they never looked for a long continuance of the Church; they looked for the Lord's coming. All was viewed as contemplating this, though prophetically ruin was predicted, and felt as it came in.
F. G. Patterson
Editorial
Bright orange or yellow buses begin their daily circuits this month collecting and delivering their precious, lively cargo to the various schools for learning. Other students arrive on foot, bicycles, skates or even skateboards. Some will say, "Not school again!" and others will say, "Oh, good! At last school is beginning again." A few students really like school, but quite a few do not.
So it is with parents too. Some are relieved that the summer responsibilities with their children all day long are over, and are glad to see them off to school for several hours a day. Many Christian parents, however, are greatly concerned about what their own dear children are taught and exposed to that is erroneous and corrupt. Even violence as well as corruption is an ever-increasing danger in these last days.
Surely it is important to have a godly concern and to do all that responsibility and privilege demand of parents according to their ability while the opportunity exists. Children grow up so quickly and the young and tender years of parental care pass rapidly.
The hours in the home are most important and we, as parents, must diligently use them to instruct, to guide and to bring up those dear children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Eph. 6:4. Much wisdom is needed for both the parents and the children. The source of all is God and if we ask, the answer is, "it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matt. 7:7. James adds the injunction, "let him ask in faith." James 1:6.
The book of Proverbs accurately exposes and warns about both corruption and violence. It is so very profitable to learn through reading and believing God's
Word by which we may escape much damage and avoid many sad and painful experiences. If just one chapter is read each day, the whole thirty-one chapters will be completed in a thirty-one day month. It would be good to read Proverbs each July, August, October, December, January, March and May. After a while those wholesome verses will become lodged in our mind to come to our memory just when we need them.
We can learn much that is positive from the Proverbs that will increase our joy and bring blessing with it. For instance, notice chapter 3:13, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." Verses 16 and 17 add, "Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Young people, as they make more and more decisions on their own in the higher levels of education, will increasingly need to seek wisdom and direction from God. The Word of God can meet every need and obedience to it will assure happiness. By regular and frequent reading of the Scripture, they learn what God's will is for them.
As the new school year begins, let us each with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord (Acts 11:23). "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto [up to] Christ." "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." "By faith ye stand." "We walk by faith, not by sight." Gal. 3:24, 26; 2 Cor. 1:24; 2 Cor. 5:7.
Whether in school or out, let us continuously trust God and confidently pray for help and guidance. We are always in God's school; for the Christian to be out of His school is to be out of this world. Ed. El
Compromise
“A time to love, and a time to hate." Eccl. 3:8.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." John 12:25.
Compromise here has ruined the testimony of many. Such Christians once made a fair start, but the fear of man, or the love of ease, or of social standing, or of the approval of kindred or acquaintances has come between them and the Lord. It is a poor exchange, but many a one has made it, and adhered to it to the end. It should break our hearts as we think of it, and make us hate the thought of compromise.
Let us trace the way of departure. Family influence is in opposition. Simplicity and faithfulness to Christ are derided, a name of reproach is given to true Christians, and the soul, because it is not abiding in Christ, is caught in the snare. Fearful of reproach or discomfort, the soul gives way and steers a middle course henceforth. Men call it moderation and wisdom, but the soul has been damaged and is adrift.
God is merciful, but the Word and communion with God and with His people are less and less enjoyed and trials and chastening are too much for the heart. The peaceable fruits of righteousness do not follow. A sad witness for Christ! Such bear witness in their family and in the world that godliness is only a name, not a reality, or if not altogether so, still the course is vacillating, and the heart not at rest, and the testimony correspondingly marred.
The fear of man is, however, closely connected with our love of the world in some form. We are un-weaned in some way when the fear of God is displaced by the fear of man, and Satan has power with us. The pride of life how weak our hearts that it should ever ensnare us. Ought not a glance at the life of the Lord to make us ashamed? What pure joy is lost by love of social standing; how withering to the soul is such a preference and such an atmosphere. Self-love and idolatry are thrusting Christ from the heart.
In such cases there is also this grave danger that of the hardening of the heart by the continuance of religious forms and outward service and utterances. But either way, the soul has made an evil choice, and has turned from the narrow way. Jesus is still knocking at the door, standing there, but He has been left outside abandoned for Herod's feast. Friendship with the world is enmity against God.
Christian, let no one come between your soul and Christ, and let nothing turn you aside from the cross. Christ has redeemed you by His blood, and has given you the Holy Spirit. By this great redemption you are separated to God from all worldly friendships and alliances and purposes. Christ has joined you to Himself forever, and He has joined you to His people, for we are members of His Body and members one of another. His sheep can never perish (John 10:27, 28). Let that encourage the heart to rise up and follow Him. He loves His own and loves them to the end (John 13:1). Hence He washes their feet, cleanses away defilements, for if He washes us not, we have no part with Him. So He restores our souls, never forsaking us.
Let us flee, then, from half-heartedness and world-bordering and compromise, in the family, in business, in the inward exercises of the soul. As Christ has died for us, let us live for Him (2 Cor. 5:15), and we shall realize the word, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rom. 8:31. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Rom. 8:35, 37.
“In all these things." In the midst of your fiery trials, Christian, you are "more than conquerors" through Him who loves you.
With such a word, may we forsake all carnal seeking and fleshly shrinking, and go forth upon the water to Him. Go forth to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Let us boldly take faith's reckoning.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:18.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went... [through faith) not knowing whither he went.... Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable. These all... confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11:8-16. Young Christian