Beth-El Baptist Church
07/2/06
Greg Tomlinson
Why is the function of the Local Church to teach obedience?
Over the last couple of meetings we have been looking at the function of the church. As we looked at the commission of the church in Matthew 28:18-20 there were four distinct functions identified by Jesus. The first was the recognition of Jesus’ authority. The second was to make disciples. The third was to baptize. The fourth was to teach them to obey.
1. Why is obedience important?
Deuteronomy 4:40
Matthew 7:21-27; 12:50
Luke 6:46-49
John 14:15; 15:10
1 John 2:3-5; 3:22-24; 5:1-3
Obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ, of God, is a strong indicator of being a Christian. The man that refuses to desire to keep the commandments of God could be deceiving himself.
2. Why obey, since I am eternally safe and secure can’t I do anything that I want to?
Romans 5:20-6:2
1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23-24
Galatians 5:19-23
Ephesians 4:19-20
Colossians 2:13-14
1 John 2:15-19
Revelation 2:9; 3:9
While it is true that a Christian can do anything that he wants to without losing their salvation, the mark of a Christian is not lascivious or sinful living but a desire to edify and encourage others. We are called to live for Jesus Christ. We are to live to edify and encourage the brethren. The Christian who loves the things of the world and lives according to his own standards may very well be living a life of self-deception. We cannot love the world, its things, its attitudes and values and expect to be honored and loved by God the father.
3. Does the church have a short list of the do’s and don’ts?
2 Corinthians 3:6-7
Galatians 2:21
Romans 4:3-5
Salvation is not by legalistically obeying any laws. There is no list of do’s and don’ts for if there were, then there would be a “Christian Law” which would not lead to freedom but death and condemnation. Obedience to God is by faith and by the heart.
4. What exactly should the church teach?
Act 20:27-29
1 Timothy 4:16
Isaiah 28:9-10
Matthew 7:28-29
Mark 1:14-15; 4:11-12, 7:6-14; 10:15
Luke 4:4, 43; 5:1; 8:10-21; 11:28
Acts 1:3; 4:31; 6:2; 8:12,
14; 9:2, 11, 60; 11:1; 13:5, 7, 44-47; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23-31
Proverbs 30:5
The church has only one real thing to teach. The church is to teach the “word of God” and “the kingdom of god”. Nothing else is of any real importance.
5. What exactly is the Word of God?
John 1:1-4, 14; 5:39
1 John 1:1-3
Acts 28:31 cmp 1 Corinthians 2:2
The Word of God is Jesus Christ. He is our only message. He is the only savior. He is the focus and the purpose of all of scripture. Therefore we are to teach all of the scripture with the aim of using the scriptures to show people Jesus Christ. The Old Testament lays the groundwork for the coming of Jesus, and the New Testament shows how Jesus fulfilled the full righteousness of the Old Testament and of God.
6. What exactly is the Kingdom of God?
Matthew 27:11
John 18:33-38
Acts 17:7
Romans 8:34
Ephesians 1:20
Colossians 3:1
Hebrews 1:1-4; 12:2
The kingdom of God is nothing more than teaching that Jesus is to be Lord and King over your life. He is the King of the Kingdom of God. He is ultimately the kingdom itself
When all is
said and done, the Church has only one real job to do. The church is to
proclaim Jesus, his death, burial, resurrection, eternal reigning in our lives
and in the world. This is done by teaching from the Old and New Testaments the
truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done.