Salvation for the Nations

After his Resurrection, Jesus declared: “All authority in Heaven and on Earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!” He therefore sent his disciples to announce his Lordship and Salvation to the “ends of the Earth.” The Era of Salvation commenced with his Death and Resurrection, and his life-giving message must be announced to all men. The Son of God has obtained salvation for his people!

God exalted Jesus to reign from His throne as promised in the Scriptures: “I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession,” and therefore he now sends his disciples as ambassadors to announce his Kingdom to all nations and peoples, including the “kings of the Earth” – (Psalm 2:8).

[Photo by Jackson Eaves on Unsplash]

By granting the Gift of the Spirit to them, Jesus empowers his followers to proclaim his Good News to the entire world - “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 1:8).

Salvation is for men and women of every nation without exception. Jesus died and God raised him from the dead. Therefore, they no longer live for themselves but for Him, and now in the newness of life. God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only Son” so all men might believe and receive “everlasting life” – (John 3:16, Acts 2:36-38, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

Because he suffered “for our sins,” God raised Jesus from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above every name,” JESUS. In one way or another, all men will bow their knees to that name and acknowledge him as “Lord.”

Thus, the salvation promised by the God of Israel has become real and available to all men through Jesus, and he is now “shepherding the nations” until the day when they stand before him in “New Jerusalem” – (Philippians 2:6-11, Revelation 1:4-6, 7:9-17, 12:5-11, 21:24).

All nations belong to him. His sacrificial death voided the legal claim of Satan over humanity, and his resurrection broke the iron grip of Death that held us all. This is a radical message of liberation from the tyranny of Sin, Satan, and Death that all men must hear – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).

ONE MESSAGE, ONE PEOPLE

God has “spoken” with finality in and through His Son. Only Jesus “achieved the purification of sin,” therefore, he reigns “at the right hand of the Majesty on High places” as the Great High Priest who mediates salvation and life to his people. He alone provides salvation and the forgiveness of sins to every man who acknowledges his Lordship and embraces his message – (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Salvation is available to all men “through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe, for there is no distinction.” The offer of life is available to all men because of the faithful obedience of the Son of God, the one who “died for our sins” even when we were “enemies of God” and “dead in our trespasses” – (Romans 3:21-22).

Sin is the Great Leveler that condemns every man, woman, and child to bondage, decay, hopelessness, and death. Neither ethnicity, political power, nor economic status will make any difference. Death awaits us all.

Because of his Death and Resurrection, anyone may now receive the forgiveness of sins and justification before God, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor; namely, “from the faith of Jesus Christ.” Death still occurs, but for his disciples, it will be reversed when he raises them from the dead on the last day – (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).

Considering his faithful act for us when we deserved condemnation and death, we must respond to his gracious offer by placing faith in Jesus and what God accomplished in him. To refuse to do so is the height of folly.

God is forming a new community composed of men and women from every nation redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the ‘Ekklésia’, the “Assembly.” Every person who places faith in Jesus becomes a member of this holy community and receives salvation – (Ephesians 2:15).

[Photo by Curren Podlesny on Unsplash]

His Gospel is a message of life and hope for every man, woman, and child. It transcends all national and cultural boundaries. His disciples proclaim one message for all men, whether “Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus” – (Galatians 3:28).

In the truest sense, his “Good News” is a universal message and world religion. All men have sinned. Everyone needs forgiveness, salvation, and everlasting life. No one deserves this salvation, but God offers it to one and all through His Son, and “freely” so.

Finally, salvation is provided on the same basis to every man, woman, and child, namely, from the faith of Jesus Christ. All we can do is respond with repentance and faith to God’s offer and the self-sacrificial act of the Nazarene who “gave his life as a ransom for many.”

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RELATED POSTS:

• The Mission - (The church’s mission between now and the return of Jesus is to announce the Good News of his Kingdom to all nations – Matthew 24:14)

• The Light of the World - (Jesus is the only true light in the world, a light that shines all the brighter in the darkness, and this light means life for men and women)

• His Name is Jesus! - ('Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the man from Nazareth, the salvation promised by the God of Israel arrived in all its glory)