CHAPTER IV. THE UNITY OF THE FAITH

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10.SGOM 37.1

Christian union has always been considered desirable; but lately, seeing that confusion and diversity are increasing, and knowing of no means whereby to correct the evil, the churches have resigned themselves to the apparent necessities of the case, and, to solace themselves, have devised what they call “unity in diversity.” But we are sure no such unity as that was ever learned from the word of God.SGOM 37.2

The gospel inculcates union and has made provision to effect it. The apostle, concerning the benefits and privileges conferred on the church by Christ, wrote as follows:-SGOM 37.3

“When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... . And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:8-13.SGOM 37.4

Here we have definite information concerning the object for which these gifts were given unto men, and the time of their continuance. The reader will bear in mind that the absence, or the apparent absence, of the gifts of the Spirit at any time or in any age of the church, is no argument against their perpetuity. The apostle says, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts.” Now if charity should not be found with a certain body of professed Christians, or in a certain age of the professed church, it would not prove that it was not duty to exercise it; but it would prove that there was a serious declension from the divine standard of piety. In like manner, if the gifts of the Spirit were entirely wanting in a given time, yes, if the church had ceased to “desire” them, that fact would by no means prove that God had withdrawn the gifts. But it would prove that the church had forgotten the injunction of the apostle, and had lost sight of the standard of Christianity as it was at first erected. We do not learn what is truth or what is duty by the position or practice of professed Christians at any specified time, but by the teachings of the divine word; and the position and practice of all are to be judged by the word.SGOM 37.5

Those who plead that God has withdrawn the gifts from the church usually affirm that they were given to the apostles for the especial purpose of completing the canon of revelation, or a system of divinity, and when they had completed their writings the gifts were removed as being no longer necessary. But it is worthy of particular notice that when the apostle specifies the objects or uses for which the gifts were conferred, the above mentioned reason is not given at all. It would be very strange indeed if the apostle, in recounting the uses of the gifts, should mention several but entirely omit the real use, or the chief one!SGOM 38.1

It is to be noticed also that all the gifts were given with the same end in view, and for the same length of time. If they were withdrawn there are now in the church no evangelists, pastors, nor teachers, for these are among the gifts of the Spirit.SGOM 39.1

Or, if God saw fit, in his wisdom, to withdraw them from the church, it is daring presumption to try to re-instate them. It is allowable, and may be expedient, to devise methods of operation on points concerning which there has been no revelation, when such methods do not conflict with revelation. But, when God has ordained a plan and adopted a means, and afterward reversed or abolished it, to endeavor to re-instate it is an effort to impeach divine wisdom. Had it been wise and right to retain it, he would have retained it. If it be proved that he has abrogated a certain order, that is sufficient proof that he did not consider it wise or expedient to have it continued. What, then, must we think of that class of professed Christians who teach that God “set in the church” certain gifts, as evangelists, pastors, and teachers; that he afterward withdrew them and left the church without them; and they themselves proceed to re-instate or supply them to the church, according to their own will and pleasure? Such proceedings toward any earthly government would be considered no less than treason,-an entire subversion of the authority of the government by erecting offices contrary to the known will and action of the governor.SGOM 39.2

The gifts were at first conferred on the apostles to qualify them to preach the word, and so says Paul in Ephesians 4:12, they were given “for the work of the ministry.” Jesus would not suffer the apostles to preach even a single sermon until they were “endued with power from on high,” though they had been under his personal direction and instruction more than three years; and we have no warrant to believe that he intended the work of the ministry to be carried on at any time without the direct aid of the gifts of the Spirit.SGOM 40.1

And it is expressly declared that they were given for their several offices “till we all come into the unity of the faith,” a position unto which the church has not attained. It will not do to say that the church did arrive at such a state in the days of the apostles, and that it has fallen from it, for the admonitions and reproofs given in their writings disprove that. Or if it were true that the saints at first were so united in faith, but fell from that state in the great apostasy, then is proved the necessity of a revival of the gifts to accomplish their destined work. But it is not necessary to argue that point. The church has not yet been so perfected. Nor is it true that such a state of things is found in any one church of the present age; for in most of them, and in all large bodies of them, there is found almost endless diversity of faith on many Bible doctrines.SGOM 40.2

There are many who, instead of confessing their shortcomings and trying to remedy their defects, frame excuses and scout every grace they themselves do not possess. Destitute of the gifts of the Spirit, they deny that they were designed to be perpetuated. Having among them such a diversity of faith, they deny the New Testament doctrine of unity, and urge that it is impossible for all to see and believe alike. They think such a state of things as is now found in the different churches is not only allowable but providential, and a right development of the gospel plan. We admit that men of different education, prejudices, and prepossessions, will not see and think alike, unless their prejudices and prepossessions are overcome. But this is the very end contemplated in the gospel. If this is not so-if each one is to gratify his prejudices and act according to his own prepossessions, then the gospel is a nullity; for then cross-bearing and self-denial are not required, and humility is not even a Christian grace.SGOM 40.3

But what then means the text already quoted, that we are designed to come into the unity of the faith? That it means all that the words can imply is proved by other texts, as the following:-SGOM 41.1

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:20, 21.SGOM 41.2

Here surely is described a more perfect unity, a more complete oneness, than is found among professed Christians of the present time. But verse 11 is equally explicit:-SGOM 41.3

“Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”SGOM 41.4

If the Christians of this day who plead so much for “union,” even those styled evangelical, think their union truly represents the union or oneness of the Father and Son, then their ideas of a “trinity in unity” are not very exalted. It must be evident to every thoughtful observer that, either there is no very close union between the Father and the Son, or else this prayer is not fulfilled in the churches of the present age. That it was designed to be fulfilled is proved by the apostle’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:10, as follows:-SGOM 41.5

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together, in the same mind and in the same judgment.”SGOM 42.1

And again in Philippians 2:2, as follows:-SGOM 42.2

“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”SGOM 42.3

And that last excuse for discord and disunion among Christians, namely, that the various churches with their diversity of faiths, are recognized as so many “branches” of the body of Christ, is removed by our Saviour’s words to his disciples:-SGOM 42.4

“I am the vine, ye are the branches.” John 15:5.SGOM 42.5

This language was not addressed to different churches, but to individuals, before any contention or departure from truth had separated believers into different factions of diverse creeds. Every excuse or reason offered to justify the present state of discord, or any diversity of faith and judgment among Christians, is founded in selfishness, and is an evidence of carnality according to the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:3:-SGOM 42.6

“For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”SGOM 42.7

Or, “walk according to man,” as the margin reads; according to carnal, selfish feelings, and not according to the teachings and spirit of Christ.SGOM 43.1

The scene of confusion he there pictures has its exact counterpart in the present position of the churches:-SGOM 43.2

“For while one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, are ye not carnal?” Verse 4.SGOM 43.3

It must, surely, be as allowable to bear the name of Paul or of Apollos, as of Luther, of Calvin, or of Wesley. To such he asks:-SGOM 43.4

“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:13.SGOM 43.5

So we may ask now: Is Christ divided? was Calvin crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Wesley? If not, why bear his name as Christians? If ever there was a time when the gospel means for unity was required in the church, it is the present.SGOM 43.6

Some imagine that a gift of the Spirit cannot be manifested “for the work of the ministry” without interfering with the canon of revelation. But this is a very narrow view of the subject. An evangelist may “make full proof of his ministry,” and yet conform to the word already given. And so of any other gift. Paul was directed by the Spirit to go to Macedonia. Peter, by direct revelation, was sent to Cornelius. Paul and Barnabas were separated to a certain work by order of the Spirit. By the same power Elymas the sorcerer was discovered and rebuked. In these and other instances, nothing was added to the body of the Scriptures. And so, since the days of the apostles, in the time of the Reformers, of Wesley, and in later times as will be shown, instruction, reproof, and comfort have been given by the Spirit. Words of comfort, warnings of danger, personal reproofs, directions to duty, all come under the heads of the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ, while none of them are additions to the Scriptures. The objection arises from prejudice, and must at once be rejected by all who recognize the truth that the ministry is not sufficient, without being “endued with power from on high,” to so instruct and lead the church as to bring them to the unity of the faith and spirit. Human strength and human wisdom cannot accomplish it.SGOM 43.7

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28.SGOM 44.1

As God set these in the church we have a right to ask, By what authority and by what power have they been removed from the church? Did God ever make known his intention to deprive the church of their aid? They should remain where God has set them, unless he has removed them; but of their removal we have no intimations in his word. The Bible foretells a falling away; the arising of false teachers in the church; the entering in of grievous wolves, not sparing the flock; and the bringing in of damnable heresies. But all these indicate, not the withdrawing of the gifts from the church, but the necessity of their retention; for surely they must be needed most for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ, when such a sad state of things exists. There is no reason to dispute that the instruction of the apostle to “covet earnestly the best gifts,” and to “follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts,” was given to the church for the entire dispensation.SGOM 44.2

The intention of the apostle’s argument in 1 Corinthians 12 is not generally appreciated because its connection is not regarded. After enumerating the manifestations of the Spirit, saying the gifts are divided to every man as the Lord will, he says, “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.” This is a most important declaration, as it gives us to understand that if we are not baptized by that Spirit into that body we are not of that body.SGOM 45.1

When the Saviour left the disciples he said:-SGOM 45.2

“Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5.SGOM 45.3

That baptism they received on the day of Pentecost, according to “the promise of the Father” to the Son. And this promise they held out to all to whom they preached, “even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” With this baptism of the Spirit are all the saints baptized into one body, yet “having gifts differing,” as it pleases God to bestow. This can have reference to nothing but the immediate operation of the Spirit. Then follows the argument for their necessity in the church. He says:-SGOM 45.4

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-18.SGOM 45.5

God hath set the members in the body so that it is perfect and complete in every part. If any part is lacking, there is schism or division. The hand cannot supply the place of the foot, nor can the ear fill the place of the eye. A perfect body, complete in all respects, has every member in its place; each fulfilling its office; each aiding and strengthening the others; as it is written:-SGOM 46.1

“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” Verse 21.SGOM 46.2

Let it be remembered that this argument is concerning the gifts in the church, and here is a rebuke to that spiritual pride which asserts that Christians are now so wise and strong that they have no need of some of the members which God set in the church; which virtually boasts that we have outgrown the bounds of God’s original arrangement. This is actually taking common ground with that class of infidels who kindly admit that the Bible was good enough for the time when it was given, but that we have outgrown its narrow confines and find it unsuited to our present wants. Neither the revelation nor the arrangement for the church was local and temporary, unless the gospel itself is temporary or confined to a part of the age.SGOM 46.3

The apostle has affirmed that no part of the body, as God originally constituted it, can boast against any other part. And yet this is exactly what the professed “body of Christ” is doing in this age. Some of the most important gifts which God set in the church are ignored, despised, and boasted against, as if they were hindrances instead of helps; as if they marred the body instead of being necessary to its perfection. Of this same subject the apostle further says:-SGOM 46.4

“The members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.” Verses 25, 26.SGOM 47.1

The error commonly entertained in regard to this chapter is this: it is supposed that “the members” referred to are individuals in the church without any reference to the gifts. But such, certainly, is not the idea conveyed by the language; nor can any gather that idea from the entire chapter in its connection. It relates to the gifts as divided to the several individuals composing the entire church, as God was pleased that they should exist, that no part be lacking, or weak, or defective, but that the whole body may be perfect according to the divine plan. For they were all givenSGOM 47.2

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ; till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12, 13.SGOM 47.3

Happy state! blessed privilege! May we all have grace to obtain it, and humility to accept the means whereby it is obtained.SGOM 47.4