When I read about Jesus Christ, who God the Father sent to redeem this world from the bondage of sin and shame, I became acutely aware that humankind was and is in a state of captivity that only divine power can rescue. The power of sin is an inescapable prison that in which all mankind is held captive. The power of sin covers every aspect and every spectrum of an individual’s life. It affects every choice and decision that can be made. Under the umbrella of sin, even that which seems to make sense can ultimately end up being wrong.For instance, when it comes to choosing a mate, sinful eyes choose the mate according to the outward appearance of person instead of the inward appearance or the choice is based upon what others will tell you to do based upon their lustful wishes, wants or desires. The power of sin is a death row where Satan and his devilish demons rule and reigns. Mankind arrived on death row through the willful disobedience of one man, by the name of Adam, who knowingly ate a meal from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that his wife Eve had given him. Jesus Christ answered the call to come to man’s rescue and was commissioned by His Father to come into the world on a mission expressly to save man from an eternal death and banishment from God. Why this great undertaking by God? It would have been a serious and a painful thing for God to let man suffer the consequence of sin but when you really love somebody, the way God loves you and me; it calls for a plan of action that only God, the great Intelligentsia from all eternity could set in motion. Listen to the Divine Logos, the Word that became flesh, in John 3:16, where He says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever (meaning even me) believeth in Him (Jesus the Son of God) should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God is not holding a grudge against any of us. He doesn’t want any of us to end up in hell. In the very next verse,John 3:17, He makes it very plain for he says, “For God sent not his Son into the world to Condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be Saved.” Jesus Christ is our only way to get off death row. There is on other way. The reason for the Church that Jesus Christ set up on earth is to carry the good news to all the earth for all mankind will know that God has made a way for all humankind to come to Him and live with Him eternally. As we see in the Scripture, Matthew 28:18-20, the church is God’s Agency set up on earth to spread the gospel of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Matthew, according to Pappias, was the source of the evangelistic tradition relating to the words of Jesus. The story of his call, under the name of Matthew or Levi, is told in all of the writers of the Gospel Accounts. There is reason to believe that in calling this publican or tax gatherer to discipleship, our LORD Jesus the Christ, had in view not merely ultimate service as an apostle, but immediate service in the meeting with the publicans; that, in short, Jesus associated Matthew with Himself that He might use him as an instrument for initiating a mission to the class to which he had belonged. Now what I am saying, to you, the readers of this writing, my brothers and my sisters alike, is that you have been called to discipleship and to be a witness to that class of people that you were associated with when you were called into the service of the LORD. Listen, when you were called in to serve it was not because you were smarter, more intelligent or more handsome or more beautiful than those around you. You were called out of darkness’ into God’s marvelous light because when you were on your way to hell, you called upon the name of Jesus. The hell hounds were on your trail and the weight of Your sin was weighing you down. There is an old hymn of the church that says, “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shores, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the seas, heard our despairing cry, from the waters He lifted me and safe am I. It was Love that lifted me and if you are saved today. It was love that lifted you, when nothing else could help. Love lifts us out of certain punishment that all of us deserve but its by the mercy of God He saves us and set us in God’s safety zone. He saved us out of a sin cursed and dying world so that we’re not part of the world, but we’re in the world to be witnesses to those that we once were associated with. So when Jesus calls us into service, sometimes He calls us into more than one form of immediate service. Like Matthew was called to discipleship, and later he was called to the apostleship, and then that of writing for the Master. In his old occupation as tax gatherer he was accustomed to writing. Here we see that his experience was utilized by Christ for noting down things that were worthy of record. The reason why so many people are not living up to their potential in Christ Jesus, they are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good. Whatever your occupation is or whatever your gift or talents, you can use the good aspects of it to advance the Kingdom of God. Like the little lunch that the lad had in the 6th chapter of John. As long as he kept the lunch in his hands, it was just enough to feed only him, but when it was placed in the hands of Jesus, It blessed five thousand men plus all the women and children that was there. And they were all filled. Whatever you have in your possession can be used for the glory of God. Your call to become a follower of Christ is a call to become a fisher of men. A soldier in God’s Army and an ambassador for Christ. Remember, we are not our own, we have been bought with a price. Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for us. He sacrificed His life that we might live. We belong to the LORD and rightfully so. This final word that we have of Jesus Christ, makes it known that He is the only king that is worthy of the speaker and of the situation. In this gospel we have what Jesus said to His disciples at a certain time and place. Take note that the speech of Jesus is clear and majestic. He who was the God-man, He that was crucified on just a few days ago, He is now the risen LORD who had given His earthly life as a ransom for all mankind. He had come to seek and save that which was lost. He was the promised redeemer. It was in Him and through Him the plan of Salvation came. When Man fell from his state of Innocence and holiness, through his fall every man, woman, girl and boy born into the world are born into a state of sin, condemnation, and the bondage of Satan. But God promised man a Redeemer and a Savior who would deliver mankind from sin. Gen 3:15 God promised that it would be through the seed of the woman a victorious SON would come to redeem mankind. And down through forty-two generations He came. He came in the person of Jesus who was the incarnated SON of God; He was God in the flesh. He walked among men. He came to the world that He created and yet He walked upon the dusty ground from which He formed man and where His cattle of a thousand hills graze. He walked under the starry skies that He set in the heavens and under the Sun and And moon that He created. He walked upon the water and even spoke to the winds and the boisterous waves and even exercised His Divine Authority over them when He commanded “peace be still. With His word He healed the sick. With His word He gave sight to the blind. With His word He cleansed the lepers. With His word on earth and under the heavens that He created He fed the hungry. With His word He set the captives free. With His Living WORD ON the CROSS of Calvary He brought Salvation to a sin cursed dying world. Dear readers, my sisters and my brothers, It’s not about us, but it is about Him. His righteousness, His Justice was abused. Man is guilty of abusing God in every aspect of the word. There is none righteous and all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But God is not willing that any one should perish but that all of come to repentance. God loves you and God comes to you right now calling you to come to Him. Listen to Him. Listen to His Word. He loves each and every one of us unconditionally. To the Church I say, let’s be on fire for Christ. One songwriter wrote, “Get all excited. Go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King. Get all excited. Go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is king. Jesus Christ is still the King of kings.” Well let us dwell on this “telling everybody” thing. Who should we target for receiving the good news of Jesus Christ? The gospel of Matthew says to target “all nations”. The great commission does not specify age groups or age limits nor does it put the emphasis on men, women or children. When we read the gospel according to Mark 16:15, it does tell us t0 preach the gospel to every creature. Of course Christ is concern with every living being and the gospel call goes out to all. In Mark 10:13 -16, it teaches us about His love and concern about children. “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Jesus loves and cares for children just he cares for the men and women that he invites to come to him. The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not discriminate against any race, creed or color. The great apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans wrote, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, bring glad tidings of good things!”. Previously I said the speech of Jesus is majestic, but His bearing is friendly, and as He comes He sets us free from doubt and fear. Listen to Him. This heavenly dignified glorious communication of power and authority is used to convey divine revelation to those who have been sitting at the feet of The Master Teacher. The disciples had walked with Him. They had talked with Him and their hands handled Him. He was the WORD of life. He now declares “All power!” Every form of Authority that there is and ever will be is in His hand. He is now in the position and possession of all power. This is He in command of all means necessary for the advancement of The Kingdom of God. “All power” points to being seated on His Celestial Throne at the Right Hand of The Father. Jesus speaks as one already in Heaven. As a result the great Commission to the Apostles and His Church arises out of the power that is claimed. All power that is in heaven and in earth has been given in my hand, go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations. In other words, make the power and authority a reality in the lives of people. You now have it. Go! Baptizing them in the Name of The Father and of The Son, and Of the Holy Ghost! Notice Jesus doesn’t say names of and He doesn’t say name of the Father and the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Ghost because you might think that the trinity is three gods. But because we serve one Triune God and His Name Is Jesus. There’s power in that Name. At the name of Jesus Devils flee and demons flee. Jesus goes on to say, “Teaching them to observe all things that that He has commanded and, lo, I AM, with you to the end of the world (Age). I AM the risen One; I Am the All Powerful One. Not I will be, not I may be, but, I Am with you alway, not always, but alway, until the end of the age.” That’s why He is coming again after a Church without spot or wrinkle. This is the promise of the exalted LORD of lords and King of kings. He is the Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last. He is God over all, blessed for ever more. This is Christ whose birth, death, and resurrection brought hope to a sin cursed dying world. Jesus is God’s Servant seeking to save lost troubled souls from eternal death and banishment from God.
Wow! Great article.