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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Royal Priesthood, #13
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building] of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13)
The resurrected Christ has given gifts of ministry to the members of His Body, to the royal priesthood. The purpose of the gifts is to build each member of the royal priesthood into a perfect man as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Each saint is to press forward to become part of the Body of Christ, and at the same time to be ministering his gifts to the other members of the royal priesthood. He or she also is to be bringing the Gospel to outsiders as the Lord directs. In addition there are all sorts of good works that the saints are to do, such as helping the poor and praying with all who ask for assistance—especially those who are of the household of faith.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:4)
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, (Titus 2:7)
Something else is to take place with the members of the royal priesthood, the Body of Christ. They are to bear witness to the heavens and the earth of the Person, way, will, and purpose and Kingdom of the Lord God of Heaven.
The gifts and ministries of the Spirit have as their purpose the building of the Body of Christ, which is the holy Lampstand of God. As the Lampstand is being constructed it is giving light—light that makes clear to angels and men the Person and will of God.
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by [through] the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:10)
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14)
In the present century there has been considerable emphasis on evangelism. The idea is that every Christian has been charged by the Great Commission to "go out and get souls saved."
There are some considerations that need to be added if this admonition is to be scriptural and fruitful.
The Great Commission was given to eleven men specially chosen by the Lord. The record of the Book of Acts reveals that the Apostles of the Lamb were greatly revered by the believers as being representatives of the Lord.
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. (Acts 5:13)
The Great Commission was not to go out and "get souls saved" but to make disciples, teaching them to obey the commandments of the Lord.
Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19,20)
To be continued.