Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Church and the Great Commission

As the church expanded through evangelism, Paul interpreted the job description and promise given to Abraham in terms of worldwide evangelism. He reminded us all, "The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God" (Gal 3:7 NLT). That means the Abrahamic promise applies to us. This is so, becasue "all of God's promises have been fulfilled in [Jesus Christ] (2 Cor 1:20). And it meant the mandate applies to us.



The Scriptures had looked forward to this time when God would accept Gentiles too, on the basis of their faith. God promised this good news to Abraham long ago, when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you" (Gal 3:8; quoting Gen 12:3). It is through Abraham's descendants that the nations would be blessed (Gen 26:4; 28:14), and such we are (Gal 3:7).



So we must go and send. We must be a blessing to the nations, if we are not to deny ourselves of God's covenantal blessing for obedience. And being a blessing to the lost requires that we bless them by turning each of them from their wicked ways (Acts 3:26)

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