1. The Mission of the Church Part 4
Ecclesiology
The Mission of the Church
Part 4

2. Propagation
The household of God (a family) is synonymous with the church which has an ongoing relationship with the living God, is called upon to support the truth. (1 Tim. 3:15)

4. The church does not establish the truth
The church does not establish the truth. God has already done that by means of the Bible, the revelation of God. Everything we know about truth, we derive from Scripture. Truth stands alone, independent of human opinion.

5. The mission of the church is to support the truth
The mission of the church is to support the truth. Scripture does not restrain the church from any legitimate methodology. The printed page along with various forms of the media can and ought to be utilized to communicate the Word of God both inside and outside the local church. Preaching is primary. (1 Cor. 1:18-21; 2 Tim. 4:2)
Consistent witness and testimony of the gospel to the unsaved is an integral part of sustaining the truth in a godless age.

6. There is a fresh need in every generation articulate the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3) This includes answering the challenges to the faith. (Phil. 1:12-17 ) The church must answer the critics, identify the heretics, and contend for pure doctrine. (1 Tim. 4:1-16)
The fearless and faithful proclamation of truth by every means possible is the mission of the church!

7. Preservation
That our world is ripe for cataclysmic judgement is apparent to any thinking person and particularly obvious to students of Bible prophecy. Two things prevent the full expression of God’s wrath upon the earth. The first is the effect of God’s people.

9. Jesus does not say that “ye will be the salt of the earth
Jesus does not say that “ye will be the salt of the earth.” He announces that they already are the salt of the earth. Salt acts as a preservative. Since ancient times it has been recognized that the properties of salt hold back corruption whether applied to meat or vegetable. The old expression, salt in a wound actually finds its source in the practice of applying salt to a fresh wound to prevent infection.

10. Evil exists and continues to exist in spite of our presence
Evil exists and continues to exist in spite of our presence. What we do is hinder the progress of evil. We are the blocking action that prevents the evil from having full sway. Every time a believer exerts godly influence in this world, he hinders the progress of the devil.

11. Grammar indicates that we are presently light
Grammar indicates that we are presently light. Believers are not light because they shine. They shine because they are light. What is darkness except the absence of light? Light is something. Light is a pattern of energy proceeding from a source. Darkness is the absence of something or nothing. The brighter the light, the greater the difference from the darkness; the darkness accentuates the presence of the light. Jesus does not say that our light should not be hidden. He plainly states that it cannot be hidden!

12. Light accomplishes two purposes
Light accomplishes two purposes. It accentuates truth and exposes error, both of which help to restrain evil in the world. There is coming a day when the restraint will be removed. (2 Th. 2:1-12) Ultimately the hinderer to the program of the devil is the Holy Spirit who dwells in the bodies of believers. Paul indicates that when the saints are gathered together to Christ, the restraint will be removed from the earth concurrent with the Rapture of the church.

13. The church has a mission. It is multifaceted and complex
The church has a mission. It is multifaceted and complex. Local churches do not get to choose which aspects of the New Testament mission they want to engage. Every church is to be busy in every aspect of the mission. This requires tremendous focus as well as surrender on the part of God’s people. Christ poses a somber question, Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8) The answer to that question is yes. Until Jesus comes there will be remnant of faithful believers congregated in local churches doing the work to which they have been called.