We read one of our 'commissions' today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Mark 16:15-20:
15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]. 16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned. 17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied [it]. Amen (so be it).
From the very first thought that God had to make mankind with the ability to choose, He knew that He had to have a plan for our Salvation in place for WHEN, not IF, we would fall! Giving us the ability to choose for ourselves, then giving us a way out of our rebellion, reveals the DEEP love that HE has for us! Whenever someone asks you how a good God can 'send someone to hell', tell them that our GOOD GOD made a Way of salvation. Every person CHOOSES whether to accept that Salvation or not! So, in reality, anyone who ends up in the hell of the Bible sent themselves there! THAT is why it is so important for us to obey our Commissions! This one and the one in Matthew 28:19-20. These are in place because of THIS in John 3:16-18:
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. 18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]
AMEN! The LOVE of God for us should never come into question again! AND, He has promised to confirm the Message we bring with signs, wonder and miracles (Mark 16:20 above)! We have a fail proof job! So what's holding us back? NOTHING! Let's "GO"! (Hillsong United)
Shalom in Him!
