Call of Duty: Rescue the Perishing

The Call

The church of Jesus Christ is the multitude of all those who believe in Christ for the remission of sins, and who are thankful for that mercy and who love the law of God purely, and who hate the sin in this world and long for the life to come (William Tyndale: The Obedience of a Christian Man (1528)).

The Duty

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it—strength for your labor the Lord will provide;

back to the narrow way patiently win them, tell the poor wand'rer a Savior has died.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The church of God is characterized by its hatred for sin and waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body while earnestly contending for the faith. This calling to submit to God's will includes a mandate to rescue those who are perishing, as duty and compassion demand.

The core message, you who are wandering without Christ, being aliens, there  is one of hope and redemption: a Savior, the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords; Jesus Christ has died for their sins, according to the scriptures, rose again according to the scriptures and through faith in Him, you can have forgiveness and eternal life. 

The Mission

This mission to rescue the perishing is both a duty and a privilege, made feasible through the grace and strength supplied by Jesus Christ.

The church is a called out assembly of believers who are intrinsically linked to the great commission to preach the glorious gospel that saves sinners. The gratitude and love that characterizes the church should naturally lead to a desire to spread the message of salvation with others.

• The longing for eternal life should inspire a sense of urgency in reaching out to those who are lost, reminding them that "a Savior has died" for their sins.

In essence, the church's mission is not just about personal salvation but about extending that grace to others…while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. This dual focus on soul winning and fellowship creates a holistic understanding of what it means to be part of the body of Jesus Christ.