February 24, 2002

Why Did Jesus Build His Church?

Introduction: Why do people go to church? For comfort. For friendship. For programs for our children. We like the music. We like the architecture. We like the atmosphere. No doubt it is an important purpose of the Church to provide a safe haven for Christ's sheep. But Jesus planned for much more than that. He wants the Church to be on a mission. Let's look at the Bible together to see why Jesus built His Church....

Why did Jesus build His Church?

I. To be His hands and feet in the world.

A. The Church is the Body of Christ.
1 Cor 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

B. We are called to lend a helping hand, just as the good Samaritan did.

C. We are called to be salt and light by how we live. Matthew 5:14-16:

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

D. Missions of charity have had a great impact in bring millions to Christ.

II. To be His militant, aggressive Salvation Army.

A. The organization we know as "The Salvation Army" was founded by William Booth in England in 1865 for "...the spiritual, moral and physical reformation of all who need it; the reclamation of the vicious, criminal, dissolute and degraded; visitation among the poor and lowly and sick; the preaching of the Gospel and the dissemination of Christian truth." (Collier's Encyclopedia) But the entire Church is really Jesus' Salvation Army.

B. The USA sometimes goes to war to liberate oppressed peoples: WW2 to save Europe and the Far East from the dictatorships of Hitler and Tojo. The cold war to save the world from Communism. We have liberated Afghanistan from the cruel Taliban. Even so, we are caught up in a spiritual war. Jesus made the Church to rescue people from the gates of Hades (Matt. 16:18-19):

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Paul wrote Timothy to act as a soldier for Christ: 2 Tim 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."

C. When we win people to Christ, we are fighting to rescue them from the gates of Hades, from death and Hell. The soul without Christ is a dead soul. The person who receives Christ as Savior is rescued from death, and given eternal life. The imagery of Matthew 16 pictures the Church as an army storming the gates of a surrounded city. Death has been surrounded by Jesus and His saints. We are battling against it, and defeating it, and rescuing many souls from death. The gates of death are being beaten down, and will someday be utterly destroyed by our Commander in Chief. God and life SHALL conquer Satan and death, and we have a part in that battle.

III. To be His preachers (Mark 16:15).

A. The "Keys of the Kingdom" mentioned in Matthew 16 is the Spirit-filled preaching of God's Word.

1. Peter opened the door to the Kingdom to the Jews on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14, 38-41).

2. Peter turned the key in the door for the Gentiles when he preached to the Roman Centurian Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48).

B. We are called not only to live the Gospel, but also to speak the Gospel. We are Jesus' ambassadors. 2 Cor 5:20 "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."

C. We have many effective ways to preach the Gospel: One on one. Preaching in churches. Preaching city-wide crusades. Events like "Christian night" at River Bend in Chattanooga. Literature. Radio and television. Evangelism around the world is very effective and bearing much fruit. It is our goal to preach the Gospel to every living man, woman and child in every nation on earth.

Conclusion: Why did Jesus make the Church? We are more than a mutual admiration society. He did not organize us just so we could circle the wagons and take care of ourselves. He made us to reach the world. We are salt and light. We are His liberation army. We are his preachers and ambassadors. May God give each of us a fresh enthusiasm to support missions, and spread the Gospel around the world. Amen.