The Writings of John

A portion of Charles Stanley's book “the way the Lord hath led me”. In chapter 13 he emphasizes the great value of John's writings for these last days.

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There is another subject that the humble reader of the Word is sure to find, and which may, at first, give him some perplexity; that is, if he compares what he finds in scripture with what he sees around him. I refer to the church, the body of Christ. He will find such words as these, “one body,” “one Spirit,” “one Lord.” (Eph. 4:1-5.) He will also find such words as, “For by one Spirit are we all baptised into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13); and many such scriptures. It will become more and more clear to him, that in the beginning all Christians formed the one body of Christ. There was only one body, as truly as there was only one Lord….

The first question is this, Do I hold the truth of the one body? That all believers since Pentecost are members of that one body? That all believers now form that one body in Gods sight? The next question is this, Do I personally desire to act on that truth; to love all that are the Lord’s, and seek to serve them? Whatever others do, do I desire to shape my ways in accordance with this great truth — the truth of the “one body”? I find others do the same. Not that they, for a moment, assume to be that one body, but seek to recognise no body but the one body of Christ, composed of all that are His. If I find others desiring to walk according to the word of God, then surely I can have fellowship with them….

“But,” you may say, “in times of great perplexity, how am I to know who is right?” Have you noticed, in that epistle which reveals the church more than any other, which is the first precept? “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:25.) And read carefully every word that follows to the end of the chapter. If all believers walked according to these precepts, division would be impossible. Neither will it be very difficult to discover who do, and who do not, act on these blessed principles. Ah, it is the state of the soul that is the root cause of division. False representation, bitterness, and evil speaking, spiritual pride, vain conceit, worldliness, want of uprightness. If we walk in the fear of the Lord, we shall have no difficulty in discerning what is of the devil.

Now whilst fully maintaining the privilege of the Christian to hold fast all that he has been taught from the word of God as to the Church of God, yet I would bring a subject here before you that has been of no little comfort to my own soul, in these days of perplexity. Many of my readers will remember almost the last words of one now with the Lord, at the last reading meeting we had with him, “Brethren, do not neglect the ministry of John.”….

Then mark how much we have in John’s gospel that is omitted in the others. Take chapters 13 to 17; and if our eyes are opened we shall see all this as an answer to the errors and departures of what has been called the church in, and of, this world. Shall we notice a few? As to the Lord’s supper, the great error for centuries has been to turn it into a sacrifice for sins. He says to believers born of God, “Ye are clean every whit.” He takes the water, not blood, to wash their feet. The work of the brazen altar is finished; and now it is the laver, the washing of water by the word. (Compare Eph. 5:26.) Jesus takes the place of the paschal redemption lamb, and His redemption is eternal. It is possible that even by the time this gospel was given, the Lord’s supper may have been greatly abused. The Spirit well knew how it would be put in the place of Christ; and it (the Lord’s supper proper) is scarcely named. Chapter 13 scarcely goes beyond the Passover supper. In every way it is Himself that is before us. It is remarkable when we think of what is made of the eucharist that John, the last inspired writer, never names it!

Then how universal has been the error that true Christians should come into judgment at the great day! All this is anticipated. Jesus assures us it shall not be so. (John 5:24.) Nay, He says, “Let not your heart be troubled;” “I will come again and receive you unto myself.” (Chap. 14:1-3.)

And what is the remedy for all the conflicting ecclesiastical forms of church government. Simply the presence of the Holy Ghost on earth, as promised in chapters 14, 15, 16. What a stay and comfort, and security, to all believers if they really believed that the Holy Ghost, as a Person, was as truly on earth as Jesus was with His disciples. Could you not have trusted Christ? Can you not trust the Holy Ghost, come what may?

But, says the evangelist, the sorrow of my heart is when I see souls converted, I know not where to direct them. I see that which bears the name of the church split up into contending, and often bitter parties; some of these arrogating the title, to be regarded as the church. And the thought with many others seems to be that we are at liberty to do as we like. I am not satisfied. If you would know the mind of Christ, you will find it revealed, just meeting this very state of things. You will find that one object of His atoning death was to “gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” (John 11:52) And mark, it was after this last hour of failure and abounding of antichrists had begun, that the breathings of His heart in His prayer was recorded by inspiration. (Read John 17.) Does He not pray for all who shall believe on Him, “That they all may be one: as thou Father art in me, and I in them,” &c.? Yes, whatever may be the state of that which is called the church, surely every true believer will seek to respond to the heart of Christ. We merely give these few suggestions for the study of this last inspired utterance of the Holy Ghost — the writings of John….