Preach the Gospel!

Jesus charged his followers to announce his message to all nations, which he summarized as the “Good News of the Kingdom of God.” Through him and his Assembly, the rule of God would be established but in unexpected ways. He will establish his sovereignty over the Earth and subdue the “last enemy, death,” by the time of his appearance “on the clouds of Heaven.” His disciples must proclaim his Gospel to the “uttermost parts of the Earth” until that day.

All men are invited to accept his offer of life and salvation while the door remains open. The day will come when it will be too late, and all men who have refused his gracious gift will find their names excluded from the “Book of Life.”

[Photo by Ben White on Unsplash]

A complete reorientation of life is necessary. Commitment to him and his kingdom must be absolute. Nothing is more important than responding to his call to believe the “Good News,” take up the cross, and follow him “wherever he leads.”

Through his Death and Resurrection, Jesus defeated his enemies, including Satan, death, the “powers and principalities,” and sin. His resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost signaled the start of the “Last Days” during which he reigns from the “right hand of God” - (Psalm 2:2-8, 110:1).

Sin and death may continue for a time. However, the decisive victory was achieved on Calvary, and the activity of the Spirit among the saints is irrefutable evidence of this new reality.

The defeat of Satan was achieved on the Roman Cross and validated when God raised Jesus from the Dead. Since then, he has been putting down the “powers and principalities” that oppose him and oppress his people - (1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Hebrews 1:5-14, Revelation 1:4-6).

Consequently, Jesus now calls his Church to proclaim the “Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations” until the day he arrives from Heaven. His followers must herald his victory and sovereignty throughout the Earth, providing every man and woman the opportunity to repent and receive life and salvation through the “faith of Jesus Christ”:

• “Go and teach all nations…to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you even unto the end of the age.”

We as his disciples are his “witnesses” commissioned by him to call all men to enter his Kingdom, and to preach “repentance and the remission of sins in his name among all the nations.”

Before he ascended to Heaven, Jesus commanded HIS disciples to wait until “they received power after the Holy Spirit came upon them.” They would then be his “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth” - (Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:45-48, Acts 1:7-9, 3:19-21).

This mission must continue until the “end” when he arrives. His followers must announce his salvation and help others prepare for life in the coming age, teaching them to be his disciples. Sin and death may persist in this life, but death will not have the final word.

THE MISSION

None of this means that we are to disengage from the world. Far from it! But we are called to minister to humanity by preaching the Gospel and living cruciform lives of service to others. Without his salvation, the world would remain forever in darkness and without hope.

Before his death, the disciples asked what the “sign” of the “coming of the Son of Man” would be. He answered by warning that no one EXCEPT GOD ALONE knows the hour, day, “season,” “seasons” or “times” of his return - (also, Mark 13:30-33, Acts 1:6-9).

The one factor that will determine “when” he will return is the completion of the mission by the Church to preach the Gospel to every nation:

• “This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole habitable earth for a testimony for all nations, and then shall the end come” - (Matthew 24:14, 24:36, Acts 1:6-8).

Finishing the task is THE “sign” of the “end.” It is not optional but pivotal to the consummation of all things, the redemption of humanity, and creation itself.

Based on the logic of his words, the fact that the “end” has not arrived is indisputable evidence that the mission remains incomplete. He will not return until his message has reached the furthest corners of the Earth - “As a testimony.” Therefore, all who wait anxiously for his “arrival” must, above all else, preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God to one and all.

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• Light of the World - ((Jesus is the only true light in the world, a light that shines all the brighter in the darkness, and this light means life for men and women)

• His Name is Jesus! - (The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the Nazarene, the salvation promised to Israel has arrived in all its glory)

• To the Ends of the Earth - (The Good News announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)