The Mission

Jesus commanded his followers to announce the same message he preached: He summarized it as the “Good News of the Kingdom of God.” His Church would establish this Kingdom in unexpected and paradoxical ways. By his return, his sovereignty over all nations will be established and his “enemies” will be subdued, including the last one, “death.” Until then, his disciples must proclaim his message to the “uttermost parts of the Earth.”

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 and women who reject his gracious gift will find their names excluded from the “Lamb’s Book of Life.”

[Photo by Nejc Soklič on Unsplash]

Embracing his message requires a complete reorientation of life. Absolute commitment to him is required to enter his Kingdom. 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 the forces that were hostile to God, including Satan, Death, the “powers and principalities,” and sin. His Resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost signaled the start of the “Last Days” during which the Son reigns from the “right hand of God” - (Psalm 2:2-8, 110:1).

His Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement meant the arrival of the “ends of the ages.” The “forms of this age are in the process of passing away.” Sin and Death may continue for now, but the decisive victory was achieved already on the Cross. The Gift of the Spirit granted to the Church is irrefutable evidence of his conquest of his enemies.

The defeat of Satan was secured on Calvary and confirmed when God raised Jesus from the Dead, and so, the Son of God is putting down all the “powers and principalities” that oppose him and oppress his people. He will continue to do so until all that remains is the unopposed rule of God when he returns “on the clouds of Heaven” - (1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Hebrews 1:5-14, Revelation 1:4-6).

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

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

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

This mission must continue until the “end” when he appears. His followers must preach his Gospel and prepare others for life in the coming age, teaching them how to become his disciples. Sin and Death may persist for now, but Death will not have the final word.

THE ASSIGNMENT

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

Before his death on the Cross, Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In response, the disciples asked WHEN that would occur, and what would be the “SIGN” of the “Coming of the Son of Man.”

To the first question, he replied, before the end of the generation contemporary with him. To the second, he warned, 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 returns is the completion of the Gospel mission by the Body of Christ:

• “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 this task is the “sign” of the “end” since the end of this age will not come until the completion of the Church’s mission. It is not optional but pivotal to the consummation of all things, the redemption of humanity, and even the Creation.

Based on the logic of Jesus, the fact that the “end” has not arrived is indisputable evidence that our mission remains unfinished. 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 GOSPEL!

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RELATED POSTS:

• The Sign of the End - (According to Jesus. the End will not come until this Gospel of the Kingdom of God has been proclaimed to all nations on the Earth – Matthew 24:14)

• Spirit and Mission - (Jesus dispenses the gift of the Spirit to his people, and it empowers them to carry out gospel proclamation to all nations)

• Salvation for the Nations - (The Good News announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)

{Published originally on the Kingdom Disciples website}