A MESSAGE FOR EVERY NATION

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God announced by Jesus is a message of life for men and women of every nation and people.

After his resurrection, Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!” As the Lord and Sovereign over all things, he dispatched his disciples as his messengers to proclaim his lordship and the Good News of salvation to the “uttermost parts of the Earth.” And because of his death and resurrection, the era of salvation has commenced, and it will continue until the “arrival” of the Son of Man at the end of the age.

After his resurrection, God exalted Jesus of Nazareth to the messianic throne where he has reigned ever since. “I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” – (Psalm 2:8).

And because of his enthronement, he is empowering and sending his disciples to announce his Good News to the entire planet. “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 2:8).

For this reason, the day is coming when the entire creation will proclaim him worthy. “You are worthy to take the Scroll and open its seals BECAUSE you were slain and purchased for God with your blood men from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, and made them a kingdom, priests for our God, and they reign upon the Earth.”

And it was because of his willing sacrifice for others that God raised him from the dead and “highly exalted, granting him the name that is above every name,” – JESUS – The one who reigns on the Davidic throne forevermore – (Philippians 2:6-11, Revelation 3:21, 5:5-14).

NO DISTINCTION

In his death and resurrection, the God who created all things has “spoken” definitively. The words “spoken” previously “in the prophets” were true enough, though they were partial and preparatory. But His Son is the only one who “achieved the purification of sin,” and therefore, he alone sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on High places” as the Great High Priest who mediates life and salvation for his people. Jesus is the reality foretold and foreshadowed by the words of the “prophets” – (Hebrews 1:1-4).

And so, the “righteousness of God” is available from now on to all men “through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe, FOR THERE IS NO DISTINCTION” – (Romans 3:21-22).

Sin is the Great Leveler that condemns every man and woman to bondage, decay, and death. In the end, one’s ethnicity or economic status makes no difference – Death awaits us all.

But because of Jesus, any man or woman may receive right standing before God and everlasting life, and each one on the same basis, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, poor or rich; namely, from the FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST and by placing faith in him and what God accomplished in His Son.

In his declaration to the churches of Rome, the Apostle Paul employed his RADICAL MONOTHEISM to make the point. The one God of Israel is the God of both Jews and Gentiles. No man or woman is advantaged or disadvantaged before Him because of biological descent or national origin.

“Or is He the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, of the Gentiles also, if so be that GOD IS ONE, and he will justify the circumcision from faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith” – (Romans 3:29-30).

THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD

Ever since His Son “achieved the purification of sins,” God has been CREATING A NEW COMMUNITY composed of people from every nation.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” - (1 Peter 2:9).

In the preceding passage, each noun is in the SINGULAR number – one priesthood, one nation, one people. Regardless of our disparate origins, in Jesus, God is forming us into one new humanity conformed to the life and image of His Son.

And regardless of national origin, every person who places faith in Jesus becomes a member of this covenant community, this “holy nation,” and each one begins to be transformed into his likeness. Moreover, every member of this group becomes a “priest” in his kingdom called to mediate the light of the Gospel to the world. And in this new people of God, any distinction or ranking based on race, culture, or nationality is excluded – (Ephesians 2:15).

No nation, civilization, or political ideology can claim Jesus as its exclusive property. His announcement of salvation is a message of hope and life for EVERY man, woman, and child on the planet, and therefore, the Gospel of Jesus Christ transcends all national and cultural boundaries. Moreover, his message is the only hope of the nations to ever find lasting peace and life.

His domain is a UNIVERSAL kingdom, and he and his priestly representatives proclaim one message for all humanity. His disciples are tasked with announcing this GOOD NEWS across the Earth, and always FREE OF CHARGE to everyone who responds positively to it in faith.

Since this Gospel is for everyone, in the truest sense, it is a UNIVERSAL FAITH. All men have sinned. Every man needs salvation and the forgiveness of sins. No one deserves it, but God now graciously offers it to all men and women “freely” in every nation, indeed, throughout the Earth. And it is offered on the same basis to every individual – from the faith of Jesus Christ.

[Photo by Arpit Rastogi on Unsplash]

[Published on the Beast Rising blog at the link below]

https://www.beastrising.org/2023/08/message-for-every-nation.html