What is the church's mission in the world?
The church exists to make disciples of Jesus and to be, before the watching world, the people of God: witnesses to Christ, salt of the earth, lights in a dark place. The risen Lord gave the mission Himself, and the Spirit supplies its power. We speak the gospel with words and adorn it with lives that make those words believable.
This question arose from studying Where is Jesus now? and What is the church?.
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The study
What the Scripture says
The mission comes from the risen King
After His resurrection, Jesus gathered His disciples and sent them out: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and 'teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you.' The church does not invent its own assignment; it receives one from its Lord, who closes it with the promise, 'Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'
Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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. Amen.
Its power is the Spirit, not persuasion
'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses.' The disciples wanted to know about restoring the kingdom; Jesus redirected them to power for witness. The church speaks about Christ everywhere, from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the earth, only as the Spirit empowers it.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.”And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Every believer is an ambassador
'We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us.' The ministry of reconciliation is not delegated to professionals; God makes His appeal through ordinary Christians who beg others, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.
We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Salt and light in plain sight
Jesus calls His people 'the salt of the earth' and 'the light of the world,' a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Good works are not the gospel, but they are its evidence and advertisement: they are seen 'that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.' Peter echoes it: conduct among the nations can silence slander and bring glory to God.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
A chosen people with a proclaiming purpose
'You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession,' and the next clause gives the reason: 'that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.' Even everyday speech carries the mission: 'Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.'
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
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How do I share my faith with others?→Our Walk with Him trail“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”How does God judge people who never heard of Jesus?→Who We Are trail“For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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. Amen.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
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