The Purpose Of The Ages - Christ And The Church

by J. DORRICOTT | Category: The Purpose Of The Ages - Christ And The Church | Aug 1932

"Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up for it."

(Ephesians 5. 25.)

We have before mentioned that Adam and Eve typify Christ and the Church (Genesis 2. compared with Ephesians 5.), also Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24.). The precious truths in connection with these, with all their wealth of instruction, we cannot now dwell upon.

In past "shadows" we also have Asemmath the Egyptian bride of Joseph. She was not with him during the jealousy and hatred of his brethren ; the sorrows of the pit, and of the dungeon he bore alone. She was united to him after his sufferings and exaltation to the throne, and was sharer with him of his triumph and glory, and this previous to the time of making himself known to his brethren after their repentance.

How vividly this reminds us that we had no share in the sorrows of Christ; time death of the Cross He endured alone, the atonement sufferings were His exclusively.

Left alone, 0 Lord, to languish,

Left alone, 0 Lord, to die-

All forsaken, none to share Thy dying cry.

But through wondrous grace it is ours, as those now united with Him, to share in His glorious triumph and exaltation and in the future to be sharers of His glory in manifestation. This blessed union has been effected during the time of His rejection by "His own" (Israel), and His future manifestation to them- "when the King cometh," and their repentance takes place. In this we also have an illustration of the parenthesis of the present Church period.

Briefly we mention Zipporah, the Gentile bride of Moses (Exodus 2.). She became his wife during the time of his sojourn in the land of Midian-his brethren having refused him, for they understood not that he was their God-appointed deliverer and saviour (Acts 7. 25).

In this case we see she shared with him his rejection, and the loneliness of the backside of the desert, where he was a stranger. She had fellowship with him in his sufferings, and was afterwards with him when he was manifested as the Ruler of the chosen people of God.

Again, we may see in the union an illustration of our being united with Christ (though aliens), during the present time of our Lord's rejection by His earthly people Israel, and our present privilege and responsibility is to know "the fellowship of His sufferings "as we take the place of rejection and strangers with Him, "bearing His reproach " (see Philippians 3.- 10 Hebrews 13. 13).

PURCHASED TO BE MY WIFE.

Again, in some respects, we have a beautiful figure of Christ and the Church as seen in Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess.

She was truly an object of grace, for it is written, "A Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of the Lord for ever" (Deuteronomy 23. 3).

How then could such a one who was reckoned amongst God's enemies, an alien and a stranger, find a place, and a most prominent one, in Israel? How could she become the wife of Boaz?

The answer is, she was brought in through grace and on redemption ground. Boaz had counsels in his heart concerning her, and she finds favour (grace) in his eyes; but, if she is to be united to him, it must be on the ground of purchase. Boaz must take this right of redemption upon himself. As kinsman-redeemer there was the field to be purchased as well as Ruth. Boaz says, "Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's... Chilion's and Mahlon's...moreover Ruth the Moabitess... have I purchased to be my wife "(Ruth 4. 9, 10). This then was the chief object before the heart of Boaz. The field and possessions were purchased with this object of love and grace before him, "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife."

Precious truth shines forth in this further illustration of Christ and the Church. We think of ourselves once afar off, enemies, aliens and strangers, but we in eternal counsels and purposes were seen as objects of grace in the Beloved One, and in due time He became our Redeemer.

Our Redeemer! 0 what beauties

In that lovely Name appear!

We have through redemption been united with Him in living indissoluble union. So near, so dear, is this, that He regards us as bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh, His complement, His companion, presently to be manifested as His bride, His wife; the wife of the Young Lamb, co-heir in future glory.

ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

Our thoughts now go to the time when the Lord Jesus spake of the purchase of the field for the sake of the treasure in it, and the purchase of the one pearl of great price (Matthew 13. 44-46). It was inside the house (verse 36) that the secret of the great purchase and Purchaser was made known to them (What thoughts arise in our hearts as we think of" the travelling merchant" and his journey to find this one lustrous pearl.) In thus speaking of the ONE PEARL of great price, the Lord was, in a certain sense, beginning to break the silence of the secret [It should be clearly understood that the word "mystery" or "secret" in these and other passages of Scripture, does not necessarily mean something hard to understand, but rather a secret when silence is imposed. A mystery, or secret, is no longer such when God has spoken and revealed it in His Word. Therefore He intends that these truths SHOULD NOT BE A SECRET to us, for they have now been revealed. They are in the Word for us (Ephesians 3. 3-5, 9; Colossians 1. 26-25; and so in 1 Corinthians 15. 51, "Behold, I tell you a mystery"-literally, "I tell you a secret").] hid from the eternal ages, for He speaks of the purchase of the one pearl (verse 46), as distinct from the purchase of the field for the sake of the treasure (verse 44).

To His disciples He makes known this fresh aspect of the rule of the heavens, that was to be manifested through Him, not now seeking Israel to bring them as a nation to repentance, to own Him as their rightful King, but as the Man Christ Jesus, seeking, finding, parting with all that He had to purchase this for Himself. In the purchase of the field and the treasure, we see that which is more comprehensive and much wider, but not so precious as the one pearl of great price. In this wider aspect of redemption, Israel, the nations, and created things will be affected for blessing in millenial times (Romans 8. 19-21; Ephesians 1. 9, 10; Colossians 1. 20), but in the purchase of the ONE PEARL we see that which is EXCEEDINGLY precious; for He purchases this for its value to Himself, because it was most precious in His sight. Costly indeed the price, but this He was prepared to pay, for He "went and sold all that he had" and bought it. It is His, and His alone. He has procured this FOR HIMSELF, FOR HIS OWN GLORY (compare, we suggest, Ephesians 2. 7; 3. 21; Revelation 21. 9-11). He can say "My pearl," even as He said "My Church" (Matthew 16. 18); but 0 the cost! "Sold all that He had!"

We pause here to say, that we do not believe that we shall be able to appreciate the truth-the wondrous truth of the secret of Christ and the Church (Ephesains 5. 32), nor the truth of the One Body, and membership thereof in its present practical application, UNLESS OUR HEARTS ARE IN A RIGHT CONDITION FOR THE SPIRIT TO REVEAL the love of Christ that passeth knowledge. Here we must begin, and our whole being must be rightly affected that we may apprehend the wondrous love which led Him to part with all that He had, for the purchase of this ONE PRECIOUS PEARL, His Church, the Church which is His Body, to acquire which He

Came from Godhead's fullest glory

Down to Calvary's depths of woe.

CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR IT (Ephesians 5. 25).

Here we would write "Selah"! Yes, we will pause and consider-"think of that"! yea, we will think of that. It is only as our hearts feel the power of this, that we can rightly learn and enter into the precious truths concerning Christ and the Church.

J. DORRICOTT | Aug 1932
The Purpose Of The Ages - Christ And The Church