The Present Work And Ministry Of Christ In Heaven

by F. McCormick | Category: The Glories And Excellencies Of Christ | Oct 1958

THE LORD'S SHEPHERD CARE

The Lord called and gathered His own sheep from the fold of John, "He leadeth them out," " He goeth before them," "they know His voice" (John 10.8, 4). Then He says Other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock, one Shepherd Scripture never speaks of flocks, but flock one flock with reference to His gathered people. The words of Peter are pertinent writing to the elders in the five provinces enumerated in 1 Peter 1 he says "Tend the flock of God which is among you, making yourselves examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5.2, 8). They could never tend that flock unless it was known, gathered, and accessible. They were to do this work of tending under the Chief Shepherd in heaven; it was His ministry to His gathered people through the under-shepherds, for there is but one flock, one Shepherd. It is His care, His guidance, His will the under-shepherds are to express, not their own, they are but under-shepherds, men under authority, called, fitted, and engaged in this work of expressing the desires of the only perfect, Shepherd who is now in heaven. It is a work which springs from love toward the Chief Shepherd, and His voice should ever be heard in heart-searching power by them, "Lovest thou Me?" "Feed My lambs"; "Tend My sheep"; "Feed My sheep." Thus we see a ministry of shepherd-care directed from the resurrected Lord toward the flock of God through overseers or elders, and these are responsible to the Chief Shepherd for their work and actions; they are to be subject to Him who has entrusted them with this great work, and also to subject themselves, the younger to the elder, as instructed in 1 Peter 5.5, as examples to the flock. They are to minister to the spiritual needs of God's people, to care for them, to guide, counsel, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering, remembering that the sheep are those for whom Christ died; they are His sheep. They are to feed with food convenient to the lambs and sheep of the flock by healthful Spirit-given ministry. With tender hand and loving heart they are to help the weak and feeble and encourage the fainthearted, and such work must be done with a single eye to God's glory and the blessing of His people. They are to be men of courage who will stand against the attacks of the Adversary, steadfast in their faith, prepared to spend and be spent, to defend the sheep, and stand in defence of the gospel, and of the faith once for all delivered to the saints, men who put God's people and God's honour first, and themselves last, men who can pray in truth as Solomon! "Give Thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?" (1 Kings 3.9). Besides the Shepherd care and ministry of the Lord through overseers to the flock, there is His present work as Son over God's house and also His work as Great Priest over the house of God.

CHRIST AS SON OVER GOD'S HOUSE

This subject is worthy of close attention as affecting the ecclesiastical position of all believers. Before we can appreciate the position which Christ has as Son over God's house, we must first define what the house of God is. It is a lamentable fact that of the vast numbers of believers in the world today comparatively few have any conception of this precious truth. Those who may have are often so bound up with tradition, friendships, or family relationships that they are unable to give expression to it. We freely admit that for a disciple of the Lord Jesus to take his or her place in the house of God may demand a sacrifice which perhaps few are prepared to make. The majority take the easy way and the popular path regardless of the word,

"Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23.28).

The house of God today is a spiritual house. During the life of the Lord Jesus on earth there was a material temple, and it is evident that the two could not exist as God's dwelling place at the same time. Indeed, the prophecy of Caiaphas makes it clear that

"Jesus should die for the nation; and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God which are scattered abroad" (John 11. 52).

There was to be the commencement of a new thing after the death of Christ, and this the Lord had in view when He prayed that memorable prayer found in John 17

"Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on Me through their word; that they may all be one; ... that the world may believe ... that the world may know that Thou didst send Me."

It is quite clear from this that the Lord had before Him a visible oneness which was to be a witness of divine truth before the world, and so He prayed, "Sanctify them in the truth: Thy word is truth."

Concerning the material temple in Jerusalem He ultimately declared

"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Matthew 23.38).

A dispensation was about to commence after the death of Christ, which, in contrast to the material things of the law, was to be spiritual in its character and manifestation. The cross was to be the means first of all of bringing men into eternal union with God, a union which can never be broken, for every believer stands perfect and complete in Christ. This is a union of life, of all who are sharers of a common salvation. This invisible union in Christ has been made by many the basis of church fellowship, though this has not the slightest foundation in Scripture. Believers are not gathered in testimony on the basis of their sanctification in Christ Jesus, but because of their sanctification in the truth, and this requires obedience to the truth.

F. McCormick | Oct 1958
The Glories And Excellencies Of Christ