Our Purpose For Being
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-10
Text: 1 Peter 2:9
1 Peter 2:9 - “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”
Introduction:
It is important for any group to know and understand their “purpose for being”. For example, the Boy Scouts of America (to help young boys become useful and productive citizens); the Historical Society (to locate and preserve buildings and/or objects, etc. which were an important part of our history); as well as others.
This is especially true of the Church of Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father, should produce within each of us an awareness of who and what He wants us to be under the headship of Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The Church must be more than a social club; more than an entertainment center. And the Holy Scriptures are quite plain in revealing to us what our “purpose for being” is.
God instituted the Church and left it on the Earth for one purpose, which can be divided into three aspects; Exalting the Savior, Edifying the Saints, and Evangelizing the Sinners. (Note text - “..ye are....that ye should...”).
I. Exalting The Savior.
A. The Scripture.
Psalm 107:32 “Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.”
Psalm 34:3 - “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
Psalm 29:2 - “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
B. The Sense.
1. Exalt - (Webster) - “To elevate or lift up with joy, pride, or confidence; To praise highly.”
2. We must always exalt Christ to the Throne of our heart, making Him and His will top priority. Christ is to have first place in our lives (Matt. 6:33). How can we do this?
C. The Strategy.
1. By praise-
Psalm 22:23 - “Ye that fear the Lord, praise him;.... glorify him; and fear him,...”
a. Continually.
Hebrews 13:15 - “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
b. In Song.
Psalm 9:11 - “Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.”
c. With Music.
Psalm 33:2 - “Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.”
2. By Good Works.
Matthew 5:16 - “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
3. By Fruit Bearing.
John 15:8 - “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
4. By Spiritual Unity.
Romans 15:6 - “....with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
5. By Entire Consecration.
1 Cor. 6:20 - “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
6. Our Commitment.
Isaiah 25:1 - “O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
II. Edifying The Saints.
A. The Scripture.
Romans 14:19 - “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
1 Thes. 5:11 - “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
1 Cor. 14:26 - “...Let all things be done unto edifying.”
B. The Sense.
1. Edify - (Webster) - “To build or construct; to instruct and improve in moral and religious knowledge, or in faith and holiness.”
2. (Vine) - “Promoting the spiritual growth and development of character of the believers, by teaching and example.”
C. The Strategy.
1. Through Spiritual Gifts.
Ephes. 4:11-14 - “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
2. Through Love.
Ephes. 4:15-16 - “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
1 Cor. 8:1 - “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”
3. Through Sympathy for the Weak.
Romans 15:1-6 - “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. ...... Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. Through Prophesying (Preaching).
1 Cor. 14:3 - “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
5. Through Church Authority.
2 Cor. 10:8 - “For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:”
6. Through All We Do.
2 Cor. 12:19 - “....but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.”
7. The purpose of the Church on Earth is to edify believers “til He comes”.
8. Our Commitment.
Romans 14:19 - “(I will) therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith (I) may edify another.”
III. Evangelizing The Sinners.
A. The Scripture.
Matthew 28:19-20 - “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.”
B. The Sense.
1. Evangelize - (Webster) - “To preach the Gospel to, and convert; to instruct in the Gospel.”
C. The Strategy.
1. By Holy Ghost Power.
Acts 1:8 - “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both........unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
2. By Preaching.
1 Cor. 1:21 - “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
3. Without Shame or Fear.
2 Tim. 1:8 - “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”
4. By Being Always Ready to Witness.
1 Peter 3:15 - “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:”
5. Without Ceasing.
Isaiah 62:6 - “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,”
6. Our Commitment.
Romans 1:15 - “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach (be a witness of) the gospel to you that are at Rome also (wherever I have opportunity).”
Conclusion:
It is important to note that the different aspects of our purpose for being interact with, and interrelate to, each other.
Exalting the Savior will both edify the believer and promote the evangelization of the lost.
Edifying the Saints will both exalt the Savior and influence the evangelization of sinners.
Evangelizing the Sinners will both exalt the Savior and also edify the Saints.
May the Lord help each of us to make Exalting the Savior, Edifying the Saints, and Evangelizing the Sinners a continuing lifestyle until He comes again
with great rewards for the faithful laborer.
