William Kelly

“ Israel as a nation; death and resurrection of Christ introduce a new thing; the body composed of Jew and Gentile; the cross, showing the complete ruin of man, removes the barrier to God’s free action; God’s thoughts set upon the glory of His Son; first shadow of the Church’s union with Christ precedes the entrance of sin; Ephes. i. is then adduced to show that God develops His counsels of grace before mentioning man’s sin; the cross not merely meets the desperate need of man, but unites in one body Jew and Gentile; a new man thus created ”

“ Dryness of subject unless connection seen with Christ; gifts are for the glory of Christ, not the aggrandisement of men indifference to this a deep dishonour done to Him; “gifts of the Lord,” not “gifts of the Spirit;” gifts consequent upon the ascension of Christ contraband ministry; “He descended first;” “He ascended that He might fill all things;” the world can admire Christ and Christianity if altered to suit the age’s taste; Christ, only as risen, the Church’s Head; gifts in Ephesians and Corinthians compared; gifts in Corinthians became a snare, those in Ephesians are for perfecting ”

“ Christ’s twofold reception of the Holy Ghost; practical importance of these truths; how the Holy Ghost works in the assembly; duty of a Christian to be where the Holy Ghost is owned; why the Church is so weak; owning the Holy Ghost does not hinder individual ministry; true reason of meeting is to please the Lord Jesus ”

“ Jesus in the midst; where were you last Lord’s Day? how God can bless even Roman Catholics; what the faithful are to do who meet on God’s principles; unintelligence of those who have never felt the cost of separation from the ruin around; duty of a Christian in the event of an assembly departing from the word of God; action to be taken slowly, and with much waiting on the Lord; Ministry; the Lord calls, sends, and controls, not the assembly ”

“ Scripture has provided for this defective condition of the Church; exhortation to esteem those who labour; elders not mentioned in the Corinthian and Thessalonian assemblies; but those who possessed spiritual power in guiding and directing, found in both; no new invention needed to meet the difficulties of the day; fulness of blessing in Christ for the Church now as in Pentecostal times; plenty of room in an assembly for numerous gifts; gifts always sure, because Christ is the Head and source of supply ”