The True Christadelphian Ecclesia
The Christadelphian Ecclesia must have Love.
"This is MY COMMANDMENT" (says Jesus) "that ye love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12 and 13:34).
"We know that we have passed from death into life -- because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death" (1 John 3:14-16).
"ABOVE ALL THINGS, have fervent love among yourselves, for love shall cover the multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).
"ABOVE ALL. . put on love, the bond of PERFECTNESS."
"Let us not love in word, but in DEED and in truth".
It may be objected that we cannot force love; but it should be remembered that love is a spiritual principle required by the Law of Christ, and it should be our pleasure to obey that law. If we cannot do this we cannot please him.
The Christadelphian Ecclesia must have the Spirit of Christ.
"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is NONE OF HIS
... as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are Sons of God."
"Because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts: IF ye are Sons, then are ye heirs of God!"
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness" (Gal. 5:22-23).
The Spirit of Christ is a gentle Spirit --
"When he was reviled he reviled not again, when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (1 Pt. 2:23).
The Christadelphian Ecclesia must have a living Faith.
"Without Faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6).
The Faith that pleases God is a Faith that works --
". . works by Love" (Gal. 5:6) . . "purifieth the heart" (Acts 15:9)
... "overcometh the world" (1 John 5:4).
"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26).
Works of the Flesh not tolerated.
The Christadelphian Ecclesia, having CRUCIFIED the flesh with its affections and
lusts, does not tolerate the works of the flesh as enumerated in Gal. 5:18-21,
of which we appropriately mention --
"Enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension" (RV).
It will be observed that the apostle says with great emphasis that --
"They that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom."
Fellowship in Christ.
The Christadelphian Ecclesia knows that --
"If we SAY we have fellowship with Christ, and walk in darkness, we LIE ... IF we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another . . . and truly our fellowship is with the Father and Son" (1 John 1).
She knows that righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness, no concord of Christ and Belial, no communion of light and darkness. She knows that she walks in the light by keeping the commandments of Christ, who says --
"IF ye love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS" (John 14:15).
"Ye are my friends, IF ye do whatsoever I command you"
"Why call ye me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not the things I say?"
Christ's brethren have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. The tares and the wheat cannot grow together in Christ. They can, and do, in the world.
"A
Spiritual House."
The Ecclesia, having a LIVING Faith, is made up of --
". . lively stones, built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
It is the --
"Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in it, and if any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy."
Christadelphians are --
"A people taken OUT of the Gentiles for the Name of the Lord."
They are, therefore-
"A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people -- that they might SHOW FORTH the praises of Him Who hath called them OUT OF darkness into His marvelous light."
The Christadelphian Ecclesia is the Bride of Christ --
--and knows that when her Bridegroom comes she must have on the wedding garment, if she would be presented to him as --
"A GLORIOUS Ecclesia, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but should be HOLY, and WITHOUT BLEMISH"
The "spots and wrinkles" CAN BE OBLITERATED by the righteousness of Christ, who is always our Advocate with the Father: provided -- that we confess AND FORSAKE our sins, and pray earnestly for mercy and forgiveness.
Her
Work and Purity.
The Christadelphian Ecclesia is engaged in the work of "making READY a People
PREPARED for the Lord." And having a glorious Hope -- based on great and
precious promises -- she will purify herself by --
". . PURGING OUT the old leaven of malice and wickedness, keeping the Feast with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
Her work is not a work of ignorance and indifference, which says,
"Christ fellowshipped Judas . ."
"Let the tares and the wheat grow together..."
"Everyone must give an account for himself..."
'"I have nothing to do with what another says or does...""Let us have peace ..."
"You must not judge etc..."
-- and this (to be said by) the Ecclesia, or Body of Christ, the "pillar and ground of the Truth," and the "Temple of God" in which His Spirit dwells!!
Her
Warfare
The Christadelphian Ecclesia knows she has a great conflict with foes within and
without -- the world, the flesh, and the devil -- the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eye, and the pride of life.
And if she can be the victor in the warfare, through Christ who strengtheneth
her, she will receive an eternity of blessed life for her reward. And this
the gracious gift of God through Christ.
She knows the gate is strait and the way narrow that leads to life, and though
there be few who find it, she is not discouraged. She strives to the end with an
honest, sincere, and pure motive. And what she lacks, through the weakness of
the flesh, her Redeemer -- in whom she trusts -- will supply by his
all-prevailing righteousness to her unspeakable joy and everlasting blessedness.
