Matthew 16:18-20:
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
We saw that the true church of Christ is fulfilling the purposes of the Savior in the world, such as snatching the lost out of the grasp of the enemy of our souls.
Church congregants, members of the true church have expectations that have been placed on them by God through the directives of his Scriptures and the spiritual authorities he has established in the church.
Here is a sample of some of these directives and responsibilities which the church has been tasked with and empowered to complete.
The church is the keeper and preserver of the word of God.
Most of the New Testament consists of letters written to specific churches who then preserved, taught and shared them with other churches. (Colossians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:15)
God’s word is not to be hoarded or hidden; it is to be propagated by the church. We are charged with having it read to everyone, we are to see to it that it is read by others. We are to see to it that we are reading it ourselves.
Paul directed Timothy to teach the word of God, to read it publically, and to preach it (1 Timothy 4:11-14), he was to guard what had been entrusted to his care (1 Timothy 6:20) and to guard the good deposit that was entrusted to him with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (2 Timothy 1:15).
We have a responsibility as the church, in the world, to safeguard the word of God with correct interpretation and to diligently teach it to others.
Related to that, the church is a place for teaching of doctrine and the right ways of the Lord. (2 Thessalonians 3:14)
The church is a work of the Lord, he builds the church, (Acts 2:46-47).
The church is a place of sharing what God has done as an encouragement to others. (Psalm 40:9-10)
David said he doesn’t keep the work of God that has been displayed in his life a secret. He goes to church and testifies about the goodness of the Lord so that the congregation might be edified and encouraged in their own faith and walk with God.
The church is a place of thanksgiving to the Lord; an opportunity to praise and worship with thanksgiving. (Psalm 35:18)
The church is a place of order; this is not the same as predictability.
The church is a place of authority: both men and women serving in authoritative roles, (Romans 16:1, 7)
Aquila and his wife Priscilla are mentioned three times in the scriptures; they were both church planters and Bible teachers. The New and Old Testaments are filled with many other references to women in ministry.
The church is expected to be a place of holiness.
The church is a place of prayer; a place where corporate prayer brings healing and deliverance.
The church members are expected to be self-sufficient, devoted to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.
These are some of the responsibilities of the true church in the world today: those dedicated to worship and service of the Christ, the Son of the Living God!