THE FAMILY OF GOD ON EARTH

THAT God has a peculiar family on earth, is an undisputed truth. Ephesians’ 3:15: "Of whom (the Messiah) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." It is all important that the character of this family, its privileges, its rule of conduct, and its name, be clearly ascertained from the Bible. This being done, the effect must be good. To these points, we shall particularly attend.

1st The character of this family. Each member of this family has trusted in the Messiah Jesus. Ephesians I:13: “In whom (the Messiah) you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” This is in perfect accordance with the purpose of God, expressed by his prophet Isaiah, and confirmed by the Lord Jesus the Messiah and by his apostle Paul; “that in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” “in him the Gentiles will hope” [Matthew 12:21; Romans 15:12] None are worthy of being called members of this family, or will ever be acknowledged as such, who have not trusted in him for their present and eternal interests in him for salvation, grace and eternal life.

But will any trust in him before they are convinced of their own ignorance and weakness; of their own inability to save themselves? No: for as long as they have confidence in the flesh, they see no necessity of a Saviour. Again: Will any trust in him before they believe that he is able and willing to save them, wise to guard and guide them, benevolent and merciful to receive and bless them? No, certainly. They must believe that he possesses these attributes, or in him they cannot trust.

Another query naturally is suggested, What led them thus to believe in the Messiah, so as to trust in him? I answer, The revealed truth of God in the scriptures. These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the the Messiah, the son of God; and that believing, you might have life through his name. In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth,  the gospel of your salvation. [John 20:31; Ephesians I:13] In the scriptures are exhibited, not only the evidences of his being the promised Messiah, sent to be the Saviour of the world; but also his power and willingness to save; his love and benevolence to man; his truth and faithfulness to his promises, and his delight in bestowing his mercy and grace on believing sinners. Thus putting no confidence in the flesh, believing that Jesus alone can save, they have trusted in him without reserve; crying with sinking Peter, Lord, save, I perish.

They, who have believed and trusted in the Messiah, are sealed with the holy spirit of promise. In whom also, after that you believed, you were sealed with the holy spirit of promise. [Ephesians I:13] This spirit is the spirit of God, the spirit of the Messiah dwelling in us; for these different expressions mean the same thing, as is evident from [Romans 8:9, 10]. But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man has not the spirit of the Messiah, he is none of his. And if the Messiah be in you, the body is dead, &c. It is the spirit of holiness, which, when received, hungers and thirsts for righteousness, pants for God and a perfect conformity to His loving character. It is the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. It is the spirit of love to God, and man. It is the spirit which unites the whole family of God. It is the spirit of power, by which we are enabled to oppose successfully every temptation, and every enemy. It is the spirit of liberty, not of bondage; for where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. In a word, it is the spirit, the fruits of which are love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance. [Galatians 5:22, 23]

Those, who have not this spirit, belong not to Yehovah’s peculiar family. For if any man has not the spirit of the Messiah, he is none of his. Know you not your own selves that Jesus Messiah is in you, except you be reprobates? [Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 13:5] They, who have this spirit, have the Messiah formed in them, the hope of glory. The very mind and character of their Lord, do they possess. As the seal or signet, impressed on wax, leaves the image of itself; so, the spirit of the Messiah as a seal, leaves its own image on the heart of every believer. This is the mark of his family. But this shall all men know them. By this we are to know that we are the children of God. By this shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. This person, whether bond or free, black or white, rich or poor, prince or slave, is a child of God. How solemnly does our Lord warn us against offending and despising one of these little ones that believe in him! [Matthew 17:6] Shall this man, who has believed in the Lord Jesus, and trusted in him, and is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, he denounced, because he has not received a party name and mark? because he cannot receive the creed and dogmas of human invention? or because he cannot pronounce the Shibboleth of reputed orthodoxy? How many, reputed orthodox, have not the mark of God's people! and how many, reputed heterodox, have it so evident, that all may see it!

Another character of this family is that they are quickened or made alive. You has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. [Ephesians 2:1] Once they were dead in sin as others, dead to God, as having no desires after Him, no delight in Him or in His ways, no love to Him nor fellowship with Him; but they were alive to the world, to the world their desires were drawn, on it was their love fixed, and in its ways were their whole delight.

Now they are alive to God, to Him are the desires of their hearts, on Him is their love supremely fixed, and in Him and in His service are all their delights.

They are saved from sin, from the love of sin; for they hate it with a perfect hatred, from the practice of sin; for they Endeavor to avoid every appearance of evil; and he that is born of God sins not, and from the dominion of sin; for they are being made free from sin, have their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

They are reconciled to God. Once enmity existed between them and their God. He was light, they were darkness, He was holy, they were unholy, He was good, they were evil. How can natures so opposite be reconciled? What fellowship has righteousness to do with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? But they, who were once darkness, are now made light in Yehovah, they, who were once unrighteous, are now made righteous even as He is righteous, and holy even as He is holy. Now they are partakers of the divine nature, and therefore the reconciliation between them and their God is effected. Being reconciled to God, they are also reconciled to every perfection of His nature, to the law and the gospel, to His government and people, to all His dispensations in providence. Not my will, but thine be done, is the language of His heart. We might proceed more particularly to delineate the character of God's family; but we shall for the present dismiss this subject, for the consideration of another.

The privileges of this family. It has pleased God to bestow privileges distinguishingly great on this his family on earth, privileges high, above all comparison. They are acknowledged by Him as His children, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with the Messiah. All things are theirs, whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life or death, or things present or things to come; all are theirs; and they are the Messiah’s, and the Messiah is God's. [Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 3:22, 23]

The rules of this family. In every well regulated family, certain rules are ordained for its conduct. Should the father of a large family of children give different and contradictory rules to several different portions of his family, would not discord, strife and division be the unhappy consequences? If the father approve of the conduct of one part of his family for acting up to the code of rules given them; for the same reason he must approve of another part of his family for acting up to the contrary rules given them. In doing thus, he must approve of opposite conduct, right and wrong. No earthly father, it is believed, was ever found on earth, who acted thus imprudently. And will any man venture to affirm, that God gave to different parts of his family discrepant and opposite rules for their conduct? Would not this be the very foundation of discord, strife and division among them? And how could their heavenly Father so expressly forbid things, and enjoin the contrary?

Hence we assuredly conclude, that the various and opposite authoritative rules, creeds and disciplines, invented by the various sects, are unauthorized by God, are the foundation of discord, strife and division, and therefore contrary to the will of God. If the will of God is that all his people be one, and that there be no division among them, then to make such rules and adhere to them must be rebellion against God and his government, and a war against the spirit of truth, which calls upon all the family to unite and walk by the same rule. This conclusion may appear to be awful; but will candor deny its truth? Innumerable good men have never seen the evil of such things; but now it is high time to open their eyes, and reform.

The inspired Apostle exhorts the family to walk by the same rule. [Philippians 3:16] It is not pretended that this rule was any other than the New Testament. This God gave for the regulation of his family, and He judged it the best. This will promote union, peace and love in the whole family, if they obey it. Mark them (says Paul,) who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrines which you have learned, and avoid them. [Romans 15:17] That doctrine learned and received by the family of old yet exists in the New Testament. It cannot be denied, that various divisions have been made, and do yet exist, contrary to this doctrine. Therefore, every man that makes division contrary to the doctrine of the New Testament is in ipso facto, a schismatic, and ought to be avoided. It is important too, that such should be avoided; or the Apostle would not have pressed, and urged the exhortation with such forcible language. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that cause divisions, &c.

An important query naturally rises, how are such to be avoided? I know of but one way: Let the whole family of God reject their various, authoritative creeds, and receive the New Testament, as the only rule of faith and practice, let them reject all party names, and receive that, given by divine authority at Antioch, the name Christian. Let them endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace, till they all come to the unity of the faith. Let them learn and practise the old, neglected, but all-important doctrine of forebearance one towards another. Let them lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, and as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word. In a word, let them read the scriptures a lot, and obey its precepts in all things; then shall Zion's glory shine forth and engage the world to glorify God.

It appears that by the name Christian is the name the family called and known. Acts 26:28: "And Agrippa said unto Paul, almost you persuade me to be a Christian. Agrippa well knew that this was the name by which they were called.

It was for bearing the name Christian that they were reproached and persecuted of old. 1 Peter 4:14: “If ye be reproached for the name of the Messiah, happy are you 16”; “Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.” It is well known that the edicts of the persecuting emperors of Rome were against those who bore the name of the Messiah, or were called Christians. Some, to avoid persecution and imminent death, denied the name; but others, more faithful, owned it in defiance of affliction, persecution, and death, and suffered martyrdom for it. Hence, in high commendation of this firmness, the Lord addresses the persecuted Churches, for my name's sake you have laboured, and have not fainted. You hold fast my name. Youi have kept my word and have not denied my name. [Revelation2:3, 13; 3:8]

The family of God is torn and divided into almost innumerable parties, and each party distinguished by a peculiar name; as Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, &c. Were Paul here again, would he not be grieved and pressed in spirit, as he once was at Athens? Would he not reprove sharply, and call these divisions, carnality? Would he not labor to destroy this party spirit, and these party names? Certainly, he would. For he would well know that, these existing, the unity of the family could never be effected, and therefore, the will of God must be opposed. Will any contend that these party names are of divine appointment? No one will presume it. And can Christians contentedly wear them? What should we think of a wife, who should reject the name of her husband, and assume that of another man? Would not her conduct excite suspicion? Would it not be a ground of jealousy?

It is frequently asked, why so much zeal in the present day, against authoritative creeds, part names, and party spirits? I answer for myself: because I am assured, they stand in the way of Christian union, and are contrary to the will of God.

I ask, are not the divine commands, walk by the same rule, be perfectly united in one spirit, in one body, and let there be no division among you? Are not these commands building on every believer, of every name? None will presume to deny this truth. I farther ask, Is not the person guilty, who knows this, yet will not do it? It cannot be denied.

Again: Let the believers in each party adopt the name Christian, as that given by divine appointment, and let them give up the party name, by which they have been distinguished from others. Let them relinquish their party spirit, and party interests, and agree to unite their endeavours to promote and advance the kingdom of God, which is righteousness and peace and joy in the holy spirit.

We are assured, that they who would act thus, must suffer much opposition and persecution from all those in a different spirit. But let the Christians of every party, unawed by the frowns and menaces of men, do right. Who, instructed in the revelations of God, can in conscience deny that such would do right? We think there are none.

There are many preachers in the world, who often zealously preach the doctrine of union, and eulogize it in high terms; yet these men, though they know and preach the truth, remain inactive in promoting it. Like the Pharisaic doctors, they say and do not. Can such men be honest? If they were, would they not labor to do what they declared to be right? Would they not step forth into the will of God and be an example to the flock.

Written by Barton Stone and edited by Bruce Lyon