THE PROPER AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE FULL-TIME SERVING ONES

Message Two
Serving in the Oneness of the Body of Christ

Scripture Reading: Eph. 1:23; 4:3-6; Col. 3:10-11; 1 Cor. 12:18, 23-27

I. There is the four-level meaning of God’s New Testament economy—Acts 2:42; Eph. 4:12; 1 Cor. 12:12; 1 Tim. 3:15:

A. The first level is the teaching of the apostles—Acts 2:42; Col. 1:25b.

B. The second level is the ministry of the New Testament—Eph. 4:12.

C. The third level is the Body of Christ—Rom. 12:4-5, 1 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 1:23.

D. The fourth level is the churches of God—1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 1:22.

E. We need to serve in the oneness of the four levels—Eph. 4:4:

1. There is one teaching of the apostles, one ministry of the New Testament, one Body of Christ, and one church; this is the oneness of the four levels—Acts 2:42; Eph. 4:12; 1 Cor. 12:12; 1 Tim. 3:15.

2. The work of the New Testament ministry is the building up of the Body of Christ according to the teaching of the apostles—Eph. 4:12.

II. The Lord’s recovery is the recovery of the oneness of the Body of Christ; the oneness of the Body of Christ is actually the triune, organic, living God Himself—Eph. 4:3-6; 1:3-14, 22-23:

A. The oneness of the Body of Christ is the oneness of the Spirit; therefore, we need to be diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit—Eph. 4:3-4.

B. If we would keep the oneness of the Spirit, our flesh, our self, and our “I” must be crossed out by the cross of Christ—Gal. 2:20; 5:24.

C. The one unique, universal Body of Christ is expressed as the local churches; every local church is part of the unique, universal Body of Christ and is a local expression of this Body— Eph. 4:4; Rev. 1:4.

D. We have been brought into the oneness produced by the application of the processed and consummated Triune God to our being—John 17:21-22; 2 Cor. 13:14.

III. With Paul there was a consciousness of the universal one new man, and in the Lord’s recovery today we also need to have the consciousness of the one new man—Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10-11:

A. Because Paul, a faithful steward in God’s economy, was conscious of the one new man, what was in his heart was not simply a particular local church or a certain saint but the universal one new man—Col. 3:10-11.

B. We need to see that all the local churches in the different countries are one new man; the one new man is not local—it is universal—Eph. 2:15, 21-22.

C. Since all the local churches are one new man, in deciding a matter in our local church, we need to consider the churches throughout the whole earth—Rev. 22:16a; 1 Thes. 2:14; Rom. 16:4; 2 Cor. 11:28.

IV. We should always consider the Body, care for the Body, honor the Body, and do what is best for the Body—1 Cor. 12:23-27:

A. For the Lord’s move in His recovery both locally and universally, we must take the lead to be Body-conscious in one accord—Acts 1:14; 2:46; 4:24; 15:25.

B. “When Brother Nee taught about the Body he said that whatever we do, we have to consider how the churches would feel about it”—The Problems Causing the Turmoils in the Church Life, pp. 28-29.

C. In the Body there can be no independence or individualism, for we are members, and members cannot live in detachment from the Body—1 Cor. 12:27; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 5:30.

V. God has placed all the members of the Body, even as He willed; as members of the Body of Christ standing on the genuine ground of oneness, we must take the lead to be limited by the other members, not going beyond our measure—1 Cor. 12:18:

A. Each member has his own characteristics, and each has his own capability; these characteristics constitute the place, position, or ministry of each member—Rom. 12:4-8.

B. A basic requirement for the growth and development of the Body is that we recognize our measure and do not go beyond it; as soon as we go beyond our measure, we go beyond the authority of the Head and move out from under the anointing—Eph. 4:7, 16.

C. Like Paul we should move and act according to how much God has measured to us, staying within the limits of God’s ruling, God’s measuring—2 Cor. 10:13.

D. When we give a testimony about our work, experience, or enjoyment of the Lord, we must testify within measure, that is, within a certain limit—2 Cor. 10:14-16.

VI. The fellowship of the Body of Christ is the blending of the Body of Christ; fellowship adjusts us, fellowship harmonizes us, fellowship tempers us, and fellowship mingles us—1 Cor. 12:23-27:

A. God has blended the Body together; the word blended also means adjusted, harmonized, tempered, and mingled—1 Cor. 12:24.

B. In order to be adjusted, harmonized, tempered, and mingled in the Body life, we have to go through the cross and be by the Spirit, dispensing Christ to others for the sake of the Body of Christ—Gal. 6:14; Phil. 1:19.

C. We should not do anything without fellowshipping with the other saints who are coordinating with us; in our coordination in the church life, in the Lord’s work, we all have to learn not to do anything without fellowship.

D. We need to reign in life in imitating the apostle to bring the local churches into the fellowship of the Body of Christ—Rom. 5:17; 14:3; 15:7-9, 25-33.

E. We need to reign in life in following the apostle’s footsteps to bring all the saints into the blending life of the entire Body of Christ; this is to bring us into the blending life of the entire Body of Christ by recommendations and greetings so that the God of peace may crush Satan under our feet and so that we may enjoy the rich grace of Christ—Rom.16:1-16, 21-24.

Ministry Excerpts:

The Four-Level Meaning of God’s New Testament Economy

The First Level—the Teaching of the Apostles

In this message we shall see that only the teaching of the apostles can stand in God’s New Testament economy, and it will stand unto eternity. We must remember that the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. The law as the main body of the Old Testament was supplemented by the prophets. The main body of the New Testament is the apostles, and the prophets also serve as a supplement. The principle in both is the same. This is the first level of meaning of God’s New Testament economy.

The Second Level—the Ministry of the New Testament

The second level of meaning of God’s New Testament economy is the ministry of the New Testament. Second Corinthians 4:1 says, “Therefore, having this ministry, as we received mercy.” The Old Testament ministry is one of death and condemnation, since the Old Testament brings in condemnation and kills (Rom. 5:13, 18, 20, 21). The ministry of the teaching of the apostles brings in justification and gives life. What we all have received is this unique ministry.

The Third Level—the Body of Christ

In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul says that different gifted persons perfect the saints, unto the work of ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ. This is the third level of meaning.

The Fourth Level—the Churches of God

The Body of Christ is universal and the churches are expressed in different localities. This is the fourth level of meaning.

Serving in the Oneness of the Four Levels

Today in the Lord’s recovery, our way, our service, our work, and our meetings are all based on these four levels. Furthermore, there is one teaching of the apostles, one ministry of the New Testament, one Body of Christ, and one church. This is the oneness of the four levels. Ephesians 4:4 says that the Body is one. Revelation 1 proves that the church in a locality is also one (v. 11); in each of the seven cities there was only one church. We in the Lord’s recovery today need to realize and be clear about this. If today we want to serve the Lord for our entire life, we need to serve in the teaching of the apostles, the New Testament ministry, the Body of Christ, and the churches of God.

The New Testament ministry is building the church of God and the local churches, that is, the Body of Christ today. Therefore, our work is the work of the New Testament ministry. We are not like some Christians who just do odd jobs. The work of the New Testament ministry is the building up of the Body of Christ according to the teaching of the apostles. Therefore, we need to see that our service is in the oneness of the four levels, in the local churches, in the Body of Christ, in the New Testament ministry, and in the teaching of the apostles. Hence, our service cannot be two. It has to be one. The work we do is also one and cannot be more than one. (Words of Life from the 1988 Full-Time Training, ch. 8)

The Teaching of the Apostles Being God’s New Testament Economy

The New Testament shows us that these mysteries were mainly revealed to the Apostle Paul. Hence, he said he had received from God a ministry and a commission, that is, to complete the word of God (Col. 1:25b). The teaching of the apostles started in the Gospels, and was developed in Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. In other words, the teaching of the apostles is the entire New Testament. There is only one law in the Old Testament—the law of Moses; there is only one teaching in the New Testament—the teaching of the apostles.

This teaching started when the Lord Jesus brought up the twelve disciples. Hence, we often see the Lord teaching the disciples in the Gospels. Then in Matthew 28, after the Lord resurrected, He charged the disciples to preach the gospel and to disciple the nations, baptizing them into the Triune God, and “teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you.” Then He said, “…I am with you all the days” (v. 20). Therefore, the teaching of the apostles started with the Lord Jesus’ teaching to the disciples, especially to the twelve apostles, and ended with the revelation that John received on the Island of Patmos. Consequently, Revelation says that the revelation of God’s New Testament has been completed, and none is able to add to nor take away from it (Rev. 22:18-19). Revelation 22 is a closing word. The teaching of God’s New Testament economy starts from the Gospel of Matthew through the Gospel of John and continues through Revelation; the whole teaching has already been revealed completely. (Words of Life from the 1988 Full-Time Training, ch. 8)

The Body of Christ Being a Reality

Some Bible teachers consider the Body of Christ spoken of by Paul as an illustration or a figure of speech. But according to the important verses in the New Testament concerning the Body of Christ as cited in this message, we can see clearly that the Body of Christ is not a figure of speech, but a reality. In the universe, there is definitely a Body—not your body or my body—but the Body of Christ. This is a fact. Hence, 1 Corinthians 11:29 says, “Not discerning the body.” The Bible translators in early days did not understand the meaning. Therefore the Chinese Union Version added the word “the Lord’s” to make the translation read, “Not discerning the Lord’s body.” Actually, it should be translated as, “Not discerning the body.” What Paul meant to tell us here is that there is something unique in the universe that we need to discern, that is, the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is a unique thing; it is not a figure of speech, but a reality, an existing fact.

The Economy of God Being to Obtain the Body of Christ

God’s economy is God’s administration, and God’s administration is God’s plan, arrangement, intention, and work. The goal of God’s economy is the Body of Christ. Some would say, “God wants sinners like me. God loves me, and God wants me.” This is not wrong, but this is a near-sighted view. Not only does God want you and me; God wants everyone. God wants the Chinese; He also wants the Japanese. God loves all the people in the world.

In the universe God did something extremely unusual. He scattered those whom He had chosen and predestinated before the ages among different tongues, tribes, peoples, and nations. Every one of them has an unusual temperament, a peculiar character. There is no need to speak of the problems between nations or between classes, problems that make it difficult for people to live together; even between next-door neighbors or husbands and wives, there are many problems that make it difficult for them to live together. However, the wonderful thing is that God also sent the Holy Spirit to gather us one by one and put us together, so that we have no way to escape being mingled and built together. (Words of Training for the New Way, Vol. 1, ch. 5)

One Body in the Universe

The Body of Christ is unique. In the whole universe there is just one Body of Christ (Eph. 4:4a). The church as the Body of Christ is also God’s family, God’s house (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15). As God’s family, as the house of God, the church is uniquely one. Furthermore, the church as the Body of Christ is the wife of Christ (Eph. 5:23-25). For a man to have two wives or two families is a shame. Our Lord has only one Body, one family, one household which is His home, and one wife.

There is one Body in the universe, and this Body is the new man (Eph. 2:15). This truth abolishes all the differences among us, making us one in Christ. In Christ and in the Body life, there are no racial differences. Instead, Christ is all the members and in all the members.

One Church in One City

The oneness of the Body of Christ is kept and expressed by each local church in its locality. In the practice of the church life, there is only one church in one city (Acts 8:1a; 13:1a; Rev. 1:11). The local churches are the local expressions of the one Body of Christ in the universe. There should not be more than one local expression of the one Body of Christ in a locality.

The Base of the Oneness of the Church

Now we need to see the base of the oneness of the church. This base is of four items: the seven factors of our Christian faith, the oneness of the Spirit, the oneness of the divine Trinity, and the oneness for which the Lord prayed.

The Seven Factors of Our Christian Faith

The base of the oneness of the church is firstly the seven factors of our Christian faith (Eph. 4:4-6, 13). In Ephesians 4:4-6 Paul presents these seven factors, which are seven “ones.” Then in verse 13 he says that we believers need to be perfected until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith. This shows that the seven “ones” listed in verses 4 through 6 are the seven factors of our Christian faith.

The Oneness of the Spirit

The second base of the oneness of the church is the oneness of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3b). “The oneness of the Spirit” simply means that the oneness is the Spirit. The Spirit Himself, who is the essence of the Body, is the oneness. Therefore, we Christians should not be divided. How can we divide the indwelling Spirit? This is impossible. How can we divide the inner essence of the church? This is impossible.

The Oneness of the Divine Trinity

The third base of the oneness of the church is the oneness of the divine Trinity. In John 17:21 the Lord said, “That they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us.” The oneness the Lord is speaking of here is the oneness among the divine Trinity. The Lord prayed that we would be one just as the Triune God is one. (Messages to the Trainees in Fall 1990, ch. 17)

The Three of the Triune God are one. The Father is in the Son, the Son is in the Father, and both the Father and the Son are in the Spirit. Now we are in the Triune God, in the divine “Us.” Eventually, we all are in this One. We are in the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. This does not make us God, but we must declare the fact that we are one with our God. Eventually, we must have the boldness and the full assurance to say that we are one with God because we are in God and God is in us. In John 17:22 the Lord prayed, “And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, even as We are one.” We Christians, we believers, should be one just as the three persons of the Godhead are one. The glory which was given to the Son by the Father was given by the Son to us so that we might be one in this glory to express God. God wants all of His believers to be one in the divine glory. The oneness of the divine Trinity is the base of our oneness today.

The Oneness the Lord Prayed For

The fourth base of the oneness of the church is the oneness the Lord prayed for. This shows us the contents of the oneness of the divine Trinity.

We are the Father’s children, having Him as our life and enjoying Him in the sanctifying word, separating us from anything that is other than the Father. Now we are here in His divine glory. This is why we are one. When we quarrel, we have to realize that we are outside of the Father’s life, not in the Father’s sanctifying word, and not in the Father’s divine glory. We need to remain in the Father’s life, in His word, and in His glory. The oneness is here. As long as we remain in the Father’s life, word, and glory, we are one. When we are in the meetings of the church and of the ministry, we have the sense that we are one, but in our relationships with one another outside the meetings, this oneness may disappear. When are we really one? We are really one when we are in the Father’s life, in His word, and in His glory.

Now we have seen the base of the oneness of the church in its four aspects: the seven factors of our Christian faith, the oneness of the Spirit, who is the essence of the Body, the oneness of the divine Trinity, and the oneness for which the Lord prayed, which is constituted with the Father’s life, His word, and His glory. This is the base of the oneness. If we have this as the base of our oneness, we will never be, can never be, and should never be divided.

The Practice of the Oneness—with One Accord

Now we need to see the practice of the oneness, which is with one accord (Acts 1:14; 2:46; 4:24; 5:12; 15:25; Rom. 15:6). In the Gospel of John, the Lord stresses the oneness, but in the book of Acts, He stresses the one accord. Acts is not a book of teaching but a book of practice. When the apostles and the believers practiced the church life, they practiced it in one accord. To be in one accord is to be in harmony. When we practice the church life, we must practice being in harmony. To say “amen” to one another in our speaking for the Lord and in our pursuit of the Lord is to be in harmony.

Division Being Heretical, Sectarian

Division is versus oneness. In order for us to practice the oneness of the Body of Christ, we need to realize that division is heretical, sectarian (Gal. 5:20b-21a). Denying the person of Christ in His divinity and humanity and division are the only two items that can be considered as heretical. Wrong teachings apart from division and heresy cannot be considered heretical. A wrong teaching, such as baptism by sprinkling instead of immersion, cannot be considered heretical. This is because such wrong teachings do not affect the seven factors of our Christian faith. Some who practice baptism in a different way than immersion still have God as their Father and Jesus Christ as their Lord. They still have the Spirit. They have the same hope and the genuine faith. They also believe that baptism separates people, so they have the significance of the one baptism. The forms that we practice may differ, but the significance remains the same. (Messages to the Trainees in Fall 1990, ch. 17)