Assembly Versus Kingdom--Part 3

The second lesson closed with a brief quote and a giant correction in Matthew 16:19—“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” The King James Bible translates it as follows: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Equal authority on earth and in heaven should say something to every Christian. According to the KJB, this means there is perfect identity between human and Divine judgment. This is impossible in imperfect Christians. If Christians could do that, there would be no need for sanctification (I Thess. 4:1-12). Look at the close example of this in Matthew 18:15-20—“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Also read I Corinthians 5:1-13.)

After Matthew 16:19, Peter was thinking of the kingdom. He had to learn there were things that preceded the kingdom. Knowing the disciples would become discouraged “because of the way” (the way of life, the way of the Christian, the way of the Lord), Christ gave them a foretaste of the kingdom. Hearts saddened by suffering are gladdened by glory.

Observe the outline of events in Matthew 16:13-28— 1. The Father revealed to Peter the truth about Jesus Christ. 2. The Son revealed to Peter the truth about the assembly. 3. The assembly prepares for the kingdom. 4. Peter had to learn what preceded the kingdom. 5. Suffering, death, and resurrection were foretold. 6. The path of self-denial is the Christian way of life. 7. Christ’s second coming is not only foretold, but a foretaste is experienced—the transfiguration.

Men know no more of Christ than they value and esteem in Him. (Read Matthew 16:13-20.) If the Christ means no more than “anointed to save sinners,” as many teach, why were the disciples charged to “…tell no one that He was the Christ” (Matt. 16:20)? It is not the Divine Sonship that constitutes “the Christ”—although an essential element—and it is not the Davidic Sonship that constitutes Him “the Messiah”; but it is the two inseparably united that makes Him “the Christ.” Thus, it is this anointed seed of David who will be identified with the kingdom. Now we understand the secrecy. It was the time for the office of Kingship to be announced. Peter could not understand this; therefore, the Lord gave Peter, James, and John a manifestation of Christ’s Kingship. Peter called the transfiguration scene “…the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (II Pet. 1:16). When Peter wrote his two epistles for the purpose of strengthening the brethren, he said, “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (II Pet. 1:19-21).

Christ foretold His death and resurrection, which constituted the purpose of His Body being proclaimed. The assembly is purchased by Christ’s death and prepared for the kingdom. Peter said, “…YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (I Pet. 1:16-21).

There is no doubt to anyone that Peter needed preparation for both the assembly and the kingdom. He was motivated by the Spirit one moment to speak the truth, and a few minutes later, he was motivated to speak against the purpose of God. Strange surgings in the apostle manifested themselves.

The way of Christ is the way of suffering. What was true of Christ is true for His followers, but not to the same degree or purpose. Christ suffered for the sins of the elect, but the chosen ones suffer because of their own sins. As elected ones, we suffer because of our sins committed in the sphere of sanctification. Christ suffered for righteousness’ sake; Christians also suffer for righteousness’ sake, but not to the same purpose or degree as the impeccable Savior. Peter had to be taught the cost of discipleship. He was reasoning like man, because he was reasoning in terms of expediency. He must cease listening to the reasoning of Satan and accept the wisdom of God. Christianity can never be made popular. It always calls for self-denial and self-sacrifice. True happiness lies not in oneself, but in God alone.

Jesus Christ gave the disciples—Peter, James, and John—a foretaste of the kingdom. Christ personally appeared in His Kingly glory. The dead saints—Moses and Elijah—were personally present in their glory. The living saints—Peter, James, and John—personally beheld and admired the majesty and splendor of the scene. Thus, the preview of the kingdom cannot apply to the assembly, because of its connection with the second advent. The disciples were charged to keep it a secret until after the resurrection. Coming down the mountain, Christ said, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead” (Matt. 17:9).

The transfiguration was both a reality and a representation of the future advent of Christ. The vision is given to encourage all saints, who are heirs of the kingdom, to share with Christ His reproach while we wait for the glory of the kingdom. Note the following:

1. Sinai—Moses led Israel back to God.

2. Carmel—Elijah led Israel back to God.

3. Calvary—Christ’s decrease shall be accomplished at Jerusalem.

4. Olivet—Christ’s glory will be displayed on the Mount of Olives at the second advent (Acts 1:11; Zech. 14).

As John was the forerunner of Christ’s first advent, Elijah will be the forerunner of His second advent. Malachi said, “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse” (Mal. 4:5, 6).

Those who believe the kingdom is the assembly hold the idea that John fulfilled the mission of Elijah, but what about John’s own testimony? Did John know who he was? He said, in his gospel, “They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No. Then they said to him, Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself? He said, I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as Isaiah the prophet said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? John answered them saying, I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:21-29).

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.