MINISTRY

by     NB

“The” or “An” Assembly of God.

It is important to distinguish these two.  Every believer in the Lord Jesus is in “the” Assembly (Church)  Eph. 1:22, 23.

But in “an” Assembly there is a “within” and a “without” 1 Cor. 5:12, 13.  This believer was put out of “an” Assembly though still in “the” Assembly.

The maintaining of the “unity of the Spirit” requires diligence  (Eph. 4:3).  The power of the Holy Spirit is needed to carry out faithfully this responsibility.

To use our position of being perfect in Christ (Heb. 10:14) as permission to allow moral or doctrinal sin in “an” Assembly, is a most serious evil.  (Equally so for a believer to allow sin in his, her life).

Everyone is involved in the evil if it is allowed in “an” Assembly.  2 Cor. 7:11.  That Assembly ceases to have the character of Christ’s body altogether and ceases to be “an” Assembly of God.  To deny this is also evil.

Adapted from J. N. D. by NORMAN BERRY