ALONE WITH GOD     

  Under this figure the church is presented as family. It is the family of God, one family in heaven and on earth. God has but one family, and that family includes all his children. Nothing less than this constitutes the church. Any institution n or organization that does not include in its membership the entire family of God in heaven and on earth can not be the new testament church. As a family, God is our Father and we are his children. Therefore we read in 2 Cor. 6: 18, " And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

  Some teachers in modern times say that we shall not really be tile sons of God until the resurrection morning; but John says, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. " 1 John 3: 2. Not in the future age shall we become sons, but "now are we the sons of God." We become so through the new birth. "As many as received him to him gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, . . . of God." John l: 12, 13. We become children of natural families through natural birth, and just so we become children of God, members of his spiritual family, through spiritual birth. "Of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her." Psa. 87: 5. It would, indeed, sound strange for a child to speak to his parents about joining their family. intelligence would teach him that he was a member of the family by virtue of natural birth. Just so is it ridiculous in the sight or eyes of the Lord for men to speak of joining the church after conversion or the new birth, for the fact is, the very moment individuals are born of the Spirit of God, they are then and there made members of his church. This church or family of God is termed in Gal. 6: 10 " the household of faith," and in Eph. 2: 19 it is termed "the house of God," the latter term signifying to whom the church belongs.

  As in every home there should be government, law, and order, so in the household of God, Christ is the head of tile family. He has placed the members under government and rule, and he demands that they all be "obedient children. " " That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in tile house of Cod, which is the church of the living God. " The New Testament is the law by which this household is governed, and every member must observe all things commanded (Matt. 28: 20). If in anything any member of the Lord's household become unruly and fail to behave himself as Christians should, the rod of correction will be used (Heb. 12: 5-11).

  Under this figure, then, is brought out clearly the universality of the church, its exclusiveness, and its government.