September 24, 2007

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

 

--Matthew 28:19-20

 

In order to take the gospel to the world, we must first remember several important factors about it.

 

One, the gospel is universal in its application. It is for all people, all cultures and all countries. All people need to know Jesus as Savior. In Luke 18:19, Jesus states, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” As a result, there is no difference between the believer and non-believer. We all have a universal problem and that problem is the problem of sin. And the solution is Jesus.

 

Secondly, the gospel is universal in its invitation. John 3:16 says that whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have eternal life. I believe that “whoever” or “whosoever” must be one of the favorite words of God. And the gospel is therefore universal because all people have the same need and all people need the same Savior. We’ve sung it since we were little children, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” And the “whoever” is the invitation of the Church and the invitation of Christ.

 

Finally, the gospel is universal in its proclamation. We must go and be messengers. In Acts 1, verse 8, Jesus commands His apostles that they will be His witnesses, “…in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” You may ask, “What can I do about world missions?” Get available, get usable, and get expendable. The gospel cannot go from land to land until it goes from life to life and lip to lip. And you’re not only to go into the world at large, but you are to go to the world nearby, and across the street with the message of Jesus Christ.

 

step into your own mission field and share the story of god’s wonderful plan of salvation