His Salvation Offer

Jesus declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!” Since then, he has sent his disciples to announce his Lordship and Salvation to the “uttermost parts of the Earth.” The Era of Salvation commenced with his Death and Resurrection. Therefore, his Life-Giving Good News must be announced to all the peoples of the Earth.

Unfortunately, many so-called churches have abandoned this mission, preferring to pursue social reformation, political activism, and other forms of what Jesus labeled “perishing meat.” Rather than set on his Kingdom, their hearts are occupied elsewhere.

[Photo by Rahul S on Unsplash]

Such organizations may qualify as “churches” according to the watered-down Western sense, but they are not members of the “Body of Christ” filled with His Spirit. How can any group that chooses to take up his cross and proclaim his message claim to represent the Apostolic Faith?

There is no salvation apart from Jesus, and without it, life has no enduring purpose, and only death awaits us. How will the nations and peoples of the Earth hear of this wonderful salvation if the Church refuses to perform its mission?

• “Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard, and how will they hear without a preacher?” – (Romans 10:13-14).

God exalted Jesus to the Messianic Throne as He promised: “I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the Earth for your possession.” Consequently, he sends his saints to announce his Sovereignty and Salvation. By bestowing the Gift of the Spirit on his disciples, Jesus empowers them to proclaim his Good News – (Psalm 2:8, 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 while looking forward in faith to their bodily resurrection when Jesus returns - (1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only born Son” so all men might believe and receive “everlasting life.” Jesus has bequeathed to each of us the ministry of reconciling men and women to His Father by proclaiming the Gospel across the face of the Earth – (John 3:16, Acts 2:36-38, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

Because of his suffering “for our sins,” God raised him from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above every name,” – JESUS - the name that means “Yahweh saves.” He is the one who “saves his people from their sins” – (Matthew 1:21).

Through him, the salvation promised by the God of Israel has become real for all humanity. Jesus is the “Lamb of God” and the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth” who is “shepherding the nations” until they stand before him and his Father’s “Throne” in “New Jerusalem” – (Philippians 2:6-11, Revelation 1:4-6, 7:9-17, 12:5-11).

His sacrificial death voided the legal claim of Satan over mankind, and 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 must hear – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).

However, the world will remain ignorant of this glorious hope if no one preaches the message of salvation to its inhabitants, and they will miss the opportunity to choose life instead of death.

ONE PEOPLE

God has “spoken” definitively and with eloquence through His Son. It is the Son who “achieved the purification of sin,” therefore, he sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on High places” as the Great High Priest who mediates life for his people – (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” and “dead in our trespasses” – (Romans 3:21-22).

Sin is the Great Equalizer that condemns every man, woman, and child to bondage, decay, hopelessness, and death. Neither ethnicity nor nationality makes any difference. Death awaits us all.

However, because of his Death and Resurrection, anyone may receive the forgiveness of sin and salvation, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, poor or rich; namely, “from the faith of Jesus Christ.” For his disciples, death will be reversed when he raises his people from the dead on the Last Day – (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).

Considering his sacrificial death on our behalf when we deserved only death, all we can do is respond to his generous offer by placing faith in Jesus and all that God accomplished in him. God is creating a new community composed of men and women from every nation redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Every person who places faith in him becomes a member of this holy community – (Ephesians 2:15).

No nation or civilization can claim Jesus or his teachings as its property. His Gospel is a message for every man, woman, and child. Therefore, it transcends all national and cultural boundaries. It is 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,” therefore, is a universal message. All men have sinned. Everyone needs salvation. No one deserves it, but God graciously offers it to one and all through His Son.

Finally, salvation is provided on the same basis to every man, woman, and child, namely, from the faith of Jesus Christ. All we can do is respond with repentance and faith to the Nazarene who “gave his life as a ransom for many.”

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RELATED POSTS:

• Only Some Nations? - (Is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God a message of hope for only SOME nations, or is it Good News for all nations and peoples?)

• Ignoring Scripture - (Was the Apostle Paul serious when he exhorted Timothy to only appoint elders and ministers who were above reproach?)

• The Goal of the Church - (Jesus has tasked his disciples with proclaiming the Good News of GOD’s Kingdom in and to every nation on the Earth – Romans 3:22-30)