BAPTIST’S AND THEIR
Text:
“Then said
The resurrected
The Father sent his son into the world to
“seek and to save that which is lost.” This would be the basis of
That is the bottom line for the commission
of the New Testament Church. Those who do not carry out the Great Commission,
do not understand the Scriptural position of the church that
A. Adoration - For the Worship of God.
B. Betterment – the building up of the saints of God in the most holy faith
C. Commission – to proclaim the gospel – carry out the ordinances and plant churches of like faith and Order.
That my friends is
our commission in a nutshell – that is the mission of every true
Now let me break this down for you under three main headings and try to make plain the mission that our Lord has set up for His Baptist Churches.
1. OUR CALL TO WORSHIP:
2. OUR CARE OF THE
3. OUR COMMISSION TO THE WORLD AT LARGE:
1. OUR CALL TO WORSHIP:
Definition of Worship: “To worship means to reverence: In the Bible it is seen associated with such words as adoration, praise, prayer, preaching synagogue and temple.”
In
Someone has said, “we are called together to worship – we go forth to serve.” The question then is “what is worship?” Let us now look at the our subject – our call to worship -
A. Person of Worship: Philippians 3:3
“For we are the
circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in
1. Scripture encourages us to “worship God”.
“Then saith
2. Scripture directs us to the worship of the One True God and not to
worship other gods or idols. Exodus 20:3-5
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”
3. Scripture directs us to the worship of the triune God – Father-Son and Holy Spirit –
a) We should worship the Father – Hebrews 1:6
“And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”
Philippians
2:10-11
“That at the name of
And
that every tongue should confess that
See - Revelation 5:8-13.
b) We should worship
“And
c) The Holy Spirit is also God – 2 Corinthians 13:14
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
The
Holy Spirit is called seen as God in Scripture – He is called “the Spirit of
God”, “the Spirit of Christ” and the “Spirit
of
Genesis 1:2
“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Romans 8:9
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
Here the term Spirit of Christ is referring to the Spirit of God.
Philippians 1:19
“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
These are just some key references – but the Holy Spirit is also referred to with a personal pronoun “HE” and as well is called by many other names such as the “Spirit of the Lord”, the “Spirit of holiness” and the “Spirit of truth”.
4. We should never worship men – no holy man, no saint, no angel, no icon
or idol should be worshipped.
“And as
But
B. Power of Worship: The power or authority of worship in the New Testament Church is in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Scriptural
gathering is by the authority of
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
This verse is immediate followed by the Great Commission in
verses 19-20.
2.
The apostle
“In the name of our Lord
C.
Place of Worship: 1
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
I suggest that the place of worship is in the gathering of the New Testament Church body.
1. True
worship then ought to come from those who are Scripturally gathered by the
authority of
It is true that we can worship the Lord individually almost any place, but the acceptable place of worship is in the New Testament Church-
“Unto him be glory in the church by
The word “glory” is (Greek doxa) and means basically “exalted”. The
believer brings glory or exaltation to
2. The place of worship individually ought to be first and foremost in our hearts.
Romans 6:17
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
Ephesians 6:6
“Not with eyeservice, as
menpleasers; but as the servants of
1 Corinthians 6:20
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
3. Those in a Scriptural place of worship are the true worshippers of God.
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in
2. OUR CARE OF THE
1 Corinthians 3:9 – “For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
Definition of Building: “There are
several words in the Greek which are rendered as –Build-builder and building –
in the KJV. These three words are 1/ Oikodomeo – 2/ krisis – and 3/ Technites.
(endomesis –built , is used in Revelation 21:18). The word translated “building
in our text is “okodome”. This is the word translated “building” in Ephesians
2:21
“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.”
(Taken from W. E. Vine and
A.
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Ephesians 2:21
“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:”
Heb 9:11
“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;”
“But seek ye first the
1.
The
2.
The
3.
The
Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and peace
there shall be no end, upon the throne of
4.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
The spiritual kingdom
then would become a literal
B.
Kingdom-Church Relationship:
These are known generally as “the Kingdom Parables” and while they
relate directly to the
1.
2.
There is a spiritual building
of God’s kingdom contributed to the people of God and seen in the
3.
“And
4.
Beginning with the ministry of
John the Baptist who gave
“And
from the days of
Acts 8:1
“And
Acts 13:50
“But
the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the
city, and raised persecution against
Church
history is filled with martyrs for the cause of
5.
“And
he said unto them, I must preach the
6.
This preaching of the
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Of
the apostle
“Preaching
the
Colossians 4:11
“And
7.
The preaching of the gospel of
the
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
While this verse will be totally fulfilled in the tribulation period – nevertheless it began with John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the disciples, then Peter on the Day of Pentecost, the ministry of Paul and of all the churches in the church-age.
C. Kingdom in It’s Spiritual Aspect:
“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the
1. The
“
2. God’s kingdom was prepared
for His elect before the foundation of the world -
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”
3. We
notice the vast difference that
“For the
4.
“From that time
5.
“
See
6.
“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
7. That
“Now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
8.
It takes more than a religious
or verbal profession to enter the kingdom of God -
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
9.
The spiritual basis of the
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
10.
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
We have only scratched the surface of this subject but rest assured
that all aspects of the
3. OUR COMMISSION TO THE WORLD AT LARGE:
Definition: A commission is a charge, a commitment to, of which the one
receiving it is to be held responsible or accountable for its execution.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Someone has said, that when
There is no excuse and
“Then said
“And
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his
name among all nations, beginning at
Romans 15:20
“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where
Having seen these basic scriptures- we then ought to realize the importance the Word of God places upon the preaching of the Gospel. We will now look at this subject more closely –
A. PERSONAL INFLUENCE:
1. The
preaching of God’s word comes in various forms. Of course there is the verbal
form such as
1
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
2. The “Ye” of the Great Commission – “Go YE” – while this is a direct reference to the church, we must remember that the church is a many membered body (1 Corinthians 12) and in that sense, “Ye” means YOU! Every member of the church ought to be involved in the carrying out of the Great Commission. No one person can do everything, but together we can do more than we would do without you.
3.
Self centered Christians cannot
be
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
4.
1 Corinthians 9:16
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”
“You have heard of the gospel of
And that of
But what may I ask does the world around think of the gospel according to YOU?”
“You are the only Bible some people will ever read; we are the only
Unless they read God’s Word in our lives – and see
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
1
“Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.”
B. PROLIFIC OUTREACH:
1. This is evident by
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
2.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
3.
“But seek ye first the
5. In giving the Great Commission to the Church ( the apostles alone would not be able to carry it out to the end of the age) Jesus opened a revolving door as it were that perpetuates His Church to the end of the age.
a) “Go ye”
b) “teach (disciple) all nations”
c) “baptizing in water all those discipled”
d) “in the name (by authority of) the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
e) The extent of the commission –“always- even unto the end of the age.”
This can only be done as the discipled disciple others – or one
church starts another church. Those who oppose the mother-daughter relationship
of churches oppose themselves and open the door to “Baptist Popery” and mongrel
type churches. Self-constituted churches have no authority from
6. The principle of fruit-bearing as seen in Genesis chapter one, is carried on in the spiritual realm of begetting New Testament Churches.
“Everyone after its kind” – Catholic, Protestant, Interdenominational, and so-called nondenominational churches are not constituted after the kind that Christ instituted and commissioned, even though they may adhere to some resemblance of truth.
7.
In writing to the seven
churches of Asia-Minor,
He came to his last remaining apostle,
C.
PARTICULAR OUTREACH:
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
Finally we will look at the “Particular Outreach” of New Testament Baptist Churches in their mission –
1. Pastors are the
under-shepherds of
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
1
“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
1
“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
2. Acts 20:28 – The duty of shepherds (pastors or overseers of the flock)
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
Shepherds are to take care of themselves that they feed the sheep –
The Holy Spirit has made them overseers and they are accountable to God. The
sheep are precious because they were purchased with the blood of
Shepherds feed the sheep – the sheep bear lambs – give wool – even lamb-chops and mutton. (in other word they produce of themselves)
The flock (church) is therefore to re-produce after its kind. Sheep produce sheep, not goats!
4. The New Testament Church is responsible for sending and supporting missionaries. The Jerusalem Church spread to other cities- particularly we read of the Church in Antioch being recognized by the Church in Jerusalem - Acts 11:19-20
“Now they which were scattered
abroad upon the persecution that arose about
And
some of them were men of
Acts 11:22
“Then
tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in
5.
This is further established as
we read about Barnabus bringing the apostle
“And when he had found him, he brought him unto
6.
Barnabus and
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
As they ministered to the
Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
So they, being sent forth by
the Holy Ghost, departed unto
7.
Barnabus and
“And thence sailed to
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
And there they abode long time with the disciples.”
Barnabus and
8. Churches co-operated with sister churches or churches of like faith and practice in doing mission work as well as benevolent work for the church in Jerusalem – 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
“Moreover, brethren, we
do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
(Read the entire seventh a eighth chapters)
9.
We read that the Church in
Philippians 4:16-19
“For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
But
my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by
No
one has a right to claim the promise of Philippians 4:19 who is not
involved in the mission program of their church. This promise when read within
its context is for workers –not shirkers - for those who are living by giving
for the cause of
Conclusion:
For
lack of space and time – we have not mentioned the outreach of New Testament
Churches, of the establishing of new churches and their confirmation in the
faith. Of the care of
Our forefathers have led the way, even
in martyrdom for the cause of God and
Let
us be determined to continue the work they gave of themselves to do. Our
sacrifice could well be no different than theirs but the words of
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Message preached
by
Founder’s Day Service
Sunday afternoon- November
27th 2005