E. Rogers on the Church: Collected Writings of E. W. Rogers

By E. W. Rogers

Ebenezer W Rogers was born in 1893. He was known to his generation and is still remembered by many as a gifted preacher and Bible expositor. The sermons he preached, and articles he wrote, over his lifetime cover an incredible range of subjects that will be of great help and interest to many Christians. This little volume contains his thoughts on the the Church.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Ritchie Ltd
• Release date: Oct 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201009328

E. W. Rogers

Ebenezer W Rogers was born in 1893. He was known to his generation, and is still remembered by many as a gifted preacher and Bible expositor. He worked for thirty years in the city of London and rose to become head of the Patent Office. As work duties permitted during this time, he was active throughout the British Isles, teaching the Word of God. Mr Rogers travelled far and wide for Bible teaching in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Europe. He visited India on a number of occasions with his good friend Mr J. M. Davies. He had a particular gift for leading conversational Bible readings, which he conducted in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, Ayr and Largs, Scotland, and annually in London. After a busy and useful life, he passed into the presence of the Lord in 1977.

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E. Rogers on the Church

Collected Writings of E. W. Rogers

E. W. Rogers

Published by John Ritchie Ltd, 2022.

The Church

1. Its Composition

The most precious possession that God has on earth today is His people who form part of the Church, which is the body of Christ. It must be most precious to Him, for it is as vitally linked with His Son in heaven as one’s own physical body is linked to the head. It is not surprising, therefore, to discover that the Scriptures have very much to say concerning it, and it is proper that we should acquaint ourselves with what is written so that we may share the thoughts of God in respect of ‘Christ and the Church’.

In studying this subject it is very important to remember that the outlooks of Paul and Peter differ one from the other. That difference is the result of their peculiar individual experiences at their first acquaintance with Christ. Peter came to know Him ‘in the days of His flesh’ and accompanied Him from Galilee throughout His earthly ministry up to and including His ascension to heaven. His ministry, therefore, both oral and written, is characterized by this. He speaks of ‘Jesus Christ’, whereas the term ‘Christ Jesus’ characterizes Paul’s ministry, for Paul’s first acquaintance with Jesus was on the Damascus road where he saw Him in heaven. Jesus is the name which the Lord bore when on earth, and it is this that Peter emphasizes. ‘Christ’ is that which Jesus was demonstrated to be by His resurrection and ascension to heaven, and it is to this that Paul gives priority.

Therefore, when reading the writings of these two Apostles, we should remember that for the most part Peter is occupied with earth. He does not speak of the rapture nor of our heavenly possessions. It is true that he speaks of our inheritance, which is ‘reserved in heaven’, but we come into its possession at the ‘revelation of Jesus Christ’ (1 Pet. 1:4-5); that is, His being revealed on earth. Paul, on the other hand, shows that believers of this present calling are linked with Christ in heaven. They have died with Him, been raised together and are now seated together in the heavenly places in Him. He shows that, really, they have nothing to do with earth. Their calling was purposed before earth began. Their destiny is heaven; to which they are called.

It is important, therefore, when studying the subject of the Church which is His body, that we should not confuse the teaching of the various writers of the Scriptures. This subject is peculiar to Paul, and we must refer to his writings for light thereon.

The word ‘Church’ is interesting. It is composed of two Greek words which, when put together, form the one word meaning ‘a calling out’ and as a corollary a ‘calling together’. It is the equivalent of the Hebrew word translated ‘congregation’. It is used in Acts 7:38 of Israel, who were called out of Egypt and called together around God who was in their midst in the wilderness. Because they are called a church, it must not be supposed that