第173章

The Church Triumphant.

More than eighteen centuries have passed since the apostles rested from their labors, but the history of their toils and sacrifices for Christ's sake is still among the most precious treasures of the church.This history, written under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was recorded in order that by it the followers of Christ in every age might be impelled to greater zeal and earnestness in the cause of the Saviour.

The commission that Christ gave to the disciples, they fulfilled.As these messengers of the cross went forth to proclaim the gospel, there was such a revelation of the glory of God as had never before been witnessed by mortal man.By the co-operation of the divine Spirit, the apostles did a work that shook the world.To every nation was the gospel carried in a single generation.

Glorious were the results that attended the ministry of the chosen apostles of Christ.At the beginning of their ministry some of them were unlearned men, but their consecration to the cause of their Master was unreserved, and under His instruction they gained a preparation for the great work committed to them.

Grace and truth reigned in their hearts, inspiring their motives and controlling their actions.Their lives were hid with Christ in God, and self was lost sight of, submerged in the depths of infinite love.

The disciples were men who knew how to speak and pray sincerely, men who could take hold of the might of the Strength of Israel.How closely they stood by the side of God, and bound their personal honor to His throne!

Jehovah was their God.His honor was their honor.His truth was their truth.

Any attack made upon the gospel was as if cutting deep into their souls, and with every power of their being they battled for the cause of Christ.They could hold forth the word of life because they had received the heavenly anointing.They expected much, and therefore they attempted much.Christ had revealed Himself to them, and to Him they looked for guidance.Their understanding of truth and their power to withstand opposition were proportionate to their conformity to God's will.Jesus Christ, the wisdom and power of God, was the theme of every discourse.His name--the only name given under heaven whereby men can be saved--was by them exalted.As they proclaimed the completeness of Christ, the risen Saviour, their words moved hearts, and men and women were won to the gospel.Multitudes who had reviled the Saviour's name and despised His power now confessed themselves disciples of the Crucified.

Not in their own power did the apostles accomplish their mission, but in the power of the living God.Their work was not easy.The opening labors of the Christian church were attended by hardship and bitter grief.In their work the disciples constantly encountered privation, calumny, and persecution;but they counted not their lives dear unto themselves and rejoiced that they were called to suffer for Christ.Irresolution, indecision, weakness of purpose, found no place in their efforts.They were willing to spend and be spent.The consciousness of the responsibility resting on them purified and enriched their experience, and the grace of heaven was revealed in the conquests they achieved for Christ.With the might of omnipotence God worked through them to make the gospel triumphant.

Upon the foundation that Christ Himself had laid, the apostles built the church of God.In the Scriptures the figure of the erection of a temple is frequently used to illustrate the building of the church.Zechariah refers to Christ as the Branch that should build the temple of the Lord.He speaks of the Gentiles as helping in the work: "They that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord;" and Isaiah declares, "The sons of strangers shall build up thy walls." Zechariah 6:12, 15; Isaiah 60:10.

Writing of the building of this temple, Peter says, "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4, 5.

In the quarry of the Jewish and the Gentile world the apostles labored, bringing out stones to lay upon the foundation.In his letter to the believers at Ephesus, Paul said, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.

And to the Corinthians he wrote: "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."1 Corinthians 3:10-13.