To the Ends of the Earth

After his resurrection, Jesus declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!” He then dispatched his disciples to announce his Lordship and salvation to the “ends of the Earth.” The Age of Salvation commenced with his Death and Resurrection; therefore, his life-giving message must be announced to mankind.

God exalted Jesus to the Messianic Throne as promised in the Scriptures: “I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.” Therefore, he sends his ambassadors to announce his sovereignty and salvation throughout the Earth – (Psalm 2:8).

[Earth Photo by NASA on Unsplash]

By bestowing the Gift of the Spirit on them, Jesus empowered his disciples to proclaim his Good News to every nation, the one task he assigned to his Church before his departure and Ascension:

• “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the Earth” – (Acts 1:8).

This salvation is for men of every generation and nation without exception. Jesus died and God raised him from the dead so they no longer would live for themselves but for Him. God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only born Son” so all men might believe and receive “everlasting life” – (John 3:16, Acts 2:36-38, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

Because of his death “for our sins,” God raised Jesus from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above every name,” – JESUS - the name that means “Yahweh saves.” The salvation promised by the God of Israel is now available to all men. His Son is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth” who “shepherds the nations” so one day they will stand before him and his Father in the city of “New Jerusalem” – (Philippians 2:6-11, Revelation 1:4-6, 7:9-17, 12:5-11).

All peoples and nations belong to Jesus whether they know it or not. His sacrificial Death voided the legal claim of Satan over mankind. His Resurrection broke the iron grip of Death that held us all. This is a radical message of liberation from the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death that all men and every nation must hear – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).

ONE PEOPLE

God has “spoken” definitively and with eloquent finality through Jesus. It is the Son alone who “achieved the purification of sin,” therefore, he sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on High places” as our Great High Priest who mediates salvation and life for his people. He alone has achieved victory over Sin and Death – (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Salvation is available to all men “through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe, for there is no distinction.” The offer of life is provided to all because of the faithful obedience of the Son of God who “died for our sins” when we were still “enemies of God” – (Romans 3:21-22).

Sin is the Great Equalizer that condemns every man, woman, and child to bondage, decay, hopelessness, and death. Ethnicity, political power, or economic status will make no difference. Death awaits us all in the end.

However, because of his Death and Resurrection, anyone may now receive the forgiveness of sin and justification before God, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor; namely, “from the faith of Jesus Christ.” Death still occurs, but for the disciples of Jesus, it will be reversed when he raises them from the dead on the Last Day – (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).

Considering his faithful act for us when we deserved only death, all that penitent men and women can do is respond to his generous offer by placing faith in Jesus and what God accomplished in him.

Ever since His Son “achieved the purification of sins,” his Father is forming a new community composed of men and women from every nation who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the ‘Ekklésia’ - His “Assembly.” Every person who places faith in Jesus becomes a member of this holy community – (Ephesians 2:15).

[Photo by Paulius Dragunas on Unsplash]

No nation, civilization, or political ideology can claim Jesus or his teachings as its property. His Gospel is a message for every man, woman, and child on the Earth without exception; therefore, his message and offer transcend all national and cultural boundaries. His disciples proclaim one message for all men, whether “Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus” – (Galatians 3:28).

His “Good News” is a universal message. All men have sinned. Everyone needs salvation. No one deserves it, but God graciously offers it to every man and woman freely through His Son.

Salvation is provided on the same basis to every man, woman, and child - From the faith of Jesus Christ. All we can do is respond with repentance and faith to the self-sacrificial act of the Nazarene who “gave his life as a ransom for many.”

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RELATED POSTS:

• Preach the Gospel! - (With his Death and Resurrection, the task of his church is to proclaim the Good News of his Kingdom to all nations - Matthew 24:14)

• The 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)