FOUR PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH By Adrian L. Varlack Sr. Church Historian/CBL Instructor FOUR PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTORY NOTES I believe that the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) exists in these last days for certain specific, God-given purposes. After 100 plus years (1903-2011) we are able to discern with clarity/certainty some of these purposes during the present transition process. I hope that the four purposes as identified and briefly defined below will be a blessing to each of us.

THE FIRST PURPOSE To CORRECT some failures in the great work of the Reformers, failures in emphases and priority of certain doctrines and in the formation of the historical church in her existence under guidance and supervision of the Holy Ghost (This serves as an adjustment to the historical currents in which the church universal as keeper and promoter of the Gospel and of God’s Truth)

THE SECOND PURPOSE To RESTORE among God’s people (the Kingdom of God) a spirit of searching for the biblical principles, practices, and example of the Early Church as evidenced in the Book of Acts and in the Epistles and in Early Church history nearest the times of the Apostles (This serves to re-establish the supreme importance of the written Word of God for the Church, within the Church, as a link to the apostles)

THE THIRD PURPOSE To RECOGNIZE the spiritual and practical need for the Church to intentionally re-establish her dependence upon the Holy Spirit and His role and work in the Church and in the world (This serves to identify the Church as a spiritual and social community of the living God, a real community of a different kind where God dwells in the midst of His people as their central Focus and Life)

THE FOURTH PURPOSE To DEVELOP or FORM this specific group of believers or section of His Kingdom into a people collectively obedient and responsive to Him and to His Word (This collective obedience is one of the objectives of the Spirit’s work in the COGOP and also in the larger Kingdom among those churches seeking to be faithful to Him and to His Word rightly divided)

THE LATENT GOAL The latent goal subsumed/reflected in the preceding four purposes is to continue developing a people that is international, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-social, but truly God-centered; a diverse people spiritually united in their love and worship of God yet visibly observable as a holy nation separate from the nations but among them non the less, as the true People of God.

THE LATENT GOAL United in Christ in an invisible sense, the Church’s visible reality and presence among the nations will serve to demonstrate the true power of the Gospel as certification of the Father’s response to His Son’s prayer in John 17:20-23, that the world may see and believe on the Son as being sent from God. This visible reality as the People of God is for the glory of God as a sign of hope in the world.

FOUR HISTORICAL WORDS CORRECTION: God is always correcting His Church – The Church’s response? Acceptance! RESTORATION: God is always restoring vital principles to His Church – The Church’s response? Implementation! RECOGNITION: God presses the Church to recognize the Spirit’s role – The Church’s response? Submission!

FOUR HISTORICAL WORDS DEVELOPMENT: God expects the collective obedience of His people as they are formed and called out in this world. God aims for the Church to become a truly God-fearing nation, His own historical model or example, a people that show forth His praises or virtues – The Church’s response? Cooperation!