NOT OF THE HOUSE

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim 3:15)

THE "HOUSE OF GOD" is His household, or family. It is the body of the redeemed, among whom He dwells, and in whom He works (Phil 2:13). There is a sense in which this is a house within a house – that is, according to outward appearance, the house does not look to be as it really is.

IT IS POSSIBLE to be in the house, but really not be part of it – to be in an environment in which one does not really belong. In this case, the important thing is not belonging to the group, but having the character that is appropriate for that group. Some examples will suffice.

CAIN IS DESCRIBED AS ONE "who was of the wicked one" (1 John 3:12). He was the devil's man, and yet was the brother of Abel, living in the same household. His character was so diverse from that of his brother, that he killed him (Gen 4:8; 1 John 3:12). He was the elder brother of righteous Abel, had the same parents, yet was different. He was in the house, but was not of it.

ISHMAEL WAS A SON OF ABRAHAM, and for a while lived in the same house with Isaac, who was the "child of promise" (Gal 4:28). He grew up in the same house, yet had a variant spirit. He was "circumcised" like Abraham (Gen 17:25-26). He even joined Isaac in burying their father Abraham (Gen 25:9). Yet, after Isaac was "weaned," Ishmael mocked him, proving himself unworthy of living in Abraham's house. He was "cast out," because he could not be "heir with the child of the freewoman" (Gal 4:30). He was in the house, but was not of it.

ESAU WAS THE TWIN BROTHER OF JACOB, with whom God was identified. He lived in the womb with his brother, had the same father and mother as Jacob, and was raised in the same house. He was even the older of the twins, thereby being given the birthright. Yet Esau was a "profane person, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright" (Heb 12:16). God said of him, "Esau have I hated" (Rom 9:13). He was in the house, but was not of it.

NADAB AND ABIHU were the sons of "Aaron, the saint of the Lord" (Psa 106:16). They were raised in his house. Early, they were given the privilege of joining Aaron and seventy of the elders of Israel in worshiping the Lord (Ex 24:1). Together with Moses, "they saw the God of Israel" (Ex 24:9). Yet, they were slain by God for defiling His altar with "strange fire" (Num 26:61). They were in the house, but were not of it.

JUDAS WAS CHOSEN BY JESUS to be an Apostle (Matt 10:1-4). He was even the treasurer of the small elite group (John 13:29). He is called "Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve" (Mk 14:10,43). He was among "the twelve" to whom Jesus revealed His death and resurrection (Matt 20:17). He sat with Jesus and the others at the last supper (Matt 26:20-21). He was among "the twelve" to whom Jesus explained parables (Mk 4:10-11). He heard Jesus preach (Lk 8:1), and was even sent with the other disciples to preach, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons (Matt 10:5-8). Yet Judas was "a devil" (diabolos). He was even a thief (John 12:5), and finally betrayed the Lord (Matt 10:4). He was in the house, but was not of it.

SADLY, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE who are presently identified with "the church," who are not really a part of it. In a way, they are intruders. It is our business to see to it we are not in their number. It is essential that we not only be IN the house, but that we be OF the house.

THIS BRINGS TO LIGHT the significance of the statement, "but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end" (Heb 3:6). That criteria is rarely declared in our time, but it needs to be. It is a revealed truth. How about you? Are you in the house? And do you really belong there? This is a house with present and eternal benefits. Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5).

– Given O. Blakely