The Work of the Church

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12). The purpose of Christ's death, we are told, was "that He might bring us to God" (I Pet. 3:18). So is the church's work cut out for and assigned to it. That work is to bring people to God through the Son, and build them up in Him. Thus declares the text printed above. To equip the church for that ministry was why the Lord "ascended up far above all heavens." It was that "He might fill all things" (Eph. 4:10). Thus, it is written that the saints are "builded together" in the church "for an habitation of God through the Spmt" (ch. 2:21-22). "I will dwell in them, and walk m them," says God (II Cor. 6:16). Reincamated in the church, the Father and the Son will manifest Themselves to and function m the world. To the extent that the church lacks this concept of its mission, it has been blinded by Satan, the god of this world. The church is not a mere religious club, whose primary function is to recruit members to itself, and have a good time together in the flesh. It is God's habitation through the Spirit. Hence, it is to be unvaryingly God-centered. In the measure that it departs from that mission, the church has become corrupted by the spirit of the world, which is that of its adversary, the Devil. --Fred O. Blakely