We exist to glorify God by exalting Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, as we hold fast to the truth, build up the body of Christ, and proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
It is God's greatest desire to be glorified in all things.
- This is the case with creation (Psalm 19:1-14; Romans 1:19-20).
- This was the case with Pharaoh (Romans 9:17).
- This was the case with Israel (Isaiah 42:8, 43:25, 44:23, 48:11, 49:3; Jeremiah 13:11; Ezekiel 20:9, 14; 1 Samuel 12:22).
- This was the case with David (Psalm 23:3, 31:3).
- This was and is the case with Jesus (John 12:27-28).
- This was the case with Herod (Acts 12:23).
- This was and is the case with the Church (Ephesians 1:6,12,14; Romans 15:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:10).
- This is the goal for all things (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14; Psalm 86:8-10; Revelation 15:3-4).
II. ...by exalting Jesus Christ...
The primary means by which God has chosen to glorify himself is through the ultimate exaltation of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
The creation of this world was through and for Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:16).
God's words in the Old Testament are meant to point us to Jesus Christ (Luke 24:27, 44-45; John 5:39, 46).
Jesus ultimately glorified God by being glorified himself (John 13:31-32; John 17:1).
It was and is God's will to exalt Christ as the glorified Lord (Acts 2:36; Romans 14:9).
The only way to glorify God is to follow Jesus Christ (John 5:22-23).
God is most glorified when Jesus Christ is most exalted (2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Philippians 2:9-11).
The goal of all things is that Jesus Christ be Lord over everything (i.e., have everything subject to him) before turning this absolute kingdom over to the Father so that God might be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:22-28).
III. ...through the power of the Holy Spirit, ...
It is only as the Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us that we can do anything to advance the Kingdom of God at all.
It is the Holy Spirit who gives us new, salvation life at conversion (John 3:5-8, 6:63, 7:37-39; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 John 4:13).
It is the Holy Spirit who empowered the apostles to speak the gospel (Acts 1:8).
It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us with spiritual gifts for ministering the body and glorifying God (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
It is the Holy Spirit who enables and brings about sanctification (Romans 8:5-11; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13).
It is the Holy Spirit who guides into truth (John 14:26, 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 1 John 2:27).
IV. ... as we hold fast to the truth, ...
It is the responsibility of the Church to labor for the truth of the gospel and to resist any who would teach contrary to that truth.
Paul saw the truth of the gospel as worthy of being fought for (Galatians 1:6-10).
We are instructed to hold fast our confession (Hebrews 4:14, 10:23), and our confession is a declaration of faith in the gospel.
Paul pictures the Church as the pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
The leaders of the Church are supposed to be able to teach sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9). This means it is part of the Church's task to ensure that the truth is not compromised.
V. ... build up the body of Christ, ...
It is each Christian's responsibility to seek their own personal growth in holiness.
It is God's will for us to be holy (Romans 6:4-6; Ephesians 2:10).
God will, in time, make us -- every one of us -- perfectly holy (Romans 8:29-30; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
It is our responsibility to pursue holiness diligently (Colossians 3:5-10, 12-17; 1 Peter 1:14-16).
It is each Christian's responsibility to seek the holiness of other brothers and sisters in the body.
Spiritual gifts are for the good of others (1 Corinthians 12:7,14-26, 14:12; Romans 12:3-8).
Believers themselves are given by Christ for the purpose of building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7-14).
We are to seek specifically to do good to the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
We bear responsibility to help brothers and sisters in Christ persevere to the end (Hebrews 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:12-16).
It is each Christian's responsibility to seek to meet the physical needs of other brothers and sisters in the body.
The early church held things in common in order to meet genuine needs (Acts 4:32-35). This was their example in general (Acts 11:29).
We are commanded to contribute to the needs of the saints (Romans 12:13).
Helping believers with physical need is evidence of our faith (James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:17).
VI. ... and proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
It is only by hearing the gospel message of Jesus Christ that any person will be saved.
- No one is accepted by God except through believing in, and following, Jesus (John 3:35-36; John 14:6).
- No one can believe except through hearing the word of God (Romans 10:13-15).
As Christians, it is our responsibility to proclaim the gospel.
- It is a direct command from Jesus that we go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
- It is assumed by Jesus that because we have the Holy Spirit, we will tell others about him (Acts 1:6-8).
- We are ambassadors for Christ. That is, we are the means by which God is reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
As Christians, we should seek to meet the physical needs of others as a means of demonstrating to them the love of Christ (Luke 6:32-36).
