What Constitutes A True Assembly?

What Constitutes A True Assembly? by Jonah Lee

As written in the book of Acts, during the beginning of the Apostolic time, the ekklesia means the called-out community had no separate priestly class. Its first converts go everywhere preaching the Gospel of Christ. They are the first to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation, even before the apostles themselves left Jerusalem (Acts 8:4). Over time when there are sufficient converts in any place to form an assembly, they gather in the name of the LORD on the first day of the week to take holy communion and to edify one another in love. (Acts 20:7) When the opportunity comes for an Apostle to visit such gatherings, he chooses elders to oversee the flock; the assembly chooses deacons (diakonia: attendant serving at the table -trustworthy humble men) to serve the members. This is the entire constitution of the first congregation. If the LORD raises an evangelist, and souls are converted, they are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is done outside the assembly and not as a congregational act. Then, after due scrutiny by the elders, the evangelist's genuineness, if the community is satisfied, is received into communion (Acts 6:1-5). 

The congregation's divine order shows no distinction, such as between the clergy and the laity (structural hierarchy of Moses or leadership—only SERVANTHOOD that was laid down by Christ-John 13:8, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me). 

All stand on the same ground regarding the priesthood, worship, and closeness to God. The only priesthood, then, in the assemblies is the common priesthood of all believers. The humblest slave, if washed in the blood of Christ, is whiter than snow and fit to enter the holiest place and worship within the veil.  There is no outer court worship now to separate the sacred and profane. The separation of a privileged class - an ecclesiastic order - is unknown in the New Testament - it was invented much later by the antichrists who were operating at that time. 1John 2:18

Do you know that the word 'anti' has two meanings? The first one is to oppose and the other one is 'in place of' which is to replace or substitute. It refers to the two-pronged strategies of Satan or the opponent of Christ. He opposes Jesus as the Christ and as head of the church he seeks to substitute him. 

1Jn 2:18-22  Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many 'antichrists' have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. The word 'deny' arneomai means to contradict that is to abnegate or renounce him as Christ. 

Later in Epistle three John wrote about this person Diotrephes: 3 John 1:9-11, I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the 'preeminence' among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 

The ultimate goal of the enemy is to substitute Christ. It can be seen at every age. Thus, those who sought the glory to be in the place of Christ are the antichrists. It was Jesus who came as a human substitute and not a human who became the substitute for Him. 

It is the same old lie from Eden that “man is God.” Can you see how the Church system has relentlessly produced substitutes for Christ? The Bible tells us we are to emulate Jesus to be like Him, the way He conducts his life, and not be the substitute for Him, that is two different things.

In John chapter 10, Jesus states the distinction and calls them hirelings, and these hirelings will one day lead the flock to the false Christ.