THE SUPREME SACRIFICE AND THE GREAT COMMISSION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18, 2022.

SUBJECT: THE SUPREME SACRIFICE AND THE GREAT COMMISSION!

Memory verse:  "And He said to them, “Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16 vs 15.) 

READ: Second Corinthians 8 vs 9; Philippians 2 vs 6 - 8:

Second Corinthians 8:9: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor that you through His poverty might become rich.

Philippians 2:6: Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 

2:7: But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

2:8: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross.

INTIMATION:

In the beginning God created us in His image and after His likeness. He created us out of love, modeled us to be like Him, and to live the best of life without lack or want. But our first parents were grossly influenced that they doubted God’s integrity, and disobeyed Him. It was for the reason of our haven done things wrong; disobeyed God’s laws, that we were separated from God our Creator. Separation from God is death; but, by ourselves, we can do nothing to become reunited with God.

His sincere, and genuine love, and concern for us occasioned His sending His only begotten Son to the world for our liberation. His Son, Jesus, was God’s unique Son, Who never disobeyed God and never sinned. Consequently, only Jesus can bridge the gap between the sinless God and sinful people. Jesus’ incarnation was the act of the preexistent Son of God voluntarily assuming a human body and human nature. Without ceasing to be God, He became a human being, the man called Jesus. He didn’t give up His deity to become human, but He set aside the right to His glory and power. 

Jesus came as a propitiation for us, freely offered His life for us; He knew no sin, but was made sin for our sakes, taking all our wrongdoing upon Himself, dying a shameful death on the cross in our place, and saving us from the consequences of sin—including God’s judgement and death. He gave His life so that we can have life, not only having life, but having it more abundantly.

Jesus took our past, present, and future sins upon Himself so that we could have new life. Because all our wrongdoing is forgiven, we are reconciled to God. Furthermore, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the proof that His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross was acceptable to God, and His resurrection has become the source of new life for those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. All who believe in Him may have this new life and live it in union with Him.

Jesus, as a Deity, was rich in all things; haven all things created by Him and for Him. But He became poor by giving up His rights as God and becoming human. In His incarnation, God voluntarily became man—the person Jesus of Nazareth. As a man, Jesus was subject to place, time, and other human limitations. He did not give up His eternal power when He became human, but He did set aside His glory and His rights. In response to the Father’s Will, He limited His power and knowledge. Christ became poor when He became human because He set aside so much. Yet by doing so, He made us rich because we received salvation and eternal life. What a “SUPREME SACRIFICE!”

After haven done this great and supreme sacrifice, that had never been done, and would never be done by any again, Jesus made a request on His followers—His disciples; to go into all the world, telling everyone “the Good News,” that He had paid the penalty for our sins and those who believe in Him can be forgiven and live eternally with God. 

We, as followers of Jesus, are commissioned to spread the “Good News,” and this is the “Great Commission!” Christians today in all parts of the world are telling this gospel to people who haven’t heard about Jesus. We should do this in response to the supreme sacrifice He made for us out of love, and we should return this love by obeying His command. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14 vs 15).

The driving power that carries missionaries around the world and sets Christ’s church in motion is the faith that comes from the Resurrection. Do you ever feel as though you don’t have the skill or determination to be a witness for Christ? You must personally realize that Jesus rose from the dead and lives for you today. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, He will give you both the opportunities and the inner strength to tell His message.

Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10 vs 32.) Do you want Jesus to confess you before the Father in heaven? Then engage in the “Great Commission;” witnessing for Christ here and now. 

This is the only request Jesus made on us after He had made the aforesaid sacrifices for us. He sacrificed something of immeasurable value for something completely worthless! What a sacrifice! He has not left us alone in this service, but promised to be with us always, even up to the end of age, and has accomplished this in the Person of the Holy Spirit—Jesus in Spirit form, indwelling us.

Therefore, haven all these done for you, and all these promises made to you, what excuse do you have not to engage in witnessing for Jesus? Not doing this is, in my considered opinion, gross disobedience, denying the Savior before men, and consequently, the Savior’s denying you before His Father in heaven! 

Prayer: Abba Father, there is nothing I can do to adequately compensate for what You did for me in redemption? Virtually nothing! Not obeying You in engaging in the “Great Commission” is not just disobedience to You, but also wickedness, and selfishness on the part of any Christian. May I live to obey You all the days of my life, and confess You before men in this world, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!