“THERE IS ONE THAT RESTRAINETH.”
WRITING of his own and later times the apostle Paul uttered these words: “For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work; only there is One that restraineth now, until He be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one.” This prophecy has been in past times by Protestants almost universally applied to the Papacy, that system which came into the church or temple of God, subverting and perverting both the law and the Gospel of God. It was held in check for a time, restrained from its full development. By what agency was this accomplished? Man was made “upright,” in the image of his Maker. When he sinned, God purposed in His goodness again to restore in man that lost image of sonship in God. Those who believe, who accept God’s plan, are created anew “in righteousness and holiness of truth,” “renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10. Thus is man made again by the power of God a dwelling-place for his Maker, a temple of the Holy Spirit. I Cor. 6:19. His language is: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me.” Gal. 2:20. All such persons believing in Christ form His body, the church; “for in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free.” I Cor. 12:13. Such persons—individual temples—together constitute the one temple, the church; “fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” Eph. 2:19-22. Such was the apostolic church, begotten of God, born of the Spirit, true to His Word, resting faith upon the same foundation as apostle and prophet—Christ Jesus. Such was the Pentecostal church; such were the churches built of Paul. The apostle prayed that Christ might dwell in their hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17); and that thus they might abide, he tells them, “I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.” Acts 20:32. In the same connection, he predicts that after his death grievous wolves should enter in and destroy the flock, and that also from among the very church-members themselves men should arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves instead of after Christ. As soon as that was accomplished, of course, the false leaders would take the place of Christ in the heart and in the church. So heathen philosophy crept into the church. So the Papacy crept in, little by little, till Christ was put far away, and the pope was enthroned in His place. So the mystery of lawlessness was enthroned in the realm of the mystery of godliness; self took the place of love; and Satan controlled instead of Christ. Now what alone could hinder the establishment of the Papacy in the church of Jesus Christ?—Manifestly, scripturally, it could only be Christ by His Spirit occupying His own living temple, reigning King supreme, filling the soul with the fulness of God. Christ therefore is the “One that restraineth” the setting up and worship of the man of sin. As long as He remained regnant in His church, no power exalting or opposing itself against God could find any place. And to-day no church, no church-member, can resist the man of sin, or withstand the Papacy, if Christ be bidden in word or deed to depart. He abides nowhere an unwelcome guest. The great Protestant churches are crowding Him out by evolution, by higher criticism, by tradition, by politics, by unbelief. Upon none of these were these churches founded, were their victories gained, was the superiority of Protestantism over Catholicism demonstrated. Then “the Bible, and the Bible alone,” was the rule of faith. But now all this primitive loyal faith is gone and the principles of the Papacy are taking strong root. The restraining One is being taken away, and the lawless one is being manifest. O church of the living God, awake! arise! cast out every foe, and let Christ in to dwell in you forever. Only so is there salvation.