THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY

1 Corinthians 1: 1-3; 3: 16, 17; 5: 6-8; 12: 26, 27

RMB In reading these scriptures, dear brethren, it was in mind that we might get an enhanced appreciation of what the local assembly is in the mind of God. I think we are conscious that we are living in increasingly difficult times. Many of the dear brethren are having to work things out in fewness and great weakness, and some in great isolation. It would be easy in such conditions to lose sight of what is proper to the assembly, especially in its local setting. I trust the Lord may be pleased to use this time to revive us as to the importance and dignity and value of the local assembly.

There are three very striking statements of the apostle that I particularly wanted to draw attention to in these passages. In addressing these Corinthian saints he says to them, “ye are the temple of God”, “ye are unleavened”, and “ye are Christ’s body”. Those are remarkable assertions, particularly when we think of the unsatisfactory state of things at Corinth. No doubt they were intended to impress the Corinthians, as indeed by extension all of us, with the greatness of the local assembly.

But I thought we should begin with the reference in chapter 1 to “the assembly of God which is in Corinth”. That is a most dignified expression. We might enquire as to what is involved in it; but what a triumph that in the midst of this great worldly city, Corinth, a great pagan and corrupt city, there should be a circle with which the name of God and the testimony of God was identified.

NJH That is a helpful line to pursue. The apostle was taken up specially for the assembly. The other apostles had their time initially in the Jewish setting and then the assembly, but he was brought up entirely for that.

RMB Most of his epistles are addressed to local assemblies. It would give us an impression of the interest of divine Persons in local assemblies. I trust the Lord will help us in going over these things together.

WMP Is it your thought that, while each locality will have its own situation and conditions, what is in mind is that they ought always to reflect what is to be seen in the assembly of God? There is the divine standard that is to be reflected in each place, regardless of differences of culture or race.

RMB That is helpful. We should say at the beginning that no enlightened believer would regard the company he meets with as being the assembly of God because we are now living in a broken day. But where you have persons in a place who are governed by the light of the assembly you have the thing in principle. One thought that comes in in connection with this reference to the assembly of God is the recognition on our part that it is God’s property. That is something which is to command our respect, would you say?

WMP Very much so. There were persons at Corinth who were reigning as kings (chap 4: 8), as though in some sense the local company was their property. But it is divine property. What you are saying is very important.

RMB So in connection with this reference to the assembly of God, primarily it has in mind that it is the place where God is being served and where God is represented.

JTB It does not say it is the assembly of the Lord Jesus, but specifically “the assembly of God”. Does that mean all the resources of the Godhead were there towards it, do you think?

RMB I do think that. In connection with what you say, I note this first scripture particularly seems to be connected with God the Father, the second scripture with the Holy Spirit and the last two with the Lord Jesus; showing the special interest each of the divine Persons has in local assemblies.

JTB So each local assembly, speaking reverently and respectfully, is self-sufficient in that sense, as having access to that great range of resource, while part of the great universal setting.

RMB That is borne out by verse 3, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ”. There is this great flow of grace and peace coming down from above that specially has local assemblies in mind. The apostle Paul wrote thirteen epistles, and I do not include in that the epistle to the Hebrews, although Mr Darby said he had no doubt Paul wrote that one too (Synopsis vol 5 p176). In any case, Paul’s name is put to thirteen epistles. Nine of them are addressed to local assemblies and in each of them, with one exception, we have this thought in verse 3, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ”. I wondered if that is suggestive of special grace for local assemblies. There is divine grace available for individuals, but verse 3 suggests that there is special grace for local assemblies. That would be a particular encouragement for those of our dear brethren who are seeking to go on in fewness and weakness.

PAG Could you say something for our help about the end of verse 2, “both theirs and ours”; what is that intended to signify to us?

RMB Does that remind us that in considering the assembly in its local aspect we should never lose sight of the universal position? In fact, the local aspect takes its bearing from the universal position.

PAG What you say is right and helpful. I was thinking of the reference to “the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours”. So the rights of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ apply equally in every local assembly.

RMB It would also provide a bond between local assemblies. The brethren in Linlithgow would understand that the brethren in Glasgow will be interested in how they were getting on, because they would recognise that He is not only their Lord Jesus Christ but He is also that to the brethren in Glasgow.

PAG That is very helpful. Although it is not explicitly stated here, “peace from God our Father” would involve among other things that the flow of affection is present both within and between local assemblies.

NJH While in the world the thought of what is abstract may refer to something unreal, in the divine system it is a very real matter. It speaks here about “those sanctified”. He is speaking to the Corinthians, “those sanctified”, and then, “unleavened”. It shows that in divine things there is every provision for that to be met fully.

RMB So what does that mean, “sanctified in Christ Jesus”?

NJH We sometimes say that sanctification means that you are set apart for holy purposes. Persons are held for the Lord Jesus and in doing so they are available to God the Father.

RMB Do you think that “in Christ Jesus” gives us the measure of the sanctification? Christ Jesus is a name that particularly brings before us what He is in His present position. And God has set out in a blessed Man, in His presence, all His thoughts of glory and blessing for us, do you think?

NJH Exactly.

RMB And as that is laid hold of by us it will have a great sanctifying effect.

TRC Can you help us as to the persons that Paul is addressing, “called saints”?

RMB What would you say about them?

TRC I think what you are bringing before us is very important as to the assembly of God and the dignity that would mark it. I wondered whether “called saints” was a dignified matter; what persons are in the sight of God who appreciate what the assembly of God is.

RMB It would bear on what has just been drawn attention to. We have been taken up by God for holy purposes. That is what saints are for.

NJH Was not Aaron called “the saint of Jehovah”, Ps 106: 16?

RMB He was. What were you thinking about that?

NJH The divine presence was the area in which he moved. Does that help at all?

RMB It does, because he was specially set apart by God for that.

NCMcK You mentioned the local assembly as being representative of God; it is really the public relations that are in view in Corinth. It shows the importance of God having a company here in places where He can be known. It is not inward and secret. If it is going to represent God and be here for God, then it is important that it maintains what is due to God and is representative of Him.

RMB I thought there were the two sides. There is the inside position, involving the assembly of God as a place where God is being served, where His presence is known - what a blessed thing that men and women should have access to the presence of God. But I think what you have touched on is important. There is the public side. The assembly of God is to render a right testimony to Him; not only to what He is in His grace towards men, but what He is in His holiness. That was the need at Corinth.

PAG Would the assembly of God also include the thought of His purpose as well as His ownership?

RMB Say more as to what you have in mind.

PAG Well, “of God” means it has its source in Him. It is of God in that He has rights over it, but it is also of God in that the thought as to Christ and the assembly had its origin in God. It does not come from anywhere else and therefore it does not take its guidance from anywhere else either.

RMB It is good to ever keep that before us. What a triumph this was. Corinth was an important city we understand in the ancient world, a great commercial city, a very affluent city. But we also understand it was a very corrupt city. What a triumph that in such a place there was a company that could be referred to as “the assembly of God”. There was a company there to which God was pleased to identify His Name and His testimony.

JTB In regard of “the assembly of God”, is it right to think of each local assembly as being a divine investment: “The assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own”, Acts 20: 28? That sense of ownership and property, as you are alluding to, seems to invoke some necessary response as to our value of it, do you think?

RMB That is what I was thinking. It is an exercise in days of smallness, it seems to me, that we do not despise what we have. We may come to the weeknight meetings and there may only be a handful of brethren, but if there is something there that represents the assembly of God, there is something that is to command my respect, something to which I am to commit myself.

JTB The tribes as encamped around the tabernacle would value their position there. Is that reflected in how we would regard the local assembly?

RMB Yes, we ought to regard it as a great privilege to be in touch with it.

In chapter 3 Paul says to this local company, “Do ye not know that ye are the temple of God”. It is implied in the way he speaks to them that perhaps they did not know it; or, if they did, that they had not appreciated it as they should have done. But we might see, in the first place, that this is what the local assembly is. The apostle has not yet got to the instruction for when the saints are gathered together. How we may experience the temple of God is a further thought. But even before that he says to them, “ye are the temple of God”. Objectively, that is just what they were. We might ask if they were in the good of it. That is a question, of course, a question for all of us. But, objectively, that is what this local company was. It was the temple of God, and the reason for that was because the Spirit of God dwelt in them.

NJH Mr Raven speaks about the reproach of the Christ - which would be the external side - and the power of the Spirit within (vol 2 p270); that was really meant to mark this locality.

RMB Paul brings forward the cross in these opening chapters. There are two great matters: the cross of Christ - maybe that is what you had in mind - as making way for the experience of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

WMP Can you help us as to what the use of that word “temple” is in this setting? Is it intended to be an area where the Spirit has free course, free way? Is that the thought?

RMB Yes, I think that is just what it is. The idea of a temple is a holy enclosure in the midst of an unholy environment. The thoughts that particularly come to mind in connection with the temple of God are that it is the place where the presence of God is known and also, as we have often been taught, it is the place where divine light is to be received.

WMP So what would militate against that would be any feature of man’s mind or the flesh. These would be intrusive matters into this area. It really is a sobering word for us. Is it your intent that we should be sobered by this?

RMB Well, we should be sobered. But I think too, we can also be revived in our appreciation of the greatness of the local assembly. It is God’s temple. I would like to say that God has His temple in Glasgow. If I were in Glasgow on a Wednesday night, I know where to go to get light from God, do you think?

WMP That is most helpful, yes.

RMB What you say is important. At home we sang those words recently -

Here nature’s voice is silenced,

And nature’s claims give way;

The Spirit’s realm commands us (Hymn 376).

And I thought to myself that is quite something; to be in the sphere where the Holy Spirit has charge!

RB You said earlier that in the assembly God is served and He is represented. Do you think the temple of God involves the service of God as well?

RMB I think it would do.

RB I am challenged by what you are bringing before us, because Paul brings this in to remind the Corinthian saints of the level that is proper to the assembly, and the temple of God is included in that, is it not?

RMB It is good to be reminded of that.

DAB Do you think the reference in chapter 6, as to our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit, has a bearing on what we are saying? He says, “Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own?”, 1 Cor. 6: 19. He is crediting the Corinthian saints with that. As holding our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, as we gather together, then surely our gatherings would be the temple of God.

RMB What must God’s thoughts as to us be that He should take up poor sinners like us and make our bodies the temple of His Holy Spirit? What must His thoughts of blessing for us be? Oh, that that would lay hold of our hearts more!

DAB I find it amazing that the apostle Paul can speak in such language as this to the Corinthian saints when he had so many exercises. Maybe you can help us about that. He was not glossing over what was there. But this very wonderful language we are speaking of at the moment. And it is in view of establishing them and lifting them up, to give them a true idea of what they were in the divine mind.

RMB What you have just said is the main point. We need to lay hold of what we are. The apostle says, “ye are the temple of God”. He does not say they would ‘become’ that. It is what they were. What a great thing it would be if in each of our local assemblies we could, in greater measure, lay hold of what we are according to the thoughts of God; and then be exercised to be true to that in practice.

SCL Do you think the Spirit coming in here brings out divine feelings as to local assemblies, what divine Persons feel in relation to the local assembly?

RMB As we have said, it is His sphere. The temple of God is the sphere of the Holy Spirit. It is where He takes charge. We often think of the temple of God in connection with our reading meetings, though I am not suggesting it is limited to them. Perhaps we could get help together as to what is distinctive about the functioning of the temple of God, in contrast to a group of believers simply coming together to read the Scriptures.

PAG One feature would be the recognition that “God is faithful, by whom ye have been called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”, 1 Cor 1: 9. We might, and I trust do, have helpful and valuable conversations in our houses about the Scriptures; and it is always something that certainly warms my affections when the brethren are able just to speak freely to one another about the Lord. And sisters can participate in that conversation too. But the temple involves that those who have recognised the Lord’s rights in the assembly have convened for a specific purpose, would you think?

RMB That is helpful. We might illustrate it in connection with our Parliament. There are 650 members of Parliament in total. But 650 Members of Parliament do not make a Parliament. Even 650 Members of Parliament in the same room do not make a Parliament. Before the House of Commons can do its business, certain requirements must be met. For example, the ceremonial mace must be on the table. Above all, the Speaker must be present. The House of Commons cannot commence its business in the absence of the Speaker. That might serve as an illustration that, where the saints are gathered together, provided certain conditions are met, that is, they are governed by the light of the assembly and full recognition is given to the Holy Spirit, something is in existence that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. The temple of God is there.

PAG Such a gathering would normally be announced. It is covered by the anointing; it involves dignity. The announcing of these occasions for gathering means that, without placing any strictures on the brethren as to what may be possible, one would normally hope to be there.

RMB We know that in other circles it has become increasingly common to have Bible readings online. In view of what we are saying, I find it impossible to see how you could have any experience of the operation of the temple of God in those circumstances. Do you think that is right, or is it going too far?

PAG I think that the thought of “together” (1 Cor. 11: 17) involves what the word actually means. It means being in the same place at the same time. I think we were also very thankful for what could be done by electronic means when we were obliged to be isolated from one another, but that was a temporary arrangement. And I am very free to speak to other brethren on the phone about the Scriptures. I do not have a problem with that or with a video link. But that is an informal conversation. Paul also uses the expression “in one place” (1 Cor. 14: 23) to the Corinthians as well. I think “together” and “in one place” would be the guidance that Scripture gives us.

RMB The scripture brings out that the temple of God is found in the local assembly. It is to one such that he says, “ye are the temple of God”.

TRC In relation to what has been said, there is a reason why we begin our occasions with a hymn of praise and a prayer, is there not?

RMB And what is that reason?

TRC Well, I think it links with what you are bringing before us, that we seek to gather in the light of the assembly. We respect that the temple of God is here and we relate ourselves to divine Persons in that way. But am I saying what is right?

RMB That is good. We have spoken about the temple of God as the place where the Holy Spirit has right of way: ‘The Spirit’s realm commands us’. Well, it needs to be a matter of definite exercise that it should be so. We do not want to assume that it is, do we? The opening hymn and prayer would help to marshal us in that way.

ARH Is the thought of the temple that God has an avenue to speak?

RMB Yes. Say more about that.

ARH We often speak of temple conditions, whether we understand what that means, but I wondered if when we gather together we are looking for divine Persons to be able to speak to us.

RMB That is most important. It is an exercise particularly in meetings like this, and in other occasions too, to be able to discern what the Holy Spirit may specially be drawing to our attention. Where there is the exercise that you have indicated we should be able to discern that there is a particular line that is before the Holy Spirit. Would you go with that?

ARH Yes.

JTB The thought of the temple carries forward to the millennium. It “increases to a holy temple in the Lord”, Eph 2; 21. The assembly will be the medium for the diffusion of divine wisdom.

RMB That was anticipated in Corinth. You think of someone in Corinth, where God had worked in their hearts, and they begin to get exercised and they think, ‘Where can I get light from God?’. They would be surrounded by all these idol worshippers, and there would have been the Jewish synagogue. They would want to know where they could come into touch with the true God. Paul speaks later of someone coming in and saying, “God is indeed amongst you”, 1 Cor. 14: 25.

JTB Ephesians speaks about the assembly being the manifestation of the “all-various wisdom of God”, chap 3: 10. Should that be reflected in the local assemblies?

RMB I am sure it should. How are you finding that in Edinburgh?

JTB Well, we do our best!

DS We have respect not only for the Holy Spirit, but do we have respect for one another? It is really through one another that the Spirit speaks, where two or three are gathered. Is it the Holy Spirit that uses vessels to speak, so we have respect for one another as we gather?

RMB I am glad you bring that in.

NJH In the figurative system, as long as the ark had its place, God went on with them. Is that not vital in this dispensation?

RMB What corresponds to that in this dispensation?

NJH Well, I think it is the place given to Christ in the affections. It affects every meeting. 1 Peter 4 refers to “ministering it to one another, as good stewards of the various grace of God. If anyone speak - as oracles of God; if any one minister - as of strength which God supplies; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the might for the ages of ages. Amen”, v 10, 11. That is setting out the conditions that our brother was referring to. It is how divine Persons stand in relation to the company, and to one another. Is that right?

RMB I am sure that is right but, I have to say, how testing! That must be the divine standard: if anyone speak let it be as oracles of God. That is the only speaking that is permitted in the assembly; but what an exercise, do you think?

NJH Yes, I think it is a constant one.

NCMcK In regard to what was mentioned about temple conditions, there is responsibility attached to that, is there not? “If anyone corrupt the temple of God.” There is the possibility of something coming in that is corrupting. That would attach to local responsibility. Is there any situation where that responsibility would not be taken up locally? Temple conditions must be attached to a local place, otherwise it is irresponsible.

RMB Any allowance of the flesh is corrupting, but especially in the temple of God. The thought that is emphasised in connection with the temple of God is holiness.

NCMcK Ezekiel 43:12 speaks of “the law of the house”. “All its border round about is most holy.” Holiness is the prime thought in the house.

RMB We should move on to chapter 5. In verse 7 the apostle says, “Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, according as ye are unleavened”; not as you “were”, or as you might “become”, but “as ye are unleavened”. The background is that there was a man in Corinth who had committed gross public wickedness. Yet the apostle speaks of them in this way. Given what was extant at Corinth, how do we understand him saying, “ye are unleavened”?

NJH According to God’s work it should be true of every believer. You have to clear the gross evil. You have to clear it rightly before God.

RMB Yes, I think so.

NJH It helped me to read a remark in ministry that whatever the breakdown that has come in to the church, Christ still loves the assembly. He secured it and then sanctified it. It is good to get that order.

RMB Do you think that there might be a link between this reference, “ye are unleavened”, and what you drew attention to earlier, “sanctified in Christ Jesus”? This is what they were in the mind of God. Is Paul labouring here to help the saints to answer in practice to what they were according to God’s thoughts about them?

NJH Yes. That is why we pray for recovery. If a person has erred and lost their way in the testimony, they can come back into it at the height. They are restored to the height.

RMB It would impress upon us the necessity for what we refer to as assembly discipline. It is only by its maintenance that we can answer to God’s thoughts about us in practice.

PAG Not only are we to regard the saints as sanctified, but also that the Spirit of God dwells in us. The Spirit of God does not associate Himself with mixture. He only associates Himself with what is of God. Therefore, when we look on the saints, the principal thing we should be looking for in them is what is of God. Is that so?

RMB I think so. This would help us in dealing with matters when they come up in our localities. That is not easy. We may find that local assembly exercises are perhaps some of the most trying exercises we have to face. It would help us in seeking to face them to understand that it is in view of God being rightly represented, as we were saying earlier, and that there should be the maintenance of suitable conditions for the presence and liberty of the Holy Spirit amongst us.

PAG Paul did not write to Ephesus about what was going on in Corinth. He wrote to Corinth and he expected it to be settled there. Now, of course, as an apostle there was a moment when he had to intervene, “ye and my spirit being gathered together” 1 Cor. 5: 4. He had, as it were, to act on their behalf. But because of what is available to every local assembly he expected it to be settled in that place, did he?

RMB Yes. Then, in connection with what we were saying earlier as to the universal side of things, each local assembly is bound to every other local assembly. Another thing that would help us in taking up these matters is to understand that each local assembly has its own responsibility to maintain the purity of the assembly in the place where it is.

PAG I would say, simply, that we should always be exercised to put the Lord’s rights first, and to carry the confidence of our brethren in the way that we do it. If we have these things in mind the Lord will help us.

RMB He will.

TRC We often think of the way assembly exercises affect us. But I think what you are drawing attention to is that we need to feel them as God feels them. The assembly of God is a sterile area. And God feels it if anything comes in to disturb that. We need to be attuned therefore to God’s thoughts in relation to the assembly, do you think?

RMB It is helpful that you underline that. In that connection I would draw attention to the fact that he says, “Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump”. Not that ‘ye may become’ one, but “ye may be” one. In other words, by dealing with the evil they would continue to be what they were according to the thoughts of God. Now, I say this for the benefit of the young people: leaven is what today we would refer to as yeast. It is put into dough, and diffuses itself and causes the bread to rise. It shows that a small element of something ends up permeating the whole. The apostle is bringing out that if sin is tolerated it will change the character of the local company. Eventually, it will become something other than unleavened. Had the saints in Corinth refused to remove the wicked man, they could no longer have been owned as the assembly of God in that place. That is why it is necessary, as thinking of the preciousness of local assemblies to God, that we take up these matters in faithfulness to Him.

GH I appreciate what you are bringing up as to how things are worked out in the assembly. Assembly discipline can be very trying. The positive is that there is divine liberty at the end of it. If these things are worked out as God would see fit, brotherly love comes through and grace as well, and brethren in that locality will have liberty with one another.

RMB I think that is right. It is important to keep before us that the Lord honours right discipline, because He sees that the saints are seeking to maintain the purity of His assembly. As that is done rightly, we maintain suitable conditions for His blessed presence amongst us and the liberty of the Holy Spirit. All of that is going to help the saints. Now, there is a further thought to add to what you were saying. Right discipline means there is somewhere for persons to be recovered to. Let us say a brother falls into sin and sadly the brethren have to separate from him; if in due course God works in his heart and he comes to a judgment according to God of what he has done, he will then think to himself, ‘Now, where are those persons who have that same judgment?’. And there is the circle to which he can be recovered.

DAB In the light of what we are speaking about at the moment, what is the force of celebrating “the feast … with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth”?

RMB Did you have a thought about that?

DAB You are stressing “according as ye are unleavened”. But there is also the side of maintaining our state pleasing to divine Persons; and we all know that in our own experience, as to eating the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I was just bringing that as an exercise in my own heart that I might be maintained in a state that is pleasing to divine Persons, and therefore God can see in me what is unleavened. There is the abstract side but there is also the concrete; there is the side of purpose and the side of responsibility and they go together, do they not?

RMB Yes.

DAB Help us as to that then.

RMB Well, I think the exercise is that we should be true in practice to what we are in the mind of God. “Purge out the old leaven” does not just refer to removing the wicked man, but it also involves the judgment in myself of whatever it is that has arisen among the saints. So an issue arises, a matter of righteousness arises, among the saints – you referred to our responsibility – but my first responsibility is to search my own heart. Am I clear of this? Then, celebrating the feast of unleavened bread would involve the constant exercise of self-judgment on our part. The Passover was held on one night, but the feast of unleavened bread went on for the next seven days, which suggests it is a continuing exercise for us.

DAB It is a healthy exercise though, is it not? It should not be an irksome thing. If we love the Lord and we give full place to the Holy Spirit, and our desires are to honour the Lord in the assembly in the places where we are set, then we would delight - we would joy - in this because it is a matter of the truth. Sincerity relates to holiness, does it not?

RMB He uses the word celebrate. “Let us celebrate the feast.” Do you not think it should be a matter of holy celebration, holy joy, that it is possible for there to be a place that is kept clean, where the Lord and the Holy Spirit can be free amongst us? That is a cause of celebration surely.

WMP Is this intended to be a lever in our souls, “our passover, Christ, has been sacrificed”. We get some sense of how divine affection and the great matter of sacrifice has entered into it, that it might be so with us.

RMB Yes, I think so.

NCMcK The house of Chloe and the house of Stephanas would appear to have been clear on these matters, chap 1: 11, 16. It is not unreal, is it? There were persons there who were unleavened, and who were carrying this matter in exercise. Abstract does not mean the matter is unreal. It should not be unreal.

ABB Do you think these exercises we have been speaking about would contribute to the local assembly being an area of safety and salvation?

RMB I think that is exactly what they would do. Did you have more in mind as to that?

ABB Eternal salvation comes from trusting the Lord Jesus, clearly. But I have certainly known in my own experience what it is to gather in a simple way, and to see the saints go on with what is right and what is normal, what is according to God. That holds us, would you feel from your own experience?

RMB And the experience of the presence of God. What a thing that is! The saints gather together, we have referred to the opening hymn and prayer, then the meeting commences, to have some sense at that moment that we are in the presence of God, is to be greatly coveted by us. What would our times be without it!

PAG Would sincerity and truth involve therefore that I am actually real about what I hold? That is why if a matter comes up it does need to be taken up and dealt with. It is an expression of that reality. We might have the truth, but sincerity and truth means we hold it in reality. Assembly discipline is a last resort, not a first resort, but it may be a necessary resort. Given the resources in the assembly, there ought to be a great deal of effort before we get to that point to maintain the position in righteousness and to keep the person. But once it becomes public, as here, then the assembly must necessarily clear itself of the evil. The sincerity would involve that I understand the reality of what this means to Christ, and what it would mean to Christ to retain a brother if I righteously can; and what it would mean to Him to recover a brother if that is righteously possible.

RMB In all of that do you think there is a right representation of God Himself? Going back to what we were saying as to the assembly of God in Corinth, anyone taking account of that would get a right impression of God.

NJH Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth would be in Paul’s mind in the way the brother was received again into fellowship.

RMB That is a good thought.

We should speak briefly about the reference in 1 Corinthians 12: 27, where Paul says, “ye are Christ’s body”. I thought that was very striking because more often when we speak about the body of Christ, we think of it in its universal aspect as consisting of every believer who has the Holy Spirit who is alive on the earth at the present time; and, of course, we always need to keep that in our minds. This reference shows that there is a sense in which the local assembly can be regarded as Christ’s body. Is it alright to say that?

NJH Yes. The emphatic, “ye are Christ’s body”: that is the local assembly.

RMB That is what I was thinking.

NJH In that way it is functioning together in unity and oneness and life.

RB Is the fact that these body feelings are in evidence a demonstration that “ye are Christ’s body”, both in terms of feeling for those who suffer and rejoicing with those that are glorified?

RMB One of the main thoughts in connection with the body of Christ is that it is the way in which Christ expresses Himself. He is expressed through the members of His body. Did you have more in mind?

RB It seems quite a statement, “ye are Christ’s body”, and so it is. But if we know something about one member suffering and all the members suffering with it, or one member being glorified and all the members rejoicing with it, then that is demonstration that this is so, and that we are Christ’s body.

RMB That would enhance our view of our local companies. Let us say, by way of example, that we knew the Lord Jesus had come personally to such and such a place in Glasgow, that He was actually there in His body. For the moment that would become our commanding interest, would it not? Whatever we were engaged in would be put to one side and we would make our way there. Now, if I go to a certain address in Glasgow, I will find a company of persons of whom it can be said, That is Christ’s body. Now, why should that not be my commanding interest?

SCL In one sense it translates to the practical expressions of what you have brought out. We had recently with us as to the good Samaritan. There is fruit in what you have brought out in this passage here in Corinthians. There was a man who recognised somebody that was in need. And I was thinking of Paul’s expression, “I shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls”, 2 Cor. 12: 15. It is not just because these brethren were amicable to him, but he had an appreciation of what they were as making up the assembly.

RMB There may only be a handful of brethren but they are Christ’s body. Each one of them is a member of the body of Christ. I bring these things forward, dear brethren, because I think if we ponder them carefully, they will greatly enhance our view of our local companies. How we are to be impressed with the fact that through grace we have been brought into touch with the body of Christ. A wonderful matter that!

ASP Do we see a practical working out of headship here?

RMB What did you have in mind as to headship?

ASP The Head in heaven and the body on earth, and then the feelings which are felt in the body. Is that seen in practice?

RMB I think for the truth of headship we have to go to the epistle to the Colossians. Mr Raven taught that where the figure of a physical body is used, as here, Christ is not the head, vol 9 p174. It is simply a figure: all the various parts of the body illustrating how we are not independent of one another, and how we are all to be working together to the same end. But I think in a general sense what you say is true, that the body of Christ is the circle in which His headship is to be known.

WMP Does the thought of the body imply life? Is that one of the features of a company? There would be a sense of what is living, a ministry of Christ, living affections among the saints.

RMB Yes. I think we have been taught that if the temple of God emphasises the thought of holiness, the body of Christ emphasises vitality, FER vol 16 p219.

WMP Very good, that is helpful.

RMB If we think of the light of God coming in by means of the temple of God, that light is diffused through the working of the body, would you say?

WMP That is very fine, yes.

NCMcK So while being baptised into one body, and given to drink of one Spirit is universal, yet the experience of it largely is worked out in the local company. We merge with our local brethren, and we enjoy spiritual things with our local brethren. We understand and enjoy these things locally, to a large extent.

RMB I am glad you mention that. How we should greatly value the precious light of the assembly, and recognise that it is in God’s goodness we have been brought into touch with it. But then there is something further than that, and that is the experience of the assembly. Now, where are we going to have that experience? It is in our local companies. Would you not say that is where we will experience the assembly?

NCMcK Very much so. All these great divine truths, while we fully accept and understand the universal aspect of them, as a matter of fact we primarily find our enjoyment of them among our local brethren where we have been set by God.

RMB That is a good note to finish on. There is nothing which Satan is so much set against as the practical expression of the assembly here on the earth at the present time. The understanding of that, and the appreciation of what we have been going over, would help us to see that in our local assemblies we have something that is well worth protecting, well worth caring for.

Glasgow
19^th August 2023

List of initials:

A B Brown, Linlithgow; D A Brown, Bo’ness; J T Brown, Edinburgh; R Brown, Linlithgow; R M Brown, Strood; T R Campbell, Glasgow; P A Gray, Linlithgow;
A R Henry, Glasgow; G Henry, Glasgow; N J Henry, Glasgow; S C Lock, Edinburgh; N C McKay, Glasgow; W M Patterson, Glasgow; A S Pittman, Grangemouth;
D Spinks, Bo’ness