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.

Christ did not come to make things better as far as this old world is concerned, but rather to make a new man and bring about a new creation. Eph. 2:15 – “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace.â€?  II Cor. 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.â€?

The command of God Almighty to pastors, teachers, missionaries, and evangelists is to preach the Word.  This then means the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  To tell man of his sinfulness and of the righteousness of God.  To tell them of His marvelous mercy.

The message of the church is to tell the world of the salvation of the Lord.  The church is not in the world to get rid of the slums, clean up politics, or lift society to a higher plane, but to turn mankind to Jesus Christ.

Oh we live in a day when it seems more important to have numbers, big buildings and good reports at associational meetings than rescuing the perishing.  The church must not fail to proclaim the Gospel that warns of the wages of sin.  We need to proclaim the truth that when sin is finished it brings forth death.  We need to warn as did Paul in

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.

Christ did not come to make things better as far as this old world is concerned, but rather to make a new man and bring about a new creation. Eph. 2:15 – “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace.â€?  II Cor. 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.â€?

The command of God Almighty to pastors, teachers, missionaries, and evangelists is to preach the Word.  This then means the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  To tell man of his sinfulness and of the righteousness of God.  To tell them of His marvelous mercy.

The message of the church is to tell the world of the salvation of the Lord.  The church is not in the world to get rid of the slums, clean up politics, or lift society to a higher plane, but to turn mankind to Jesus Christ.

Oh we live in a day when it seems more important to have numbers, big buildings and good reports at associational meetings than rescuing the perishing.  The church must not fail to proclaim the Gospel that warns of the wages of sin.  We need to proclaim the truth that when sin is finished it brings forth death.  We need to warn as did Paul in Gal. 6:6-8 – “Be not deceived: God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.â€?

The church is not in the world to entertain people with carnivals, bazaars, fairs, fish-fries, bingo, and dances in the church basement.  God help us to be delivered from the program of man and get back to the program of the Spirit of God and the New Testament Church as God intended it to be.

The church is in the world to throw out the life line to those who have been wrecked, robbed and ruined by sin.

The church is not in the world to entertain people with carnivals, bazaars, fairs, fish-fries, bingo, and dances in the church basement.  God help us to be delivered from the program of man and get back to the program of the Spirit of God and the New Testament Church as God intended it to be.

The church is in the world to throw out the life line to those who have been wrecked, robbed and ruined by sin.