International Chinese Speaking Conference 2013 - The Recovery of Christ as Everything in the Church Week 3 - The Recovery of Christ as Everything in the Church as the Corporate Emmanuel Eph. 2:19-20 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone. Morning Nourishment I have never seen so much concerning Christ, the Spirit, and our human spirit in this book as I have seen recently. Matthew is a new book to me. In this book Christ is the great light (4:16), the Bridegroom, the new garment, and the new wine (9:15-17). Inwardly, Christ is the new wine as our new life, and outwardly, He is the new garment as our new living with which to meet Him at His second coming for our enjoyment of Him as the Bridegroom (22:2, 11; Rev. 19:7-8). Christ is also the real David, the greater temple, the Lord of the Sabbath, and the greater Prophet (Matt. 12:3, 6, 8, 41). He is the foundation stone and the cornerstone for the building up of the church (21:42). Moreover, He is Emmanuel, God with us (1:23), who is superior to Moses, Elijah (17:3-8), Solomon (12:42), and John the Baptist (3:11). This marvelous Christ is everything to us, and now as the Spirit He is in our human spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b; 6:17; 2 Tim. 4:22). Therefore, we need to be poor in spirit, call Him Lord in our spirit, and go along with our willing spirit (Matt. 5:3; 22:43; 26:41). (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, p. 205) Today’s Reading We have seen the divine Spirit, our human spirit, and Christ in many aspects as revealed in the Gospel of Matthew. Now we need to see that knowing, experiencing, enjoying, and gaining Christ is for the building up of the church. We must never forget the little word also in 16:18. When Peter received the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus said to him, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” In addition to the revelation of Christ, we must also receive a revelation of the church. God’s ultimate intention is not only to save people but also to build up the church with those whom He saves. We must know Christ as the foundation of the church, and we must also realize that we are the stones built upon this foundation (1 Cor. 3:10-12; 1 Pet. 2:5) to produce the church, against which the gates of Hades cannot prevail. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, p. 217) Where is the church? In Matthew 16:18 the Lord Jesus said, “I will build My church.” Where is this builded church? Can the Lord’s word fail to be fulfilled? Where, with whom, and by what way will He build His church? Now is the time for the building of the church. Here and now, with us, the Lord is building His church. Many Christians devote their attention to the study of prophecy. The greatest prophecy is the Lord’s word in Matthew 16:18—“I will build My church.” Do not be occupied with Israel, Antichrist, the restored Roman Empire, or the ten horns. Rather, you must devote your full attention to the Lord’s declaration in Matthew 16:18. Throughout the centuries, and even today, this church has not yet been built up. Because of this, we are burdened about the church. (Life-study of Genesis, p. 1056) Matthew 16:18a says, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church.” The Father’s revelation concerning Christ is just the first half of the great mystery, which is Christ and the church (Eph. 5:32). Hence, the Lord needed “also” to reveal to Peter the second half, which is concerning the church. In Matthew 16:18a the Lord says that He will build His church on “this rock.” The words this rock refer not only to Christ but also to the revelation of Christ, which Peter received from the Father. The church is built on this revelation concerning Christ. First, the rock refers to the wonderful person of Christ, the Son of the living God. Second, it refers to the revelation of this person as seen by Peter. When we see this revelation, the revelation becomes the rock. Thus, the church is built not only on the person of Christ but also on the revelation of His person. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, p. 2069) Further Reading: CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, pp. 189-223; The Conclusion of the New Testament, msg. 191 Disclaimer: This material is published and owned by Living Stream Ministry. Please do purchase the book and, for further information, please contact the publisher at lsm.org.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:16:11 +0000
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