Within the holiest of all, Cleansed by His precious blood, Before the throne we prostrate fall, And worship Thee, O God!
Boldly the heart and voice we raise, His blood, His name, our plea: Assured our prayers and songs of praise Ascend, by Christ, to Thee.
[XVIII.] The same Greek word, _ecclesia_, has been rendered both "church" and "assembly" in our English translation--"assembly" gives the true meaning.
[XIX.] It is of the utmost importance to distinguish between what Christ builds, and what man builds. "The gates of hell" shall assuredly prevail against all that is merely of man; and hence it would be a fatal mistake to apply to man's building words which only apply to Christ's. Man may build with "wood, hay, stubble," alas! he does; but all that our Lord Christ builds shall stand forever. The stamp of eternity is upon every work of His hand. All praise to His glorious name!
[XX.] There is no such thing in Scripture as being a member of _a_ church. Every true believer is a member of _the_ Church of God--the body of Christ, and can therefore no more be, properly, a member of anything else, than my arm can be a member of any other body.
The only true ground on which believers can gather is set forth in that grand statement, "There is one body, and one Spirit." And again, "We being many are one loaf, and one body" (Eph. iv. 4; I Cor. x. 17). If God declares that there is but "one body," it must be contrary to His mind to own more than that one.
Now, while it is quite true that no given number of believers in any given place can be called "the body of Christ," or "the assembly of God;" yet they should be gathered on the ground of that body and that assembly, and on no other ground. We call the reader's special attention to this principle. It holds good at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. The fact of the ruin of the professing Church does not touch it. It has been true since the day of Pentecost; is true at this moment; and shall be true until the Church is taken to meet her Head and Lord in the clouds, that "_there is one body_." All believers belong to that body; and they should meet on that ground, and on no other.
[XXI.] The reader will need to ponder the distinction between the Church viewed as "the body of Christ," and as "the house of God." He may study Eph. i. 22; I Cor. xii. for the former. Eph. ii. 21; I Cor. iii.; I Tim. iii. for the latter. The distinction is as interesting as it is important.