the acts of the apostles-第2章
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God's Purpose for His Church
The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men。 It was
organized for service； and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world。
From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be
reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency。 The members of the
church； those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light；
are to show forth His glory。 The church is the repository of the riches of
the grace of Christ； and through the church will eventually be made
manifest； even to 〃the principalities and powers in heavenly places；〃 the
final and full display of the love of God。 Ephesians 3：10。
Many and wonderful are the promises recorded in the Scriptures regarding the
church。 〃Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people。〃
Isaiah 56：7。 〃I will make them and the places round about My hill a
blessing； and I will cause the shower to come down in his season；
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there shall be showers of blessing。〃 〃And I will raise up for them a plant
of renown； and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land；
neither bear the shame of the heathen any more。 Thus shall they know that I
the Lord their God am with them； and that they； even the house of Israel；
are My people； saith the Lord God。 And ye My flock； the flock of My pasture；
are men； and I am your God； saith the Lord God。〃 Ezekiel 34：26； 29…31。
〃Ye are My witnesses； saith the Lord； and My servant whom I have chosen：
that ye may know and believe Me； and understand that I am He： before Me
there was no God formed； neither shall there be after Me。 I； even I； am the
Lord； and beside Me there is no Saviour。 I have declared； and have saved；
and I have showed； when there was no strange god among you： therefore ye are
My witnesses。〃 〃I the Lord have called thee in righteousness； and will hold
thine hand； and will keep thee； and give thee for a covenant of the people；
for a light of the Gentiles； to open the blind eyes； to bring out the
prisoners from the prison； and them that sit in darkness out of the prison
house。〃 Isaiah 43：10…12； 42：6； 7。
〃In an acceptable time have I heard thee； and in a day of salvation have I
helped thee： and I will preserve thee； and give thee for a covenant of the
people； to establish the earth； to cause to inherit the desolate heritages；
that thou mayest say to the prisoners； Go forth； to them that are in
darkness； Show yourselves。 They shall feed in the ways； and their pastures
shall be in all high places。 They shall not hunger nor thirst； neither shall
the heat nor sun smite them： for
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He that hath mercy on them shall lead them； even by the springs of water
shall He guide them。 And I will make all My mountains a way； and My highways
shall be exalted。 。 。 。
〃Sing； O heavens； and be joyful； O earth； and break forth into singing； O
mountains： for the Lord hath comforted His people； and will have mercy upon
His afflicted。 But Zion said； The Lord hath forsaken me； and my Lord hath
forgotten me。 Can a woman forget her sucking child； that she should not have
compassion on the son of her womb？ yea； they may forget； yet will I not
forget thee。 Behold； I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands； thy
walls are continually before Me。〃 Isaiah 49：8…16。
The church is God's fortress。 His city of refuge； which He holds in a
revolted world。 Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has
bought mankind with the blood of His only…begotten Son。 From the beginning；
faithful souls have constituted the church on earth。 In every age the Lord
has had His watchmen； who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation
in which they lived。 These sentinels gave the message of warning； and when
they were called to lay off their armor； others took up the work。 God
brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself； uniting the
church on earth with the church in heaven。 He has sent forth His angels to
minister to His church； and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail
against His people。
Through centuries of persecution； conflict； and darkness； God has sustained
His church。 Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not prepared for；
not one opposing
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force has risen to counterwork His work； that He has not foreseen。 All has
taken place as He predicted。 He has not left His church forsaken； but has
traced in prophetic declarations what would occur； and that which His Spirit
inspired the prophets to foretell has been brought about。 All His purposes
will be fulfilled。 His law is linked with His throne； and no power of evil
can destroy it。 Truth is inspired and guarded by God； and it will triumph
over all opposition。
During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set
on a hill。 From age to age； through successive generations； the pure
doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders。 Enfeebled and
defective as it may appear； the church is the one object upon which God
bestows in a special sense His supreme regard。 It is the theater of His
grace； in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts。
〃Whereunto；〃 asked Christ； 〃shall we liken the kingdom of God？ or with what
comparison shall we compare it？〃 Mark 4：30。 He could not employ the kingdoms
of the world as a similitude。 In society He found nothing with which to
compare it。 Earthly kingdoms rule by the ascendancy of physical power； but
from Christ's kingdom every carnal weapon； every instrument of coercion； is
banished。 This kingdom is to uplift and ennoble humanity。 God's church is
the court of Holy life； filled with varied gifts and endowed with the Holy
Spirit。 The members are to find their happiness in the happiness of those
whom they help and bless。
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Wonderful is the work which the Lord designs to accomplish through His
church； that His name may be glorified。 A picture of this work is given in
Ezekiel's vision of the river of healing： 〃These waters issue out toward the
east country； and go down into the desert； and go into the sea： which being
brought forth into the sea； the waters shall be healed。 And it shall come to
pass； that everything that liveth； which moveth； whithersoever the rivers
shall come； shall live： 。 。 。 and by the river upon the bank thereof； on
this side and on that side； shall grow all trees for meat； whose leaf shall
not fade； neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed： it shall bring forth
new fruit according to his months； because their waters they issued out of
the sanctuary： and the fruit thereof shall be for meat； and the leaf thereof
for medicine。〃 Ezekiel 47：8…12。
From the beginning God has wrought through His people to bring blessing to
the world。 To the ancient Egyptian nation God made Joseph a fountain of
life。 Through the integrity of Joseph the life of that whole people was
preserved。 Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise men of Babylon。
And these deliverances are as object lessons； they illustrate the spiritual
blessings offered to the world through connection with the God whom Joseph
and Daniel worshiped。 Everyone in whose heart Christ abides； everyone who
will show forth His love to the world； is a worker together with God for the
blessing of humanity。 As he receives from the Saviour grace to impart to
others； from his whole being flows forth the tide of spiritual life。
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God chose Israel to reveal His character to men。 He desired them to be as
wells of salvation in the world。 To them were committed the oracles of
heaven； the revelation of God's will。 In the early days of Israel the
nations of the world； through corrupt practices； had lost the knowledge of
God。 They had once known Him； but because 〃they glorified Him not as God；
neither were thankful； but became vain in their imaginations； 。 。 。 their
foolish heart was darkened。〃 Romans 1：21。 Yet in His mercy God did not blot
them out of existence。 He purposed to give them an opportunity of again
becoming acquainted with Him through His chosen
