Jude 2

Years ago I recall the course that was taught in most of the cogop's. " The Body of Christ" I remember some portion that listed the purposes of the church. I think there were about five listed. Evangelism, to guard and defend the gospel, to prepare saints for the 1000 year reign. Does anyone have the rest and what were the scripture references ?

I am doing some research and it would be helpful. Thanks in advance

I taught that course many times.....but I don't know if I can totally give you what you want.

One was to prepare the church for the inflow.... the gathering of all the saints into one body.

One was to show the differnce between the Kingdom and the Body.

I don't think I still have a copy of that, but I will look.

I think I have a copy of that book....if you don't need it before Sunday afternoon I will look and answer your question....

Ha! I took that course!

Shellie wrote:Ha! I took that course!

I bet you have that little certificate still packed away somewhere also.

Bro. Paul it starts on page 18 and goes through page 20.
A. Keep and Guard the Faith
B. Evangelize the World with Full Gospel
C. To Gather God's Children into One Body
D. Provide Machinery for Perfection of the Saints
E. Provide Government for the Millenial Age

I have the book if need any farther info.

You should just go ahead and ask someone from The Church of God. I just finished teaching it. And yes, I have the certificate. (2 actually)

Evangelize the world with the full Gospel.

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mat 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 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.

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.


To know and make known God’s purposes.
Col 1:24-25 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Eph 3:9-10 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Eph 1:4-5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Col 1: 26-28 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Eph 4:15, 16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.


To Keep & Guard The Truth,

Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.


To preserve One Faith and Doctrine

Eph 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Phi 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:


To Gather God’s sheep into one Body, to be the One Fold for God’s sheep.

Eph 1:9 -10 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.


To perpetuate the work of the Ministry to Edify The Body of Christ, for the Perfection of the Saints and Unity.

Eph 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 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:

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.


To provide government for the millennial reign.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Parable of the Talents: Luke 19:17, Matt 25:23


To make Herself ready for the “Marriage of The Lamb”
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

I'm scanning the 1985 version called "Discovering the Body of Christ." There isn't a section which expressly describes the purposes of the Church (with the exception of the purpose of Christ's choosing of the disciples...1. to be with Him and 2. for a mission. It has gone through changes over the years, however. Maybe you're referring to a different version than I have. (Being the Body of Christ, being one I vaguely remember.)

RaceRunner wrote:You should just go ahead and ask someone from The Church of God. I just finished teaching it.

Evangelize the world with the full Gospel.

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mat 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 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.

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.


To know and make known God’s purposes.
Col 1:24-25 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Eph 3:9-10 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Eph 1:4-5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Col 1: 26-28 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Eph 4:15, 16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.


To Keep & Guard The Truth,

Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.


To preserve One Faith and Doctrine

Eph 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Phi 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:


To Gather God’s sheep into one Body, to be the One Fold for God’s sheep.

Eph 1:9 -10 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.


To perpetuate the work of the Ministry to Edify The Body of Christ, for the Perfection of the Saints and Unity.

Eph 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 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:

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.


To provide government for the millennial reign.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Parable of the Talents: Luke 19:17, Matt 25:23


To make Herself ready for the “Marriage of The Lamb”
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

And yes, I have the certificate.

I thought about that later.....thank you and everyone else.

I bet you have that little certificate still packed away somewhere also.

Yeah, probably. Along with the "Fruit of the Spirit" and a couple of others.

Racerunner's must be a newer copy, my copy was taught in 1965 but it doesn't have a copyright date or anything on it, just a handwritten date when it was given to a dear friend of mine and then at her death was given to me.

Shellie wrote:

I bet you have that little certificate still packed away somewhere also.

Yeah, probably. Along with the "Fruit of the Spirit" and a couple of others.

Called to Teach

And one about being a better Teacher
(I have it at home, but can't remember it's name.)

c u there wrote:Racerunner's must be a newer copy, my copy was taught in 1965 but it doesn't have a copyright date or anything on it, just a handwritten date when it was given to a dear friend of mine and then at her death was given to me.

I didn't cut and paste out of a book, except the Bible of course , since there are only scriptures listed above (no commentary). KJV Scriptures aren't copyrighted.

I did cut and paste the above scriptures out of my teaching notes. The Body of Christ book probably only has 5 functions specifically listed...but I added the other functions to my notes in conjunction with my studies of other BTI materials.