NOTE: This continues and concludes the special prophetic series started in November on the Biola Hour.
The Work of the Church by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper I n order to appreciate the signs of this age it is necessary for us to see what the work is to be of each of the groups distinguished by God. Since the Church is the unique body to which all true born-again believers belong, we should understand clearly that our primary interest is to bring people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the first council in Jerusalem, James, the moderator points out, “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name” (Acts 15:14). Peter had felt that he and his race were the elite among the elect. He could see nothing but his own people. When the call came for him to preach the Gospel to someone who was not a Jew, he was greatly disturbed. With great'misgivings he went to the house of Cornelius, an outstanding Gentile leader, and proclaimed the Gospel unto him. He did it, not because his heart was in it, but because he was com manded by God. In this way Peter saw that the Gospel was not only for his people, the Jews, but also for the Gen tiles, and indeed for the entire world. At this same council Peter had given testimony, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gen tiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. And God, who knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did unto us” (Acts 15:7, 8). What amazed Peter was that God treated Cornelius equally as well as He had treated him. But after the barrier had been broken down and the emotional shock sub
sided, Peter, always enthusiastic, evi dently took this from God without any difficulty whatsoever. He assured the group that God makes no difference between men. All are one in Christ Jesus. Peter realized that an immense social problem had been created which was due to a great heart problem. The reason people did not live together was because of the impurity of their hearts. Yet God in His marvelous grace could purify a Gentile heart as well as a Jewish heart. Today’s racial and social problems are of great concern to all of us. But let us not merely deal with superficial problems. We need to go to the center of the question. Until the individual heart becomes right with God, it will never be right with other human beings. This is why the church preaches the Gospel first of all. When we speak of personal salvation, which- is the primary work of the church to preach, we mean a conver sion which does something to a life. There must be a change which will cause the individual to be a living demonstration of the love of God among all nations. A life so saved in the love of Christ becomes contageous to the ones with whom it comes in contact. We have received “grace and apostle- ship through the obedience of the faith.” To the degree that you and I come to know and truly believe the faith, we are then in a position to obey the faith. So regardless of race, color, or circumstances, our great responsi bility is to direct men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ who has died for all mankind. Our calling is not to impose by force but rather by an ex emplary life. This will be contageous in winning people to Christ.
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