Matt. 16:13-18 – “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  14. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.â€?

First we must see the mission of the church on the earth today.

The general concept is that the church is here to make this world a better place to live.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  The mission of the church is to testify against this world.  To preach the Gospel of grace to a lost and dying world.  To declare to the world that it will never be better until Jesus brings order out of chaos and peace out of turmoil.

According to Paul in the inspired Word, the world will grow progressively worse instead of better. II Tim. 3:1-5, 13 – “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.â€?   Vs. 13 – “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.â€?  Matt. 24:37-39 – “As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.â€?

Any thinking person knows that there is more sin and ungodliness abroad in the land today than ever in the history of mankind.