The will of God is found in scripture:

1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV) Who [speaking of God] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This gives the church its two-fold purpose and ministry i.e.,

1. To get men saved, and

2. To bring them to the knowledge of the truth.

This is a summary of the work of the ministry.

Getting men saved is done in interactions with unsaved people. Bringing men then to the knowledge of the truth is done by way of preaching, warning and teaching in local assemblies of believers (Colossians 1:28).

We see this two-fold ministry in Paul’s work:

1. Getting men saved:-

For example,

Acts 14:1 (KJV) And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

2. Bringing men to the knowledge of the truth:-

For example,

Acts 18:11 (KJV) And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul’s epistles

All Paul’s epistles were written to saved people, and thus fall under 2. above. Amongst other functions relating to bringing men to the knowledge of the truth, the epistles,

• Teach eg 1 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV) What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

• Reprove eg 2 Thessalonians 3:11 (KJV) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

• Correct eg Galatians 3:1 (KJV) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

• Exhort eg Romans 12:1 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

• Clarify eg 1 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Jesus is the truth

The truth to which men are to come is that concerning Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 4:21 (KJV) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

The knowledge of Christ must include who he is and what he has done, is doing and will do.

Saved but not knowing the truth

We see in all this that it is possible for men to be saved and not come to the knowledge of the truth. This is the situation in much of denominational Christianity, where in the present age teaching is frequently sacrificed to social programmes.