“The duty of disciples, of all baptized Christians: they must observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded, and, in order to that, must submit to the teaching of those whom he sends. Our admission into the visible church is in order to something further when Christ hath discipled us, he has not done with us; he enlist soldiers that he may train them up for his service.
All that are baptized, are thereby obliged, (1.) To make the command of Christ their rule. There is a law of faith, and we are said to be under the law to Christ we are by baptism bound, and must obey. (2.) To observe what Christ has commanded. Due obedience to the commands of Christ requires a diligent observation we are in danger of missing, if we take not good heed: and in all our obedience, we must have an eye to the command, and do what we do as unto the Lord. (3.) To observe all things, that he has commanded, without exception all the moral duties, and all the instituted ordinances. Our obedience to the laws of Christ is not sincere, if it be not universal we must stand complete in his whole will. (4.) To confine themselves to the commands of Christ, and as not to diminish from them, so not to add to them. (5.) To learn their duty according to the law of Christ, from those whom he has appointed to be teachers in his school, for therefore we were entered into his school.
“The duty of the apostles of Christ, and his ministers and that is, to teach the commands of Christ, to expound them to his disciples, to press upon them the necessity of obedience, and to assist them in applying the general commands of Christ to particular cases. They must teach them, not their own inventions, but the institutions of Christ to them they must religiously adhere, and in the knowledge of them Christians must be trained up. A standing ministry is hereby settled in the church, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the perfect man, Ephesians 4:11-13. The heirs of heaven, till they come to age, must be under tutors and governors.
“And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. This exceeding great and precious promise is ushered in with a behold, to strengthen their faith, and engage their observation of it. Take notice of this it is what you may assure yourselves of and venture upon. There is a world before us, that will never have an end, but this is hastening towards its period and even till then the Christian religion shall, in one part of the world or other, be kept up, and the presence of Christ continued with his ministers.”
– adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary