For all Nations
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, and his life-giving message must be announced to all men.
This universal perspective is part of the teachings of the Book
of Daniel, and the New Testament borrows heavily from the Book. For
example, the “one like the Son of Man” envisioned by the Prophet was
given “dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all the
peoples, nations, and tongues should serve him.” The Gospel
of Jesus Christ is “good news” for all nations – (Daniel 7:14,
Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:20-22, Revelation 5:9-10).
[Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash] |
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).
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).
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.”
RELATED POSTS:
- The End - (The New Testament moves inescapably from the life and death of Jesus to the last hour when God judges the wicked and vindicates the righteous)
- Kings and Nations - (The Nations and the Kings of the Earth are found in the City of New Jerusalem because of the redeeming work of the Lamb)
- Sovereign over all - (Imperial arrogance is the legacy of the Tower of Babel, humanity’s first but not last attempt to establish a World Empire)
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