The Gospel - 24/7

FUNCTIONS OF THE CHURCH By the late Dr. B. F. Dearmore, Long a Leader Among Real, Bible Believing Direct Missions Independent Baptists, and Father of the Webmaster Copyright 2001 by James H. Dearmore, Garland, Texas Permission granted to print copy for own use.

Chapter 3

I. GO is the first function of the church.

Matthew 28:19 says: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Go where? Acts 1:8 answers that question thus: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

This is to say: go to Jerusalem (hometown or area), Judea (native country), Samaria (neighboring countries) and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

For what purpose? Clearly, the purpose is to witness for and of Christ (Acts 1:8), and to make believers or disciples (Matthew 28:19).

How can I go to the uttermost parts of the earth? As a part of the Church of the Great Commission we can go by sending preachers. The Bible tells us this plainly.

Romans 10:14-15 --- "14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

In Acts 13 Paul and Barnabas were sent. There is a clear explanation of the matter of their calling by God, their approval by the Church, their ordination, and their being sent out directly by the Church. Then later, as we follow the story, we see that they came back and reported on their work to the Church as well.

1. By the church (verse 3)

2. By the Holy Ghost (verse 4)

God wants us to send men to home and foreign fields. They are to be led by the Holy Spirit.

II. The Second Function is to Make Disciples.

Teach all nations. Make believers and followers of Christ, Romans 10:14-15. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?"

III. The Third Function is to Baptize.

This third function of the church is "baptizing them (that is believers, those who have already been taught) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19).

This is a church function and not a "preacher function." It should be done by a preacher at the order of the church. The purpose of baptism is to picture the burial and resurrection of Christ, as seen in Romans 6:5: "...planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection."

IV. The Fourth Function of the Church.

After going after the unsaved, winning them to Christ, and baptizing them, we should teach them to "observe (do) all things whatsoever I (Christ) have commanded you."

Teach the scriptural truths about the Lord's Supper, tithing, service, visiting sick, missions, etc., until we have taught all things.

In this way we can have Christ with us "always, even unto the end of the world."