GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
BEREA KENTUCKY
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
By Jim Murriner


What is the purpose of the church? I’m afraid that most of us in our attempt to make a name for ourselves, and do bigger and better things than some other group, have forsaken and forgotten the purpose of a church.
In most cases our churches today are no more than society meetings, and social gatherings.
The bible gives us four purposes for a church. Three of which are found in the commission, which Jesus gave unto His church, and the fourth one is found several places in the New Testament.
MATT. 28:16-20 gives us this commission from the Lord. and the first three purposes of the Lord's church.
(16)
"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain, where Jesus had appointed them."
(17)
"And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him: but some doubted."
(18)
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
(19)
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
(20)
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world."
We must establish first whom it was that our Lord was speaking unto here. Verse (16) describes them as the eleven disciples.
ICOR. 12:28 tells us that the first church members were the apostles, which also were the eleven disciples.
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."
So then if the first church members were the apostles, our Lord was speaking unto His church here in MATT.28:16-20.
In verses (19-20) we have His commission and the first three purposes for a church.
First the Lord said "Go ye therefore and teach all nations". This statement should means "go ye therefore and disciple all nations"
MARK 16:15 states it like this.
"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
We can see that the way to make disciples is to preach the gospel to people. This gospel, the good news of how that Christ died to pay for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day, is what God uses to the saving of souls.
ROMANS 1:16 speaks of it as the power of God.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Our first purpose as a church then is to preach the gospel, to tell everyone that salvation is in Christ and in Him alone. This is to be our first love.
In REVELATIONS 2:4-5 Our Lord told the church at Ephesis that because they had left this first love, the love for spreading the gospel, that they would no longer be His church, the light of the world.
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
Does your church have a desire to see souls saved? Are the majority of the members of your church willing to sacrifice time to take the gospel to those around them? Are they willing to live differently, to live a godly and holy life in order that they might be a witness to those around them?
If your church is not genuinely concerned about seeing souls saved, and not just in seeing more church members, then your church may not be the Lord's church. Do you have more joy from seeing a soul saved than you do in seeing a new church member? If not you are in a bad spiritual condition. Really now, are we concerned about lost sinners going to hell or are we concerned about impressing those about us, with our ability to gain a following?
The main purpose of a church should be to see souls saved, or at least to take the gospel to everyone, and tell them of the wonderful savior that died for their sins.
In ICOR. 1:17 the apostle Paul, said this was what he was called to do.
"For Christ sent me not do baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of  words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
We become so wrapped up in our social activities at our churches, and in entertaining and having a larger crowd than the group down the road that we often fail to tell even those who attend our churches how to be saved.
ROMANS 10:14 tells us that they need to hear the gospel.
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Even if your church gives a great deal of money to missionaries and even if your pastor does a fine job of spreading the gospel, you need to be telling those you deal with, about the one who died for your sins.
The Second purpose of the Lord's church is found also in MATT. 28:19 where we are told "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
No one in the bible other than John the Baptist was ever sent from God to baptize.
JOHN 1:6 & 33 tells us of John being sent to baptize.
(6)
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John"
now look at (vs 33) where John is speaking.
(33)
"And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
Now after Jesus called out His church, they were all baptized by John.
Here in Matt.28:19, John has already died, and our Lord gave this authority to baptize unto his local church. No pastor has the authority to baptize, that authority lies within the Lord's church. I can only baptize you if you are saved, and the local church authorizes me to act in their behalf.
It is not nearly as important what preacher did the actual baptizing as it is, by what authority did he do it?
Some preachers claim that they have this authority from God. But I challenge anyone to show me where the bible tells any preacher to baptize, and prohibits anyone else even if they are saved.
While there is a need for proper authority in the matter of baptism, we must note here that churches are commanded to not only make disciples but also to baptize them, once we have made them.
On one extreme today we have some who are only interested in going from place to place preaching the gospel, and never stopping to instruct those whom the Lord saves, while on the other extreme some are over eager to baptize great numbers and are not concerned about seeing them saved.
When the Lord blesses us to see a soul saved we are commanded in MATT. 28:19 to baptize that disciple, and this comes by teaching the necessity of baptism.
Why is being baptized into the membership of one of the Lord's scriptural organized churches so important?
Because baptism is the first step in following the Lord after you have been saved.
Baptism shows to those around you that you are saved.
ROMANS 6:4 explains that baptism is a picture of what Christ has done for us.
"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Baptism therefore is a public statement that God has given us grace to repent and believe the gospel, and that Christ has died for our sins.
ICOR. 12:13 tells us that baptism places us in the body of Christ.
"For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been made to drink into one Spirit."
EPH 1:22-23 shows us what the body of Christ is.
"And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head of all things to the church,"
"Which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all."
So we can see from these scriptures that when we are added to the body of Christ through baptism, that we then become members of the Lord’s church.
The Lord's church, or the body of Christ is not made up of all saved people, but only of those whom God has saved and then caused to submit to scriptural baptism by the authority of one of the Lord's churches.
EPH. 3:21 tells all saved people that if they desire to give glory to God in their lives, they must do it in and through one of the Lord's churches.
"Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
The reason that baptism by the authority of a scriptural church is the first step in serving the Lord after that a person has been saved, is that scriptural baptism by the proper authority makes you a member of one of the Lord's local visible churches, which is the only way to give glory unto God.
Then the THIRD purpose for a church is found in MATT. 28:20.
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..."
What about the church where you attend. Do they place great emphasis upon the teaching of God's word? Or is the Word of God placed on the sidelines, while other things are emphasized?
Music is good to have in our churches, but can we really claim to be teaching them to observe all things when three fourths of our services is music and only one forth is preaching?
Is your pastor concerned about teaching the word, even if most people become offended by it, or is he more concerned about keeping everyone happy? If your pastor will avoid certain portions of God's word, because he is afraid someone will be offended, you need either a new pastor, or you need to ask the Lord to lead you to a bible teaching church.
Does your pastor take certain portions of scriptures, which condemn common practices of today, and declare them to be isolated scriptures, or scriptures, which do not apply, to our times? If he does, he has no intention of teaching you God's word, but merely wants to collect his pay each week.
Notice what II TIM.3:16 has to say about these so-called isolated scriptures.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
Pastors, don't ever be guilty of not believing all scripture. If certain portions are not of God, then how can you trust any of the Bible?
The FOURTH purpose of a church is found in ICOR. 10:31
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.






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