God's Hidden Wisdom Revealed

by OXLEY, C. B. | Category: General | Jun 1932

In Romans 1. the power of God is emphasized: power as associated with Christ (verse 4), with creation (verse 20), and with the gospel (verse 16).

In 1 Corinthians 1. the wisdom of God is emphasized: wisdom as displayed in the cross of Christ (verses 23, 24). Did the Roman contemplate power, and the Greek wisdom? Then, let them contemplate the power of God and the wisdom of God as seen in the cross-work of Christ; for therein is found the most glorious display of divine wisdom and divine power to be found throughout the universe; Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The wisdom of what was accomplished by the cross-the powerful results of what looked like a display of utter weakness, will be seen and known and enjoyed throughout the ages to come; even for ever. The cross meets every claim, answers every demand, and satisfies every requirement of the Divine throne and justice and holiness in reference to the sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, the cross is not only the basis of salvation for those who are saved, it is also the basis of their separation to the use and service of God for ever.

But a deeper, a more intimate, yea, a more glorious purpose lay hidden in the heart of God than one of use and service; this transcendent purpose was, that His beloved Son should acquire through redemption a unique possession so near and dear to Himself that its fitting description would be "the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all"-the complement of Himself as "Head over all things," and that which shall for ever answer to His heart's affection and His heart's desire.

This Church is being made up of the redeemed, believing Jews and Gentiles of this present dispensation; the cross breaks down the middle wall of partition between them, He reconciles both unto God in one Body by the cross. In the Church which is His Body they are made both one, in a living bond of union with Himself and with each other. He as the Head, and they as the members. They to be the nearest and the dearest of all to Himself, and He the nearest and dearest of all to them. Not only an eternal bond of life, but an eternal bond of love existing between them.

Family relationships, and social position, such as husband and wife, parents and children, masters and servants, exist and are legislated for in the church and churches of God, but not in the Church which is His Body. In it "There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye are all one man in Christ Jesus." Race, sex, and social position, are, as all know, differences associated ofttimes with root causes of world troubles. But, behold, these differences and root causes are all removed by the wisdom and power of God, in the Church, which is Christ's Body, as the result of and on the basis of the barrier-breaking, sin-removing, and reconciling work of God's beloved Son on the cross of shame.

Every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ in this dispensation is a member of the Body. Upon believing, each one is baptized in the Holy Spirit into that one Body. Christ as the Head of the Body baptizes each and all into it. Simple faith on their part and sovereign grace on His part, and-mystery divine they become members of His Body. From that moment they are "one with him for ever" ; they also thus become one in Him with all their fellow-members of that mystical Body of Christ.

Thus a vitally close and intensely intimate relationship is eternally established. This is the fulfilment of one of the deepest mysteries, and is, as far as we know, the most cherished design of the love and grace and wisdom of God toward men.

The Church, his Body, is also the most cherished treasure of the heart of Christ. In the ages to come He will see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied in a special way as He looks on those who believed on Him in this day of His rejection. For He loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it, and that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing: to be ever with Him in exceeding joy.

Sinners and rebels against God, of every nation and language, saved from eternal woe, become one Body with Him as Head.

The Head for all the members,

The curse, the vengeance bore,

And God, our God, remembers

His people's sins no more.

A striking illustration of this mystery is found in "the deep sleep" which the Lord God caused to fall upon Adam, "and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from the man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man." And thus presented to him he exclaimed "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." Ephesians 5. 32, leaves us in no doubt that this speaks of Christ and the Church. The human race was so created as to set forth the eternal oneness of Christ and the Church; the Head and the members of the one Body-"the Christ," the article being present in the original. 1 Corinthians 12. 12. Authority could not be greater and clearer, nor could relationship be closer and dearer than what is set forth in that early example of Genesis 2. :-The man alone: the deep sleep: the wounded side: the woman: the presentation: the end of loneliness the perfect union: the blissful companionship: and in the case of Christ and His Church a joy unspeakable and full of glory.

This mystery, before times eternal deep in the bosom of God, where dwelt His beloved Son, is "Now revealed" (Ephesians 3. 5), and made known unto us through His Spirit, says the Apostle in speaking of the hidden wisdom of God, "which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory" (1 Corinthians 2. 7.)

The oneness of which we have been speaking (and uniting such contrary elements as Jews and Gentiles; the Holy One of God and those redeemed from the depths of sin) is inward and spiritual; and it is eternal, being of such a nature that nothing can destroy it. But being one inwardly in "life," believers ought also to be one outwardly visibly and collectively, in testimony to the world--and all subject to Christ. He is the one Living Head (who "ever liveth," who "dieth no more"), therefore that Headship should be acknowledged by all believers, held fast by them, and never given to any other-there is just one Head-one is their Master, even Christ. Instead, however, of this oneness being outwardly expressed. before the world, and. this Headship alone acknowledged, what do we find? The will of man has come in, and believers are mixed. up with a number of so-called bodies, Roman, Anglican, Nonconformist, etc.; with a succession of heads, such as Popes, Prelates and Presidents; and a so-called "Membership," mostly unconverted. Truly a sad spectacle, and a terrible distortion of what the Divine mind and will intended and set out so plainly in the Scriptures of truth. Sectarianism is a baleful and abominable thing in the sight of God, because it defeats the divine purpose in testimony, it sets aside His written Word, and denies the right of Christ to rule over those whom He hath bought with a price, even His blood. Paul put it tersely in his letter to the church of God in Corinth, when, guided by the Holy Spirit, he said, "was Paul crucified for you? or, were ye baptized into the name of Paul?"

We remind the reader that it is the "isms," that Scripture condemns, and which we therefore write so strongly against. The Psalmist said, "I hate every false way." Note, the "false way," and the "isms" invented by men not only defeat the divine purpose in testimony, but deprive members of Christ's Body of enjoyment together of divine service, fellowship and testimony while here on earth.

OXLEY, C. B. | Jun 1932
General