The Test of the Church by L. A. Phippeny

Pacific Press Publishing Company · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA · Sep 25, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 39.

The Test of the Church

By L. A. Phippeny

AMONG many names and many varieties of doctrine how may the true church of Christ be known? What test may be applied to discover that body of which He is the Head?

There is implied in the question the thought that possibly none of the professed churches are the true church. Certainly not all can be, for the head would not have many bodies. Neither can all be reckoned as perfect members, because there are divisions and strifes and schisms and opposing doctrines.

The Preeminent Test.

If, in our test, we apply that which will be the test of the final estimate of men's lives, we should name first the law of God, which the apostle James specifies as the perfect "law of liberty," the Ten Commandments, by which all shall be judged. James 2:12. That is, the true church under such test would be the church whose creed, if it possessed one, or whose form of doctrine would conform perfectly to this great standard. Not only so as to the body, but the members in particular of this body would possess characters able to stand the application of the test, for the true church must be composed of true, loyal members.

That we are justified in selecting the law of God—the Ten Commandments—as the standard, is also witnessed by a further Bible fact. John, in vision on Patmos, saw the remnant church as it will stand in the final hours of the present age. He specifies this church thus: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12.

The Test Is Spiritual.

Here is the whole thing in few words: The church, as saints, will keep the "commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." There is no conflict between the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and it is very evident that the law of Ten Commandments is referred to, tho there are many who do not like to join the two. They ask, Why make this matter of test one of legality? why not a purely spiritual matter?

It is wholly a matter of spiritual test, indeed, that is to be made, for the entire proposition, law and all, centers in Christ Jesus, the Head of the church, and His righteousness. He "is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Rom. 10:4. The law is described as a righteous, holy, just law, and the righteous character demanded by it in order to stand its test is the character of God in Christ only. Its fulness is summed up and perfectly expressed in Christ's glorious life.

Then in every one who truly believes in Him is the righteousness of the law manifested, and that not by works of one's own intentions or promises, but by simple faith in the efficacy and power of His life. This kind of legality is highly desirable.

The Foundation of the Church Was Laid in Sacrifice even the Sacrifice of the Life of the Son of God.

What Is the Faith of Jesus?

Then the "faith of Jesus" is the faith of the One who permitted God to work in Him and thru Him the fulness of almighty power to reconcile the world unto Himself. And having performed this great work thru One Man, He would do the works of His good will and pleasure thru and in the flesh of each one of us by virtue of that other work thru the One. We, being dead in trespasses and sins, are made alive by resurrection power. We, while living a natural life, by reason of the virtue of the life of that other One and following in His footsteps, die daily,—are crucified daily,—in order that His everlasting life may be continually manifested in our mortal flesh. This is the faith of Jesus.

But more,—and yet not more, but merely the unfolding of the thought in the word,—this faith of Jesus is His whole life in His word of doctrine, His life of action, His great mission with its glorious hopes. Surely there is no one who will hesitate to let the test be applied to his own profession and life to determine whether he is a member in particular of the body of Christ—the true church.

Having now found and investigated briefly the test and somewhat of its scope, let us notice a few items embraced in it, in order that the application may become more localized, with a view to enabling us to determine more readily our own standing; for there are many who profess Christ with the lips and yet deny Him in practise. It may require some of the details of "the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" for this determining.

Possessing Patience.

1. Preeminently, above all, the true church of Christ will be "saints," holy ones, for this was the word to John. They possessed "patience," and "kept"—possessed in their characters—the righteousness demanded by the law in the only possible way to have that righteousness. And they "kept," besides, the "faith of Jesus," with all that that faith embraces.

An Everlasting-Covenant Church.

2. Preeminently, therefore, the true church of Christ will be a new or everlasting covenant church. They are saved by grace; it is the free gift, this salvation; it is not earned by works, nor by promises of their own. They have been made willing by His grace to crucify "the flesh, with the affections and lusts," and have yielded their "members servants to righteousness unto holiness." And He, after this, without one promise of their own, has recreated them into blessed life in the covenant of His grace.

The New Earth Home.

3. The true church, therefore, will be one that is looking with every confidence to the fulfilment of the rest of the everlasting covenant promises,—the establishing of the everlasting home, the earth made new, and the near coming of their Saviour Himself to complete His work.

Important Doctrines.

4. As a part of the consummation of the conflict between righteousness and sin, this church will hold to the Biblical doctrines of the priesthood of Christ under the new or everlasting covenant: the judgment; the resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, the final destruction of the wicked and the end of sin; and the triumph and everlasting reign of righteousness.

The Sure Word of Prophecy.

5. This hope of the final annihilation of sin and the establishing of the eternal home of righteousness will not rest on mere report, but on the "more sure word of prophecy," which indicates the proximity of the end of the present age and the ushering in of a better age. The true church will therefore

be students and believers of prophecy.

6. This is why the true church will be "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Corner-stone," because all the prophets foretold Him who was to come, and the prophecies of all ages center in Him and His mission.

Their Confession.

7. Very naturally, therefore, the members of this church will confess "that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh,"—in their flesh,—and the confession will be witnessed in the life.

The New Commandment.

8. It will be a church that keeps, necessarily, the commandment of Christ, even His "new commandment," which is, "Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 13:34. And this is the perfect keeping of the perfect law of liberty, by which we are tested, because "love is the fulfilling of the law."

As Jesus Kept Them.

9. Then it follows that this church will keep the commandments of God as Jesus kept them, for He passed on to His followers that which He had received from the Father, and He did nothing, said nothing, that was not received from the Father. John 8:26, 28; 12:49, 50; 14:15, 21, 24. It seems necessary to mention specially one of these commandments that was kept by Jesus, and which ever abides a part of the law and was confirmed by Him even in His death, but which is somehow regarded by many as of small consequence, tho the rest are highly honored. This is the fourth, or Sabbath, commandment. And by this test we discover that the true church will be a seventh-day Sabbath-keeping church. In saying this, reference is not necessarily made to one or more than one so-called sect that now keeps the seventh-day Sabbath. It is a characteristic of the last and true church.

Discerning Baptism.

10. It will be a church that discerns the deep significance of baptism and applies it, and that honors the other simple and few ordinances established by Christ unto His second coming. See 1 Cor. 11:23-30 and John 13:14-17.

They Teach It in All the World.

11. It will be a church whose members will go "into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. . . . And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:15-18. Not necessarily that these signs shall accompany every believer; but they will be seen with the remnant church in greater manifestation of power than in the early church.

The Manifestation of Gifts.

12. Not alone will the acts just enumerated be evidenced as "signs," but there will be manifested in this church other gifts of the Spirit, embraced in the "faith of Jesus;" namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues, interpretation of tongues, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, discernings of spirits, charity, which is love, and every other good and perfect gift within the possession of Him who worketh all in all for the perfecting of the body of Christ. And so, as touching the "signs" that were to follow, and will follow, not every member will possess every gift—so teaches the word. To each one severally will be given whatever gift the Spirit wills. See Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12.

Two Every-Day Tests.

Having enumerated thus far,—and the specifications might be amplified,—there are given us two every-day tests, virtual epitomes of the foregoing, for the discerning of false prophets and false doctrines:

1. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Matt. 7:20. Profession is well, and necessary, but is worthless unless the right kind of fruit follows. Therefore one might confess with his lips that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, might acknowledge Him as of God, and the only Saviour of mankind; but if in the actual demonstration of the life the character of Christ is denied, the professor is an unsafe man to follow. Time, required to ripen every fruit, will surely reveal the kind and quality of every tree, if it can not be determined in any other way.

2. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. Here is the method for testing doctrines. Not only to the law of Ten Commandments, but to the testimony and teaching of the word respecting the doctrine. As applied in Isaiah, it quickly defined the status of professed revelations from the dead. The deception might not always be revealed so quickly, but the fruits will appear in due time. One can afford to wait, if necessary, for the development of whatever is mysterious or strange. But how essential it is that one shall be thoroly familiar with the word and its teachings!

Do Not Pronounce Judgment.

In the application of this test, great wisdom should be exercised. It is not ours to pronounce judgment upon individuals, even tho error be firmly pointed out. The element of love, essential attribute of "the law," will lead to patient education of the one who may be beholding error, to reveal to him truth. And, the seed having been planted, condemnation will not be pronounced if the fruitage of truth does not appear immediately. God is long-suffering, patient. The true church, the remnant, will reveal His attributes in their characters.

From every nation, kindred, tongue, and people God is calling the members of the church of Christ. Many now dead in trespasses and sins will have an awakening by the creative word of the Gospel; many in the dark ways of heathen lands will respond to the call when the light breaks in. The members of this church are scattered here and there, in this denomination and that, in high walks and in low walks, some acquainted with a little truth, others having greater knowledge, ready to respond when the fuller light shines and the blessed news of a soon-coming Saviour is sounded in their hearing.

Does the true church of Christ now exist? Search and see. Apply the tests in detail. Apply them first to yourself. Become educated. The time is short. And this is the sign of the remnant church: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."