The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum The Chief End of the Church, Evangelism.

BrimstonePreacha,

I think Relztrah hit the proverbial nail right on the head. The primary responsibility of the Church is to "make disciples", i.e., to upbuild the saints. Here are just a couple of passages which speak directly to this matter:

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ASV) "So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."

Ephesians 4:11-16 (ASV) "And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in [due] measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love."

Hebrews 12:22-24 (ASV) "but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than [that of] Abel."

So, the Church is the earthly haven for those who by the Spirit of God through the preaching of the Word have extricated from the world. The Church is primarily that place where those who have repented of their sins, having left the world and all that it is and stands for, seek refuge, comfort and knowledge of the Holy that they might live henceforth in righteousness and worship the one true living God. The Church is NOT like the world, or at least it should not be contrary to the current trend to immulate the world; it's philosophies and methodologies. As the people of God have been set apart so the company of the saints, i.e., the Church is to be an organization and organism that is apart from the world.

Having said that, it is also true that it is FROM the Church that the redeemed are to go out into all the world and preach the Gospel with the sure confidence that those whom the Lord has predestined to salvation will come, also separating themselves from the world and join with the saints who await the return of their precious Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the word "Church" itself, meaning "the called out ones" should give a clear indication of what it is, its purpose and of whom it consists. Evangelism is one important aspect and responsibility of the Church, but evangelism is primarily something which is done outside the Church although it certainly is appropriate to challenge those who are attending the Church to come to Christ from time to time for not all who are of Israel are the true Israel of God.

One would do well to read R.B. Kuiper's book, The Glorious Body of Christ, published by The Banner of Truth.

In His grace,