LESSON THIRTEEN – THE MINISTRY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Acts 1:17 — He was numbered among us and was allotted his portion of this ministry.

Eph. 4:11-12 — He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ.

THE MINISTRY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BEING UNIQUELY ONE UNIVERSALLY

In the entire universe there have been only two ministries. In 2 Corinthians 3 the ministry of the old covenant is referred to as “the ministry of death” and “the ministry of condemnation” (vv. 7, 9). The ministry of the old covenant did only two things: it condemned people and put people to death. But the new covenant and the new ministry based on the new covenant is a ministry of the Spirit and of righteousness, that is, of justification (vv. 8-9).

ALL THE MINISTERS HAVING THEIR OWN PORTION OF THE MINISTRY

The unique ministry of the New Testament comprises all the works (ministries) of all the apostles, the ministers of the new covenant. In 2 Corinthians 3 the plural ministers is used clearly in verse 6, and the singular ministry is used in verses 8 and 9. Then, in the first verse of chapter 4 Paul says, “Therefore having this ministry as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart.” Here Paul uses the plural pronoun we. He does not say that he (singular) had this ministry; rather, he says that we (plural) have this ministry (singular). We here includes not only Paul but all the New Testament ministers. All of this indicates that there is one new covenant ministry of many new covenant ministers.

In 2 Timothy 4:5 Paul charges Timothy to fully accomplish his ministry. In this verse Paul speaks of Timothy’s ministry, referring to an individual’s ministry. This was Timothy’s personal ministry, but this personal ministry was a part of the corporate ministry, “this ministry,” the unique ministry of the New Testament. The ministry in 2 Corinthians 4:1 is the corporate ministry of all the New Testament ministers. In this corporate ministry Paul had his portion, Peter had his portion, and Timothy had his portion. All the ministers have their own portion of the ministry. When we add all the portions together, we have “this ministry,” which is the New Testament ministry.

The work of the New Testament ministry is to accomplish God’s New Testament economy concerning the church (Eph. 3:9-10) in the building up of the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12 says that all the saints need to be perfected “unto the work of the ministry.” This means that hundreds and even thousands of saints can be perfected unto the work of the ministry. In this verse the term the ministry is used. No doubt this refers to the unique ministry of the New Testament to carry out God’s eternal purpose, which is contained in the new covenant. God’s new covenant contains God’s economy. To carry out this economy requires much work, and that work is the ministry. In Ephesians 4:12 the phrase unto the building up of the Body of Christ appears in apposition to unto the work of the ministry. This indicates clearly that to do the work of the ministry is to build up the Body of Christ. (CWWL, 1993, vol. 1, “The Ministry of the New Testament and the Teaching and Fellowship of the Apostles,” pp. 5-7)

DIVISIONS COMING OUT OF DIFFERENT MINISTRIES

I am burdened to stress this point of the oneness of the ministry.…The most damaging thing among Christians is the divisions and the confusions. Moreover, all the divisions and confusions come out of one source, and that source is the different ministries.

When I speak such words of warning to all the dear saints, I speak them even the more to myself. Many times I have seen something new that had to be considered very carefully in the light of the Lord’s up-to- date ministry. I need to consider very carefully whether or not each item is something of God’s ministry today. Each point must be measured according to God’s basic economy. How to measure every point, how to make a decision about every item, all depends upon God’s basic economy, which is to carry out the ministry of Christ for the producing of the church.

If we keep this one basic principle and one basic factor concerning God’s economy, we will be well protected. Nevertheless, each one of us needs to be on the alert not only to watch over others but to take care of ourselves so that we would not be used by the enemy to bring in different thoughts or different teachings that may seem to be scriptural. (CWWL, 1984, vol. 2, “Elders’ Training, Book 1: The Ministry of the New Testament,” pp. 7, 11-12)

THE GOAL OF THE MINISTRY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT— BUILDING UP A BODY FOR CHRIST, WHICH CONSUMMATES IN THE NEW JERUSALEM

The New Jerusalem as the goal of God’s economy is the universal incorporation of the consummated God with His regenerated believers. God in His Divine Trinity is an incorporation, mutually coinhering and working together as one (John 14:10-11). Furthermore, Christ is in the Father, we are in Christ, and Christ is in us (v. 20). The conclusion and totality of these three ins is the Spirit of reality, who is Christ Himself, to be the reality within us (v. 17). The Spirit of reality came not only to be with us but also to be in us. Our being in God the Son and God the Son being in us and also in the Father reveal an incorporation. This incorporation is first the Body of Christ and then the New Jerusalem.…God’s economy is to have a Body for Christ, which consummates in the New Jerusalem—the enlarged, universal incorporation of the consummated God with the regenerated believers. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 5, “Crystallization- study of the Humanity of Christ,” p. 410)

References: CWWL, 1993, vol. 1, “The Ministry of the New Testament and the Teaching and Fellowship of the Apostles,” ch. 1; CWWL, 1984, vol. 2, “Elders’ Training, Book 1: The Ministry of the New Testament,” ch. 1; CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 5, “Crystallization-study of the Humanity of Christ,” ch. 6

SERVE AND WORK WITHIN THE BODY

Service—In the Body – 913

• Serve and work within the Body,
  This the Lord doth signify;
  For His purpose is the Body
  And with it we must comply.

Serve and work within the Body,
Never independently;
As the members of the Body,
Functioning relatedly.

• As the members we’ve been quickened
  Not as individuals free;
  We must always serve together,
  All related mutually.
• Living stones, we’re built together
  And a house for God must be,
  As the holy priesthood serving,
  In a blessed harmony.
• Thus we must be built together,
  In position minister;
  For the basis of our service
  Is the body character.
• In our ministry and service,
  From the Body, our supply;
  If detached and isolated,
  Out of function we will die.
• ‘Tis by serving in the Body
  Riches of the Head we share;
  ‘Tis by functioning as members
  Christ’s full measure we will bear.
• To the Head fast holding ever,
  That we may together grow,
  From the Head supplies incoming
  Thru us to the Body flow.
• Lord, anew we give our bodies;
  May we be transformed to prove
  All Thy will, to know Thy Body,
  And therein to serve and move.