What Is The House Of God?

by F. McCormick | Category: General | Jan 1944

Many and varied are the ideas regarding this important subject. Varying conceptions have been handed down from generation to generation and such traditions have been accepted by many as being final and unchallengeable because of and church authority and antiquity. We should make it clear that in seeking to answer this question we accept neither so called church authority nor antiquity as infallible guides Our sole appeal must he, to the Scripture of truth. It is startling to find that many nominal, and also sincere Christians believe the house of God to be the building in which religious services take place, but it is obvious from Hebrews 3. 6 that the house of God is composed of persons and not of inanimate materials, such as bricks, stones, mortar, and so forth " Whose house we are if we hold fast." Others believe that all who put faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour become part of the house of God supposing it to be composed of all such believers. Again we point out that the house of God is a conditional thing, composed of persons who are holding fast, - "Whose house we are if we hold fast." Something in addition to being saved from wrath to come is necessary.

In seeking an answer to our question we would emphasize the prime importance of accepting the guide. Reasons which may be deduced by external observations of persons or organizations as to what they are, or are not, are often proved to be entirely wrong Human wisdom and intellect are incompetent of themselves to supply an authoritative answer to our question. Our appeal shall be to the law (teaching, R.V.M.) and the testimony" (Isaiah 8.20).

The house of God, as the term implies, is a dwelling place a habitation for God. It has ever been God's purpose to redeem men and also to dwell among them conditionally upon their obedience. God's dwelling has always been among a together and separated people, as is seen in the tabernacle in the wilderness the temple in the land, the house rebuilt by the remnant under Zerubbabel and the house of God in this present dispensation. It will be observed that through departure from God, and the unfaithfulness of His people calamity and disaster have befallen the house of God again and again thus shewing the conditional character of God's house. Some elementary Principles are seen in the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt, and their being brought out to God in the wilderness that they might serve Him Let us note what is involved, - (1:), they were redeemed by blood; (2) they "were all baptized into Moses and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10. 2; (3) They were separated from Egypt's manner of life politics and religions; (4) they entered into a covenant with God, saying, "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do and be obedient (Exodus 24. 7) Moses sprinkled with blood "both the book itself, and all the people (Hebrews 9.19), saying,-" Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words" (upon all - these conditions, R.V.M.) (Exodus 24.8).

Henceforth they were bound by covenant to be a people of the book. Not until then did God say (5) "And let them make Me a sanctuary: that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25; 8). God did not require His people to supply and approve e plans for His - habitation. He -Himself is the Designer, the Architect, and He demanded absolute obedience on the part of, His people in the making of every detail, even as Moses was warned of God,-" See; saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was shewed thee in the mount "(Hebrews 8.5). With minute precision God describes every detail relating to the materials to be used, the design of each part, and the setting up of the whole. Human opinions and ingenuity are set aside. This surely should have a loud voice to those who contend that the place and form of service and worship count for little providing there is sincerity! Were this so, why should the great God of heaven describe so minutely His desires, and impress the necessity of, complying with His will? There was, however, a firth reason for this exactitude, in that those things were "a copy and shadow of the heavenly things (Hebrews 8. 5), " a shadow of the good things to come (Hebrews 10: 1), "a parable for the time now present" (Hebrews 9.9).

It is noteworthy also that after David had given to Solomon the pattern of the temple and its service, he said,-" All this have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of the LORD, even all the works of this pattern" (1 Chronicles 28. 19). Again, the remnant from Babylon who rebuilt the temple, though not in its former glory, built and served according "As it is written in the law of-Moses" (Ezra 3.2; see also verse 4 and chapter 6.18). Similarly in this dispensation God has -not left men 'to form their own conceptions of what the house of God should be. Plain instructions and direct commands are given by the Lord for the guidance of all sincere seekers after truth, and fundamental requirements for the formation of the house of God to-day are embodied in the great commission of Matthew 28.18-20. It is abundantly evident from the foregoing that God's will in connection with His house must be expressed in His own designed and appointed way. What therefore is not in accordance with divine requirements, of necessity must be the product of self choosing and an imposition of the will and way of man. Such are described as "heresies" (parties, B.V.M., Galatians 5.20), elsewhere translated " sects." This is a very solemn matter for children of God associated with such systems, and the call of God is, "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6.17). In Matthew 28.18 the supreme authority of the risen Lord is brought before us, "All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth." The decisions and commands of ecclesiastical dignitaries, church c6uncils, or synods, are valueless in comparison with the authority and power of the commands of our" One' Lord" (Ephesians 4.5), who said,-" Co ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the consummation of the age" (Matthew 28.19, 20, R.V.M.). Here are the realities of past shadows for the time now present. Persons are saved from the wrath to come through the precious blood of Christ. Loving Him who had first loved them they yield their wills and hearts to Him and become His followers, His disciples. As such they are to be baptised, and they are to be taught to observe all things whatsoever He had commanded. (See Acts 1.2, 8). What the baptised disciples were taught by the apostles is made manifest in the practice of those who were brought under their teaching. See Acts 2.41, 42. "There were added unto them "-that is to those already t9gether according to the word of the Lord (Acts 1.4-14), on whom divine approval was manifest by the fact that as they were "all together in one place" the Holy Spirit came down upon them. To them were added "about three thousand souls." As they were taught, so "they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers." Such was the first church of God (Acts 8.1; Galatians 1.13), built according to the pattern as the apostles had received it from the Lord, and it should be observed that the same constitution and practice obtained throughout all the churches, "even as I 'teach everywhere in every church" (1 Corinthians 4.17): "And so ordain I in all the churches" (1 Corinthians 7.17). "We have no such custom, neither the churches of God" (1 Corinthians 11.- 16).

If children of God are to be in the right place according to the Scriptures, they must be in a church of God, of which there were, and are, many. These churches are bound together by the bonds of truth and love, in one thing, holding the one faith and acknowledging the one Lord. - "Each several building" (see 1 Corinthians 1.2, and compare, chapter 3.9) or church, "fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord ; - in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph6sians 2.21, 22). Herein is the answer to our question. Over God's house the Son of God exercises authority,-" whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3. 6). There is therefore a right manner of conduct to be observed, and right teaching to hold fast; and much of what is written in the epistles teaches "how men ought to behave themselves - in the house of God, which is the church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3.15). The house of God is the aggregate of all the churches of God, built according to the divine pattern, and is the only place on earth where God's will can be expressed collectively, and wherein He can dwell among His people. "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life" (Psalm 27.4). "0 send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, And to Thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, Unto God my exceeding Joy" (Psalm 43.3, 4). Blessed indeed are all they who have like aspirations and purpose to the psalmist in regard to the house of God of this dispensation.

F. McCormick | Jan 1944
General