When we speak of the household of God, the temple of God, or the Ecclesia of the first born, our attention is not directed toward an edifice erected of stone, or wood, or metal, nor to a building that is dedicated to some specific region, rather our minds are directed toward that spiritual structure which is made up of human material which God is erecting for His own habitation. This is a building which, by every effort, we desire to be a part of at its completion only when Jesus returns, who is the chief cornerstone of that temple. We are all aware that the 24th and 25th chapters of Matthew contain the Olivet prophecy in which is depicted the judgments of God upon the nation of Israel for the rejection of His Son, the Messiah, and also upon the nations of the world and also upon His household. In the Olivet prophecy there are three parables, but the one that we will consider is in Matt. 24, 44-45 verses. “Therefore, be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom His Lord hath made ruler of His household, to give them meat in due season.” This parable contains an exhortation, but it also contains a warning, and as disciples of Christ it cannot be ignored. The 45th verse is the key to our exhortation. We know that a household is made up of a group of people which constitutes a family which is knit together by a common bond. So it is with all who put on the name of Christ, and who are privileged to take part in the memorial service.
Christ is the Head of the Family of God
Christ who is the cornerstone of this spiritual temple is the designated head of this family of God. At the present time, He is at the right hand of the Father, striving to secure for the members of His family, a place in His kingdom upon His return. In the meanwhile the nurturing and care of this family is in our keeping.
This responsibility does not rest solely upon those elected brethren who conduct the work of the Ecclesia, such as presiding, exhorting, and teaching, and the general business of the meeting, it rests upon all members.
Our backgrounds may differ but our standing in the sight of God is the same. We are all equal. We are His children knit together into one holy family.
Paul Gives us a Picture how to Work in Love
Paul, in his first epistle to the brethren at Corinth, at the 12th chapter, gives us a mental picture as to how we should work in love to the glory of God and and Christ. In verses 4-6, he says “Now there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord and there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh in all.” Our brother Paul, is telling us that we all have abilities of some kind. Some may have more than others, yet the brother or sister who may seem to have less than another is just as important as he who exhorts, or presides, because we all have the Spirit word, and we will all be judged according to the manner in which we have used our talents. The brother or sister who may have more ability has more responsibility to see that the Truth is kept pure.
In 1st Peter 5, he has this to say to those who have been elected elders. “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed; Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” When Paul wrote his first letter to the brethren at Corinth, there was a division in the Ecclesia, and the first ten chapters were devoted to warning the disciples of the consequences of falling into a state of complacency, and carnal mindedness to stop the growth in spiritual things.
Paul Puts his finger on the cause of Division
In the opening verse of the 3rd chapter, Paul puts his finger on the causes of division. He says “And 1 brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with meat, for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now, are ye able. For ye are yet carnal, for whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men?” The rest of this chapter is devoted to the giving of the antidote, to a self-satisfying attitude concerning a spiritual growth in the Truth.
Brethren and Sisters, we are co-workers together in the ministry of the “word”, and as our Bro. Paul says in the 9th verse “for we are laborers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building,” and in the 16th verse, he asks “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy; which temple ye are?”
Peter tells us to Desire the sincere milk of the Word
These words of Paul, are in accord with the words of Peter in his first epistle. He says in Chapter 2 “As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, if so be, ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God and Christ.” At verse 9 and 10, he continues “But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood„ an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him, who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” There are many ways in which we, as fellow laborers can build together a lively ecclesia. Our relationship with one another must never be marred by envy, strife, jealousy, or hatred. Love must be the dominating factor in our lives. Problems will arise, but they can be solved, if love prevails. Paul has said “charity or love never faileth, it cements together those lively stones, which the Master builder is constructing now, and in the age to come. At the present time, we are all going through a training period or molding process and God has set before us that perfect model which we must try to emulate, His beloved Son Christ Jesus. Whether our work will be accepted all depends upon how we build in this present probation. Destruction comes easy, due to our rebellious nature. But the obedient trainee will follow the ways of God, by diligently applying the instructions given by Christ and His apostles.
We are to present our bodies a living Sacrifice
A good example of this is given in Rom. 12 beginning at the 1st verse. Paul says “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man, the measure of faith.” “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office, so we, being many are one body in Christ and everyone members one of another.” Some years ago, a brother speaking on the same subject which we are considering, said and I quote, “In the Ecclesia our differing gifts are bricks of different shapes, sizes and colors. They are not to be used for throwing at each other. We shall never build a temple that way.”
To Edify Means to improve, Build up
That is how the Corinthians were using them and they had to be told in 1 Cor. 14: 12 “Even so ye, forasmuch ye are zealous of spiritual gifts seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” To edify means to improve, to build up mentally as Peter exhorted all his disciples. To grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and it is essential that it be crowned with love. This is the only binder that can hold together this edifice which we are building. Without it, it will crumble away and become like the Laodician Ecclesia portrayed in Rev. 3.
Rather we should work to be like the Ecclesia at Philadelphia who had the stamp of approval that they were faithful.
Let all things be Done Decently and in Order
As Paul cautioned the Corinthian brethren, “Let all things be done unto edifying, let all things be done decently and in order and finally, let all things be done with charity.”
We cannot hope to build up our brothers and sisters, unless we ourselves are being built up in our hearts and minds when there is no one there to see. Faith is our only foundation and our trust in God and His redeeming love. Upon faith, knowledge can build and the right kind of knowledge is essential to our spiritual building. Willful neglect can cause our house to crumble. The work of building this temple or Ecclesia will only cease when we fall asleep in Christ or when we will hear the call that our Master has returned. If we have been faithful in the things given to our charge, we will then receive that crown of life that fadeth not away and by the grace of God, he will make us pillars in his Temple. In the good providence of God, we have been brought into relationship with Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God. We are being built up together as the Temple of God: of which Temple the Lord Jesus is the chief cornerstone and the Holy altar. It is our duty to consider the office which we are to fill in this House. It may be our responsible duty to be a pillar in the House or we may be cords attached to the pillars. To give support to them or even pegs which help to keep the structure well grounded. Pillars wear out and have to be replaced. Yet the faithful workers of the House are not forgotten. They are yet to be unearthed and made imperishable and then all shall be fitted into that greater House to be erected when the Lord Jesus returns.
The Work Of Gathering material is still Going On
God has chosen to place His Name in an earthly household and has commanded us to labor in this house to the end. The work of gathering material for this Spiritual Temple is still going on. That is why we gather around the table of the Lord from week to week. Not only to keep the Master in memory but to preach the gospel that he preached and to edify each other in love. We are God’s husbandry. Our work will only be completed when all Israel is saved and the full number of Gentiles are called. As Paul stated in Ephesians 2: 19-22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One