The Perfected Church--For What Purpose?

The Perfected Church--For What Purpose? The Perfected Church — For What Purpose?
C. A. Norred The full statement of the question as originally assigned to me was, “The Perfected Church—For What Purpose? Does it exist to save itself?—or to save others?” All this reveals that the question is specific in that it presents the church to our view for the purpose of inquiring if the church should be satisfied with its own existence or should endeavor to save others. With any Bible student the answer to the question embraced in this query is obvious. Manifestly, therefore, the purpose of the in' quiry is not to elicit the correct reply but to direct attention to the solid reasons upon which that reply rests. Hence I shall merely present some solid reasons why the church should be active in saving others.

1. The duty of the church to save others grows out of the second great commandment of the law, and the cardinal principle of human relations, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Why should we have compassion on the unfortunate? Because He who shaped us, so made us that our hearts will go out to those who are in distress. I once read a lecture in which the speaker was picturing a man who owned a lumberyard on the flood-swollen river in which his neighbors were drowning and who was unwilling to cast in a board for their succor until he was paid for his material. Surely such a thing is unthinkable. In this present year, as great floods have swept parts of our country, our hearts have been made to rejoice in seeing how the hearts of the people responded to the call of distress. Even so should our hearts go out to those who are being swept away by the flood of sin. Even the Golden Rule requires it. This kindly impulse to help those who are lost in sin will all the more express itself in efforts toward salvation as we discern that those outside Christ are lost. They are lost—lost now, and to the future. I mean by this that they are now under condemnation and separated from the consolations and delights of true religion, and furthermore, they have no assurance of the salvation ready to be revealed at the last time. I am afraid we just fail to realise what it means to be lost. And I am constrained to believe that just in proportion as we realise the horrors of damnation we shall find ourselves driven to save the lost.

2. And this impulse will be given impetus as we realise that in this particular we are under divine command. The language of the Lord is, “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20.) And we shall catch the signify cance of this command when we discern that the gospel is the only thing which can save the lost. Jesus declared, “No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Everyone that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.” This expressly teaches that men can not be saved except as they receive the gospel. It is understandable then why we are commanded to give the gospel to the lost. Just in proportion as we withhold the gospel from the lost we make it impossible for them to be saved.

3. And the duty of the church to save others is impressed upon us in the example of the church of the Apostolic age.

First, this activity of the early church is set forth in the labors of the individual members of the body of Christ. (Acts 8:4.) Then again I read of this individual activity in Acts 18:26. And still again I read of it in 1 Peter 3:1-2.

Second, I find this activity set forth in the labors of a congregation. (Php_4:15.) In individual activity and in congregational capacity the church of the New Testament times binds upon us the work of saving the Lost.

Hence, the duty of the church today to engage in the work of saving the lost is bound upon us by considerations we shall surely find ourselves unable to ignore: it is impressed upon us by the example of the church of the New Testament times; it is bound upon us by divine command; and it is the natural, expression of an impulse divinely created within our hearts. Surely then if we stand idly by while others go down to everlasting death we sacrifice even the attributes of humanity and certainly forfeit the right to think of ourselves as members of His Body.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Give the full meaning of the subject of this address.
2. Just how is the 2nd great commandment a reason for a Christian desiring the salvation of others?
3. Show the importance of our realizing the terrible plight of the lost.
4. Discuss the Christian’s obligation to the lost.
5. Prove that the early church was active in seeking to save the lost.