the Son of Man: the field is the world; the good seed are the children
of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the
enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the
world; and the reapers are the angels.
"As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall
it be in the end of this world. The Son of Man shall send forth His
angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that
offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace
of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the
righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who
hath ears to hear, let him hear."
[Sidenote: The meaning of the parables.]
Thus clearly did Jesus Himself see the condition of the world, and
thus plainly did He teach it to His disciples. Now, for the purpose
of this study, certain points appear. First, it is very evident that
Jesus had in mind a distinct community life for those who followed
Him. The kingdom of heaven, sometimes called the kingdom of God, is
the organization in which dwells the righteous. Of course, all kinds
of people gain access at times into the kingdom. In another parable,
Jesus likens the kingdom to a net cast into the sea, which gathered
of every kind of fish. When the net was drawn ashore, the fishermen
placed the good fish in vessels, but the bad they cast away. Again,
you see, the intent is that the followers of Jesus, or the righteous,
are the children of the kingdom, and that the unrighteous have no
place therein. The righteous in {148} their community--the believing
community--shall shine forth as the sun. They constitute the kingdom of
their Father.
[Sidenote: The church and the kingdom.]
You may object that this kingdom does not mean the organized Church,
but the glorious kingdom embracing the whole world, over which Jesus is
to reign as King. Perhaps you are right; but it makes no difference to
the argument. For, in the first place, that kingdom must be organized.
We are sure, then, that Jesus had in mind the assembling and organizing
of His people. But, in the second place, that larger kingdom can never
be accomplished without a smaller one from which it may grow. While
the faithful number but a handful, they, too, must be organized and
provision must be made for common worship, fellowship, and service.
This smaller institution--included in the larger--is the Church. The
wheat and the tares are even now growing side by side in the Church of
Christ--in the kingdom of God--and will continue to do so until the day
of the great harvest.
[Sidenote: The testimony of Peter.]
But there is recorded stronger evidence even than this that the
disciples of Jesus are to be organized in a Church community. When
Jesus asked testimony of His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the
Son of Man am?" the disciples answered, you remember, "Some say that
Thou art John the Baptist: some Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of
the prophets." Then, when Jesus put the question to them, "Whom say ye
that I am?" Simon Peter declared, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God."
{149} [Sidenote: The testimony of Jesus.]
This declaration is wonderful in its simplicity and unfaltering faith.
But the answer of Jesus to it is even of greater significance: "Blessed
art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto
thee, but My Father which is in heaven . . . . and upon this rock I
will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it."
[Sidenote: Its significance.]
Here, then, is found the final answer to our questions. Jesus appointed
and ordained twelve apostles, He called other seventy, because it
was significance. His purpose to organize His Church. The disciples
appointed and ordained elders, and priests, and teachers, and deacons,
and other officers, because they, too, were building up the Church
of Christ. Moreover, these words of Jesus point the test of the true
Church. Not every Church assembly that cries, Lo, here is Christ, is
necessarily the authorized Church. That only can be the true Church
which is founded on the rock of revelation. An organized Church there
must be--without the worship of the disciples would dwindle away. But
the foundation stone of that Church must be revelation; for where there
is no revelation the people perish.
THE REFERENCES
Matt. 13:24-30. Matt. 13:47-49.
Matt. 13:36-43. Prov. 29:18.
{150} THE QUESTIONS
1. Review the foregoing lessons.
2. What questions are aroused by what Jesus has taught to his people?
3. Explain the parable of the tares.
4. How does it answer the question, Did Jesus intend to organize His
disciples?
5. What is the difference between the kingdom of God and the Church of
Christ?
6. What is the principal evidence that Jesus intended to organize a
Church?
7. What is the first test of the Church of Jesus Christ?
{151}
{152} PICTURE: CHRIST'S CHARGE TO PETER, Raphael
{153}
XX
THE TEST OF AUTHORITY
[Sidenote: The figure of the architect.]
We have just learned that Jesus built His church upon the principle
of revelation. It is the foundation stone. And it is only reasonable
and natural that it should be so. You know very well that when an
architect is directing the construction of a large building like a
state capitol, employing hundreds of men, he has to be constantly on
the watch to keep things going right. If he goes away, or neglects his
duty, some foreman or other misinterprets the plans, or misunderstands
the specifications; or some unscrupulous contractor or other tries to
enlarge his own profits by using inferior materials and thus corrupts
the structure. How necessary it is then that the architect shall watch
over his building, by day and by night, until it is finished according
to specifications.
[Sidenote: The application.]
Now, if men can so easily misinterpret, or misunderstand, the concrete
instructions of their fellowmen, or if some men are so evil that
they will try to corrupt the materials of an earthly structure, it
requires no argument to prove that men may easily misunderstand or
misinterpret--quite innocently, too--the word of God, if left to
themselves. And there may even be men so wicked that they would
maliciously corrupt the word for their own evil ends. It is even more
necessary, therefore, that The Architect of eternal life--the Savior
of mankind--shall be in constant communion with His workmen, than it
is that the architect {154} of an earthly structure shall personally
superintend, its erection. No man can be absolutely sure of the
meaning of the teachings of Jesus without the spirit of inspiration,
or revelation from Him. That is why the people drift away and perish
when there is no vision. That is why Jesus founded His church upon the
rock of revelation. That is why we may rest assured that the Church of
Christ will always teach the necessity of continual revelation--the
necessity of keeping constantly in touch with the Divine Architect.
[Sidenote: One mark not sufficient.]
But it would be strange, indeed, if there were but one mark by which we
might recognize the Church of Christ. An apostate Church might claim to
believe in revelation, and might even teach the necessity of it. Yet,
it would of course never receive revelation; for God would not speak to
such a Church. Still, because it teaches the necessity of revelation
people might be deceived, and be led to become members of an apostate
Church. For what other mark should we look, then, when trying to
determine which is the Church of Christ?
[Sidenote: The submission of Jesus.]
Jesus has made the matter very plain in His life and teachings. One
of the remarkable things about Jesus was His utter humility, and His
complete submission subjection to authority. Although He was greater
than the civil law, yet He submitted always to the requirements of that
law. Nay, more, In His own labors. He recognized always the authority
of a Superior Power under whose direction He worked. When we think
of Jesus as a member of the Godhead, endowed with omnipotence, does
it not seem strange to hear Him say, "I am not come of {155} myself,
but He that sent me is true;" "my doctrine is not mine, but His that
sent me;" "the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the
Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise?" Yet, these sayings express the reverence of Jesus for
authority. It must be plain to everyone who reads the life of Jesus
that He recognized the fact that He held no authority of Himself, that
He was not self-appointed; but that His influence, His power, His very
Messiahship were conferred upon Him by the Father.
[Sidenote: The submission of the apostles.]
This same recognition of the necessity of authority, Jesus impressed
upon His disciples. "Ye have not chosen me," he declared one day to
them, "but I have chosen you, and ordained you." And we learn that
Jesus did call and ordain apostles and seventies; and that it was the
custom in the early Christian Church to ordain by laying on hands
other officers, such as, high priests, elders, priests, teachers, and
deacons, and bishops. Indeed, it must be clear to everyone, that only
by such special call and ordination could the apostles rightfully go
into the world to do the works that Jesus did. When the disciples of
John the Baptist wondered that Jesus should surpass their master,
do you recall what John answered them? Said he, "A man can receive
(or take unto himself) nothing except it be given him from heaven."
That is the point. No man can assume to act as a servant of God, in
official position, unless He is called of God. Hence, Jesus said to His
apostles, when He had finished His own lifework, "As my Father hath
sent me, even so send I you."
{156} [Sidenote: The second mark.]
From these teachings of Jesus, we learn, then, the second mark of the
Church of Christ. Not only will that Church believe in the necessity of
continual revelation and actually receive it, but it will recognize the
necessity of specially delegated divine authority to officiate in the
name of God, and will provide in its Church organization for all the
officers belonging to the priesthood of God.
[Sidenote: Two orders of priesthood.]
The Scriptures are full of evidences that there are two divisions of
divine priesthood--the Order of Aaron, and the Order of Melchizedek.
Jesus Himself, was a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Without these orders of Priesthood, man can not legally officiate in
the things of God, any more than superintendents, formen and workmen
can rightfully proceed to erect a state capitol without official
authorization from the commission in charge.
Do you know any Church that holds these two orders of priesthood in its
organization? Does this Church recognize the fact that a man must be
called and appointed of God to act in His name? Are the authority and
power of the priesthood manifest in its operations? Does this Church
also believe in and receive continual revelation from God? If so, it
is possibly the Church of Christ. A third mark remains. That we shall
consider in the next lesson.
THE REFERENCES
John 7:28, 29. John 15:16.
John 9:4. John 3:27.
John 5:19. John 20:21.
{157} THE QUESTIONS
1. What would probably happen if the architect in charge of the
construction of a large building should go away for a long time?
2. What would happen if God should cease to speak to His people?
3. What was the attitude of Jesus toward authority?
4. Whence did He derive His authority?
5. What did He impress upon His disciples concerning authority?
6. What did John the Baptist say about authority?
7. How many orders of divine priesthood are there?
8. What then, is the second mark of the true Church?
{158} PICTURE: JESUS TEACHING FROM A BOAT, Hofmann
{159}
XXI
THE THIRD MARK
[Sidenote: The horror of darkness.]
Have you ever stopped to think how terrible it would be if we had no
Guide to show us the way of eternal life? Do you think you can imagine
the bitter disappointment of those who have sought a guide and have
failed to find it? We may now pass over lightly some of the more
serious questions of life; we may even at times reject the teachings
of our instructors as unnecessary. But there is a fixed fact which all
the world has come to recognize--one that sooner or later confronts
every individual. It is that the greatest thing in life after all is
the knowledge of God and the satisfaction of having found the way of
eternal life. The disappointment that follows the failure to find that
way is expressed in words of beauty and childlike simplicity by an
Indian. In 1832 a chief of the Flatheads, with some of his associates
sought the wigwams of the white man in quest of the Way of life. This
is what the chief of the Flatheads said when he turned to go back to
his people:
[Sidenote: The speech of an Indian chief.]
"I came to you over a trail of many moons, from the setting sun. You
were the friends of my fathers, who have all gone the long way, I came
with an Indian an eye partly open for my people, who sit in darkness.
I go back with both eyes closed. How can I go back blind to my blind
people? I made my way to you, with strong arms, through my enemies,
and strange lands, that I might carry back much to them. I go back
with both arms broken and {160} empty. Two fathers came with us. They
were the braves of many winters and wars. We leave them asleep here
by your great water and wigwams. They were tired with many moons (of
journeying) and their moccasins were worn out (on the trail).
"My people sent me to get the 'White Man's Book of Heaven.' You took
me to where you allow your women to dance as we do not ours, and the
book was not there. You took me to where they worship the Great Spirit
with candles, and the book was not there. You showed me images of the
great spirits and pictures of the good land beyond, but the book was
not among them to show us the way. I am going back the long, sad trail
to my people, in the dark land. You make my feet heavy with gifts and
my moccasins will grow old in carrying them, yet the book is not among
them. When I tell my poor, blind people after one more snow, in the big
council, that I did not bring the book, no word will be spoken by our
old men, or by our young braves. One by one they will rise up and go
out in silence. My people will die in darkness, and they will go a long
path to other hunting grounds. No white man will go with them, and no
White Man's Book to make the way plain. I have no more words."
It will be difficult to find in modern literature words more pathetic
than these. Yet, how vividly and impressively they describe the
condition that exists in the Christian world. The Indian came out of
a land of darkness to seek Light, and finds only a world of darkness.
He seeks a guide, a book that shall point the way to heaven; he finds
grossness, and a worship of the {161} flesh-pots of Egypt. He must
of necessity enter alone upon the long journey to the happy hunting
grounds. It will be his great adventure.
[Sidenote: The figure of the architect again.]
And so it should be with all of us, were it not for the fact that to
us God has revealed the "Book of Heaven." In the preceding lesson we
used the figure of the architect superintending the erection of a large
building. Let us continue that figure briefly. Naturally, the architect
cannot be in every part of the building at the same time. While he is
directing workmen in the basement, men laying up the wall of the second
story must get along without him. But how shall they know, in the
architect's absence, that they are doing the work right?
The answer is not hard to find. The foremen and the workmen have
access to plans and specifications. The plans are minute, and the
specifications in detail. The workmen may then see for themselves how
the building is to be erected. If only they read right, and interpret
correctly, they may go ahead indefinitely. It is because they are prone
to misinterpret, and sometimes tempted to defraud the owners, that the
architect has to make his regular rounds and watch carefully.
[Sidenote: The plan of eternal life.]
It is just so with those who are building life eternal. The Indian
chief was right. He was looking for the plans and specifications of
eternal life, furnished by the Great Architect. The Indian chief did
not find them. He did not enquire at the right wigwam. The plans and
specifications of eternal life constitute the Gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The presence and the practice of that Gospel--in fulness and in
simplicity--in the {162} Church of Christ, form the third mark of its
divine authority.
[Sidenote: The necessity of plans.]
Why are plans and specifications necessary? Ordinary plans and
specifications accomplish three very important things. First, they
direct what is to be done and how it is to be done. Secondly, they
furnish a basis of judgment whereby to determine whether or not the
work of the contractors fulfills the terms of agreement. Thirdly, they
furnish a standard of judgment whereby to determine whether or not the
materials used, the proportions mixed, the measurements taken, and
all else, are of the quality and fulness required by the builder, and
agreed to by the contractor.
[Sidenote: The application.]
So also, the teachings of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ are
necessary to man for very important reasons. It is through the Gospel,
that we learn of God and His work--to bring to pass the immortality and
eternal life of man. It is through the Gospel that we learn of Christ's
wonderful atoning sacrifice. It is through the Gospel that we learn to
know what is man's duty to God, and man's duty to man. The Gospel, too,
then directs men what to do and how to do it. It furnishes a basis of
judgment whereby to determine whether a man's actions are good or bad.
It furnishes a standard of judgment whereby to determine the true and
exact quality of the structure of eternal life which he has built up.
[Sidenote: The principles of the Gospel.]
It is not the purpose of this lesson to review all the principles of
the Gospel. Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, by one holding
authority from God, the {163} conferring of the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of hands of men holding authority, are fundamental principles
and initiatory rites. All the teachings contained in this little book,
and many more besides, belong to the Gospel of Jesus. The true Church
of Christ must hold strictly to all that Jesus taught. "After that John
was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the
kingdom of God."
[Sidenote: Men judged by the Gospel.]
Of the Gospel--the plan of eternal life--the Great Architect was
jealous. "He that rejecteth me," asserted Jesus, "and receiveth not
my words, hath One that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the
same shall judge him in the last day," And the end can not come till
all have heard the plans and specifications of eternal life. Said Jesus
again, "This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world
for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
[Sidenote: The three marks.]
Like the chieftain of the Flatheads, others, too, may come over a trail
of many moons, from the setting sun. They may come from a land of
darkness, in search of Light. They may need the Book of Heaven to make
the way of eternal life plain. Surely, the scroll may be found in only
one place--The Church of Jesus Christ. It is founded upon the rock of
revelation; it is ribbed by the quorums of the priesthood of Aaron and
of Melchizedek; and it is clothed in the teachings of Jesus--the Gospel
of the Son of God.
These are the three never-failing marks of the Church of Christ.
{164} THE REFERENCES
Mark 1:14, 15. John 12:48-50.
Matt. 24:14.
THE QUESTIONS
1. What is the significance of the speech of the Flathead chief?
2. Why does an architect prepare plans and specifications for a
proposed building?
3. How is the Gospel like such plans and specifications?
4. What is the Gospel?
5. How did Jesus show His great concern for the Gospel?
6. What are the three never-failing marks of the Church of Christ?
{165}
{166} PICTURE: CONSIDER THE LILIES, Lejenno
{167}
XXII
SINGLE MINDED LOYALTY
[Sidenote: A supreme privilege.]
It is indeed a privilege beyond measure to belong to a Church founded
upon divine revelation, presided over by the Lord Jesus Himself and
conducted by a divinely appointed priesthood, and regulated by the
Gospel of Jesus Christ--the divine plan of salvation. Not many people
appreciate fully what a priceless blessing is within their reach.
They clamor and struggle, sometimes, for membership in some secret
brotherhood or other, which will avail them nothing when they shall
pass into that other world; and they neglect--nay, ignore--membership
in the open brotherhood of Jesus the Christ, which might be made to
profit them much upon the earth, and which would give them hereafter
free access into the larger kingdom of God. Is not the vision of man
imperfect?
[Sidenote: The true worth of membership.]
Jesus, however, recognized the true worth of membership in the kingdom
of heaven. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a
field," He declared; "the which when a man hath found, he hideth,
and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth
that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,
seeking goodly pearls: who when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
These are pretty parables, but what do they mean? Why, simply, that
a man who has found the Church of Christ should be willing, if
necessary--indeed, he {168} will be willing, if necessary--to give up
every material possession in order to attain membership therein. It is
a blessing, of course, to possess sufficient of this world's goods; but
it is far better to have secure one's place in the kingdom of God.
[Sidenote: Conditions of membership.]
This lesson Jesus taught always. To gain entrance into the kingdom, one
must forsake all personal, unworthy ambitions. "The time is fulfilled,"
Jesus cried on His preaching tours, "and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel." And when the disciples of Jesus
would stop the parents from bringing their children to the Master,
Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid
them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you,
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he
shall not enter therein." This all teaches that to secure the coveted
membership, we must not only renounce all the evils of our past, but we
must put ourselves in the attitude of little children, eager to receive
the divine word of God, and to help in its establishment upon the earth.
[Sidenote: Single-minded loyalty.]
Now, it needs no long explanation to show that those who have succeeded
in placing themselves in the attitude of little children, are also
in an attitude of single-minded loyalty to God. Jesus insisted that
men must be loyal to God, and that, too, with singleness of purpose
and singleness of thought. You have learned in your daily lives which
associates you can trust and which you cannot trust. You know very
well that if a boy's thoughts are always good, he is not very likely
to become guilty {169} of any seriously wrong act. You know that if a
girl's motives are good, she is not likely to become guilty of evil.
Jesus knew these truths, too. He was anxious, therefore, that the minds
of men should become filled with thoughts of God--that the dominating
motive in their minds should be to serve God. For He knew very well
that a man dominated by the motive of Godly service would be arrayed
against sin; whereas, one not so dominated might easily be overcome by
the wily suggestions of the tempter.
[Sidenote: No man can serve two masters.]
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where
your treasure is there will your heart be also."