ALONE WITH GOD     

  One of the figures under which the new testament church is presented is that of a house. A house is a place of abode. Since, therefore, the church in this dispensation is the abode of God himself, it is his house. Under the old testament dispensation the Lord was pleased to dwell among his people. Therefore he instructed Moses to build him a house—pitch a tabernacle, which was to be sanctified with the blood of animals and with his glory. Into this tent or house the Lord moved and there he dwelt among his people. Later a temple was erected at Jerusalem by Solomon, and this more spacious structure became house of God in that dispensation This house, however, was but a type or shadow of a greater and more perfect tabernacle which the Lord was to pitch, and not man. In the old testament dispensation God dwelt in the midst of his people, but in this dispensation of holiness and purity he dwells in the hearts of his people. Accordingly, we read in 2 Cor. 6:16, "For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

  The reason why God could not dwell in the hearts of men during the legal dispensation was that all men were under the dominion and power of sin. The blood of atonement offered in that age was not sufficient fully to eradicate sin from the hearts of the people; and as the place of God's dwelling must be holy, it was impossible for him to dwell in the human soul. Hence a house was built and sanctified, set apart for his indwelling, and thus he moved in and dwelt among his people. But now we have reached the dispensation of full salvation—the dispensation in which the hearts of men can be cleansed and purified from all sin. Yea, "the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin"; and "being made free from sin and become servants to God, " we become fit places for the Most High to inhabit. Therefore he says of his people, "Ye are the temple [or house] of the living God. I will dwell in them."

  In Eph. 4: 6 we further read, "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." From this text it is made clear that God, the Father, dwells in his people in this dispensation. It is also true that Christ dwells in the hearts of his people. Accordingly, we read in Eph. 3: 17, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith," and in 2 Cor. 13: 5, "Know ye not yourselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates ? " The Holy Spirit also dwells in the hearts of the fully saved, "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him. But ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Thus we see that the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—dwells in the hearts of his people. So it is our privilege to "be filled with all tile fulness of God" Eph. 3: 19) .

  From the above scriptures we draw the conclusion that, since God dwells in the hearts of his people, they constitute his house. This position is sustained by plain scriptures. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. " 1 Cor. 3: 9. And in Heb. 3: 6 it is said of Christ that he is "a Son over his own house, whose house are we." Thus it is made clear that in this dispensation the people of God constitute the house of God. This is true both individually and collectively. Not only does God dwell in his people as individuals, but he dwells in his church as a body, as a collective body of true believers. Accordingly, we read, " Y e also. as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. " I Pet. 2: 5. In this dispensation the Most High "dwelleth not in temples made with hands, " as under the legal, but in a spiritual house made up of living stones, and these living stones are none other than the people of God. Again, we read, "In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom also ye are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." The reader will observe that God dwells in his church collectively. The entire body of believers are said to be builded together in a holy temple, for a habitation of God through the Spirit. (['his makes clear why the people of God constitute and are termed in this dispensation the house of God. Christ is said to be "an high priest over the house of God" (Heb. 10: 21). This is the church. " But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." 1 Tim. 3:15. The house of God is the church of God, and God's people constitute the same.

  This house was built by Christ. Therefore the apostle says, "Ye are God's building. " Man may build many structures and call them churches, but there is one which belongs to the Lord alone. It is the tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man. Hence it is God's building. In Heb. 3:4 it is said, "For every house is built by some man; but he that built all things is God." Since Christ is the builder of his house (church), it necessarily belongs to him, and it is the only house, or church, that does belong to him.

  Under this figure the unity and oneness of the church is again clearly brought out; for everywhere in the Scriptures the church is presented under the figure of one house—one house of God. He dwells in but one, he built but one, he recognizes but one; therefore all structures built by man to be a habitation of God are necessarily void of his presence.

  The organization of God's church a1so is beautifully portrayed under this figure. For as a house is built, it must necessarily be organized. Therefore we read in Eph. 2: 21, "In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in tile Lord. " Just as the mechanic goes into the forest and hews and frames timber, making it ready for the erection of a literal structure; so the Lord finds us in the wilderness of sin and with the broad ax of his eternal truth frames us, hews us with judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet, thus fitting us and qualifying us to be builded into his house. And just as the mechanics, after framing the timber, raise up the building; so the Lord "hath raised US up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2: 6). "From whom the whole body, fitly joined   In this house are included all the saved. This brings out another beautiful phase of the new church; that is, it is a spiritual structure. In 1 Pet. 2: 5 it is termed a spiritual house. Men may erect literal structures and organize temporal churches, but men can not manufacture spiritual things To God alone belongs the prerogative of founding that which is spiritual. Hence man has not been able to devise a perfect substitute or substitutes for the church of God. It is a spiritual house, a spiritual church builded by the Lord of heaven. And in it the saved of all nations find a place of rest. Within its spacious walls the rich and the poor, the high and the low, the learned and the illiterate, men of all classes, conditions, and stations in life, may find a place of refuge. It is the place where God dwells, the place where his rich blessings far], the place where he manifests his power and his glory.

  Christ is to this house its only foundation. Therefore we read in 1 Cor. 3: 11, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus." He is also its door of entrance. He says, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10: 9. This shows that the only way to become a member of the church of God is by obtaining salvation The only door of admission into the house of God is through Jesus Christ. People are accustomed to hearing the ministry in Babylon speak of opening the doors of our church to take in members; but no man can open or shut the door of God's church. Christ himself is the door and salvation the mode of induction. It follows, then, that none are members of the true church of God but those who are saved. This leaves every sinner outside of the new church. The above being true, "holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, forever" (Psa. 93: 5). In this house we gather and eat the bread of life and drink the crystal waters of salvation in the courts of his holiness (Isa. 62: 9).