The Obligations of the Church
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren,
and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought
to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
Intro: In this
series on the Church, we have looked at
1.
The Origin of the Church
2.
The Organism of the Church
3.
The Ordinances of the Church
4.
The Offices of the Church
Today, we will look at the Obligations of the church.
As I said earlier this year, many people, church members
included, have a distorted view of why the church is here.
The church is not here to spice up our week.
The church isn’t here to pay our bills for us when we are
struggling.
The church isn’t here to be a place to hang out with friends
and catch up on the latest news & gossip.
The church isn’t here to provide us with a place to ease our
conscience and “feel better” about ourselves.
The church actually has a reason to exist, and a purpose.
Therefore, the church has obligations.
In our text I Thess. 4:1, Paul told them there were some
things they OUGHT do do.
Notice the meaning of that word OUGHT: it is
necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper
1a) necessity lying in the nature of the case
1b) necessity brought on by circumstances or by the conduct
of others toward us.
1c) necessity in reference to what is required to attain
some end
1d) a necessity of law and command, of duty, equity
1e) necessity established by the counsel and decree of God,
We find that word again in 1 Timothy 3:15 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.
As a church, we have obligations for at least three reasons.
WE ARE OBLIGATED…
A. Because
of our Purchase
·
Acts
20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he
hath purchased with his own blood.
B. Because
of our Partnership
·
1 Corinthians
3:9 For we are labourers together
with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
ILLUSTRATION:
If you have a job working at Chic-Fil-A, would it be right to clock in, and
then go sit down at a table and fill out orders all day for your Avon business?
We should strive to pursue GOD’S AGENDA – not ours!
C. Because
of our Prize
·
II
Corinthians 5:9, 10 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present
or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
·
1
Corinthians 3:8 … and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own
labour.
·
Colossians
3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
I. We Are
Obligated to Bring God Glory
·
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.
John the Baptist said this – John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. (spoken by the greatest ever
born of woman according to the words of Jesus Christ Himself) Matt. 11:11
We are obligated as Christians to
bring God glory.
·
1
Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore
ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
·
Galatians
6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
·
Ephesians
3:17 That Christ may dwell in your
hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to
comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height; And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all
ages, world without end. Amen.
It is the obligation of the local church and the believer to
glorify Christ – not ourselves.
II. We Are
Obligated to Be Holy
SEE I Cor. 6:9-20
We belong to God.
Our bodies belong to God.
As Christians, we are obligated to live righteously.
·
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Living a holy life is not a fad, or a movement, or a
philosophy, or an option – it is our obligation to Christ.
·
Romans
12:1, 2 I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God.
III. We Are
Obligated to Broadcast the Gospel
·
Haggai
2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn?
·
Psalm
126:5 They that sow in tears shall
reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
·
1
Corinthians 4:1, 2 Let a man so
account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of
God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
·
Romans 1:14
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to
the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach
the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
·
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!
