Christians have an obligation
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Jesus told his disciples to make disciple of all nations. It is something a Christian in the twenty-first century has an obligation to do also.
We however cannot do that if we build walls intentionally or unintentionally between us as those outside the church. We as believers in Christ Jesus must present the gospel of Christ in a respectful manner to those around us. That is what Jesus and the apostles did. That is what we must do.
Jesus I believe was born at the perfect moment in time for many reasons.
One the gospel message could travel throughout the known world in a relatively safe manner.
The other he was born into a multicultural empire that allowed many cultures, religions and philosophies to exist peacefully side by side very much like today.
True there were areas that the apostles went to that caused them grief and at times believers in Christ were persecuted. Even put to death. But that is true today also.
In fact I’ve heard it said that “the Roman empire in the time of Jesus had the same multicultural mix as we have today minus the high tech.”
As a result we can learn from Jesus and the disciples how to present the gospel.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9.
Nowhere do I see in the New Testament a call to preach so called ‘Hell fire and brimstone’.
It is the obligation of the Christian to be a peacemaker. To offer the peace of God to anyone who will listen.
No where do I see that Christians have the right to judge anyone or tell anyone where they will or will not spend eternity. Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul made it clear, saying,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13
Jesus and the apostles presented the message of salvation in a loving, caring, respectful way. This is how we as believers in Christ Jesus must do it today.
For it is only by doing it the way Christ and his disciples did it we will reach the world around us.
Please think about it.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Jesus told his disciples to make disciple of all nations. It is something a Christian in the twenty-first century has an obligation to do also.
We however cannot do that if we build walls intentionally or unintentionally between us as those outside the church. We as believers in Christ Jesus must present the gospel of Christ in a respectful manner to those around us. That is what Jesus and the apostles did. That is what we must do.
Jesus I believe was born at the perfect moment in time for many reasons.
One the gospel message could travel throughout the known world in a relatively safe manner.
The other he was born into a multicultural empire that allowed many cultures, religions and philosophies to exist peacefully side by side very much like today.
True there were areas that the apostles went to that caused them grief and at times believers in Christ were persecuted. Even put to death. But that is true today also.
In fact I’ve heard it said that “the Roman empire in the time of Jesus had the same multicultural mix as we have today minus the high tech.”
As a result we can learn from Jesus and the disciples how to present the gospel.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9.
Nowhere do I see in the New Testament a call to preach so called ‘Hell fire and brimstone’.
It is the obligation of the Christian to be a peacemaker. To offer the peace of God to anyone who will listen.
No where do I see that Christians have the right to judge anyone or tell anyone where they will or will not spend eternity. Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul made it clear, saying,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13
Jesus and the apostles presented the message of salvation in a loving, caring, respectful way. This is how we as believers in Christ Jesus must do it today.
For it is only by doing it the way Christ and his disciples did it we will reach the world around us.
Please think about it.
