Why We Exist (The Church)

WHY WE EXIST

(The Church’s Mission Statement)

(Matt. 16:17-18; NKJV) – “…Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. [18] And, I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church; and, the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

- Corporations bombard us daily with advertisements that well-establish why they exist…McDonald’s, Wendy’s = hamburgers and fries; Dominoes, Papa John’s = pizza; Ford, GM, Chrysler = automobiles; Nike, Adidas, Converse, Florsheim = shoes. These are their respective products. There may be other services these companies (and others) may offer, but these are the products that put them on the business map, and when we hear their corporate names mentioned, cause us to recall why these businesses exist.

There are many ministries/Churches today that are looking to ‘spruce-up’ their mission statements; the reason they exist as a ministry. Sometimes ministries adopt catchy-statements/phrases that help the hearer – when he/she hears the ministry’s name – they know why they exist.

Today, when the world hears the title ‘Church,’ what do they think we stand for? Do they think of fellowship? Are their minds provoked to think about love, charity, kindness, caring? All of these should – very much – be part of the narrative that describes why we exist…this I proudly accept. BUT – these things should be the natural out-flow of why we exist. They should not be the primary and only reason for our existence. We read in the Bible what God’s mission statement is for the Church’s existence…

I. THE CHURCH is HERE to DECLARE the TRUE REASON and PURPOSE JESUS CAME to this SINFUL WORLD.

(Matt. 1:21) – “…she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Why did Jesus come to this earth? To make us comfortable? To increase our bank accounts? To make certain we are always without pain, suffering, and sickness? NO! To save us from our sins! Yet, why? What is SO bad about sin that this is the very reason God sent His Son?

(Acts 4:10-12) – “…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. [11] This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ [12] Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Why must we be saved? What are we to be saved from?

(Isa. 59:1-2) – “…the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. [2] But, your iniquities have separated you from your God; and, your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

II. THE CHURCH is HERE to DECLARE to a LOST WORLD that GOD CAN BRING ONE to LIFE.

(1 Cor. 15:20-22) – “…now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

(Lastly…)

III. THE CHURCH EXISTS to be GOD's GOOD NEWS of ETERNITY with HIM.

(John 14:1-3) – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

(Heb. 9:27-28) – “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, [28] so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”

(Rev. 20:12-15) – “…I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And, the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. [13] The sea gave up the dead who were in it; and, Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And, they were judged, each one according to his works. [14] Then, Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And, anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”