Mission of the Church
2 Corinthians 4:13 – “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written (Psalm 116:10), I believe, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak…..”
To preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things that the Lord commanded His Disciples.
Matthew 28:19-20
God’s mission plan of salvation for mankind has always been in His heart from before the foundation of the world. In His infinite wisdom and foreknowledge He saw the church as being the vehicle to accomplish this mission. After He had risen from the dead and revealed Himself many times to His disciples, He gave them the great commission saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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 always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20).
We notice that before Jesus had risen and given this commandment that He had sent out seventy of His followers whom He appointed. He sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest (Luke 10:1-2).
The church has been commissioned by the Lord to be a witness to the world to bring the light of the gospel so that whoever repents and believes can be brought out of darkness into the light and kingdom of His dear Son. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 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? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things (Romans 10:13-15)!
In the prayer of the Lord Jesus He said these words, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:18). “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20).
Paul instructed Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5). Likewise, although we may not be evangelists we are called to the work of an evangelist and bring the good news of the gospel to the lost. Jesus came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them (Luke 9:56).
The Lord in His commission places an emphasis on teaching once a person has given their life to Jesus. He says that we must teach all nations, teaching them to observe all the things that the Lord had taught them. So an essential part of the church mission is to disciple new believers, so that they can grow and become effective members in the Body of Christ with the hope of the resurrection as their goal. When we see Him we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2)!