By Daniel Haynes
As the Lord’s church our sole purpose is to glorify God. In other words, the church is the vehicle through which God is glorified. Ephesians 3:20-21 says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Now as the Lord’s church we seek to fulfill this purpose by carrying out three missions given by our Lord. First, the church must evangelize. Mark 16:15-16 says, “And he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’” Second, the church must be edified. Jude 20-21 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” And third, the church must practice benevolence toward all people. Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Under the umbrella of these three missions, we discover that the church must contend for the faith (Jude 3). Paul said, “I am put here for the defense of the gospel” (Philippians 1:16). And again, he said, “Be imitators of me” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Satan and his deceitful workmen seek to undermine the eternal significance of the church by purporting that the church was some sort of “PLAN B,” due to the preponderance of Jews opposing Jesus’ message (cf. Matthew 4:17). The church of Christ is not an afterthought; it is not an audible at the line of scrimmage, and those who propound this insidious doctrine bring reproach upon themselves, and blaspheme the only true and living God. Let this quibble be forever settled by the words of the apostle Paul, “So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11). Paul, in the Spirit, affirms that the church of Christ is God’s eternal purpose and it was realized, that is, it was built and bought by the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 16:18-19; Acts 20:28).
A careful perusal of the Old Covenant reveals replete prophecies of the coming church of Christ. The book of Isaiah says, “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:1-4). Let the reader understand that many of the Old Testament prophecies are purposefully veiled, (which as a side-note is a stark contrast to the Book of Mormon— see 1 Nephi 10:4-8; 13:26-29; 14:27), however, the New Testament removes the veil. This is why it is correct to say that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and conversely, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Alone Isaiah’s prophecy appears to be a mystery, but with the detective help of the New Testament, the mystery is revealed. It is no coincidence that Isaiah speaks of the coming kingdom as originating in Jerusalem, and that Luke, an inspired writer of the New Testament, confirms that the church of Christ had its inception in Jerusalem (cf. Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-47), the reason being, Isaiah had in mind the establishment of the house of the Lord, the church (cf. 1 Timothy 3:15).
In all things, extremes must be avoided and proper balance must be maintained. Do not be deceived, there is always a correct interpretation of Scripture (cf. Luke 10:25-28), and some being ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). Knowing that the church was God’s eternal purpose, and that the message of the church was breathed into the minds of the prophets by the Spirit of God (cf. 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) , we ought to give all the more diligence to respecting, honoring, and endeavoring to fulfill the eternal purpose of the church of Christ!