The Earthly Purpose

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" Ephesians 1:17-23.

This prayer expresses God's desire for His Church. From this passage we want to establish several facts:

The power of God was manifest in the resurrection of Jesus.
This same power that placed Jesus on the throne is available to us who believe.
All things were put under Jesus' feet for the church.
The purpose of God will be revealed through the Church, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
The Church is the Body of Christ; the Body of Christ is the Church.
Christ is the head and we are the many-membered Body (1 Corinthians 12:5).

Jesus stated two specific things about the church:

"...I will build my church..." Matthew 16:18.
"...anyone believing in me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones, because I am going to be with the Father" John 14:12 (TLB).

Jesus died, was buried, rose again, ascended into heaven, victorious over all, head over all things - for the church. On the Day of Pentecost the Church was born.120 of the Lord's disciples met together in a room on the first-floor to await the promise of the Father, which was the Holy Spirit (John 16:17; 14:7-17).

The promised Holy Spirit came and the Church was birthed in the power and authority of Christ. God formed one body - the Church - now made up of many members (believers), to express Christ to the world.

A Body Prepared

The human body of Jesus Christ was a prepared body - perfect in every way (Hebrews 10:5). Jesus Christ was God in human form - God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). The express purpose for this was:

"I have come to do your will, O God" Hebrews 10:7.

Everything Jesus was and said and did in this prepared human body was the will of God. The Church is also a 'prepared body' (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27), and the sole purpose of its existence is that the will of God be done again in the earth.

The entirety of God's character and being was manifested in Jesus (John 3:33-34; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3), and it is His will that the same fullness be manifested in the Church, which is His spiritual body (Ephesians 4:12-16). Just as the human body is the vehicle through which the personality and nature of an individual - his mind, will, character and emotions - are expressed, so the Body of Christ is a means of expression, by the Holy Spirit, of Christ's person - His character, nature, mind and will; His life, love, ministry, power and authority. God has distributed all these attributes throughout all the members of his Body. He has designed this Body so that we need each other, failing to work unless we come together in love (see John 13:34-35).

The Work of the Holy Spirit

It is the function of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to the world (John 16:14-15). When Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit took all that was expressed in Christ and, by indwelling us, brought it to the Church, so that we might show forth the whole Christ. It is His work in us that fulfils God's purpose in setting us apart

"to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Balance

To be a balanced Christian, or church, we must fully reveal Christ...

In His character (Galatians 5:21-22).
In His power (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
In His authority (John 16:23-24).

The Purpose for the Church on Earth

To unite all things in Christ

"For God has allowed us to know the secret of his plan, and it is this: he purposes in his sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in heaven and earth shall find its perfection and fulfilment in him" Ephesians 1:9-10 (Phillips) (see also Psalm 133; Isaiah 52:8; John 10:15-16; 17:20-23; Ephesians 4:1-16).

God is raising up five special ministries in the Church (Ephesians 4:11-13) to bring unity so that the centrality of Christ will be established in the Church and revealed to the world. He is the centre of all things (Colossians 1:15-19).

To reveal His glory to the world

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" Habakkuk 2:14.

To have a people who will worship Him with one voice

The Church has been created to be an instrument of praise and worship to the Lord.

"The people whom I formed for Myself, will declare My praise" Isaiah 43:21 (NASB) (see also Psalm 34:3; 102:18; Romans 15:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9).

To reveal His infinite wisdom to all principalities and powers

"The purpose is that all the angelic powers should now see the complex wisdom of God's plan being worked out through the Church, in conformity to that timeless purpose which he centred in Christ Jesus, our Lord" Ephesians 3:10-11 (Phillips).

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