Salvation for All
After his resurrection, Jesus declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!” As the Sovereign over all things, he dispatched his disciples to announce his Lordship and Salvation to the “uttermost parts of the Earth.” The Era of Salvation commenced following his death and resurrection; therefore, the message of reconciliation must be announced across the Earth. The man named ‘Jesus’ had achieved salvation for his people.
God exalted Jesus to the Messianic Throne where he now reigns
over all things, just as promised in the Scriptures: “I will give you
the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your
possession” – (Psalm 2:8).
 |
| [Photo by Matthew Rumph on Unsplash] |
Because of his enthronement, he now empowers his followers to preach his Good News to the entire planet. “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 2:8).
For this reason,
the
entire creation proclaims
him “worthy” to rule over the Earth, indeed, over the
entire Cosmos: “You are worthy to take the Scroll and open its seals BECAUSE
you were slain and purchased for God with your blood men from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, and made
them a kingdom, priests for our God, and they reign upon the Earth” -
(Revelation 5:9-10).
Because of his death “for our sins,” God raised him
from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above
every name,” – JESUS, the “Salvation of Yahweh.” He is the one who
will reign on the Davidic Throne forevermore, and he is now the “King of
kings” and the “Ruler of the kings of the Earth.”
Therefore, the nations of the Earth now belong to him, and no
longer to the Devil. The covenant promises to Abraham to “bless all nations”
is being fulfilled as the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is announced to all
humanity – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).
NO DISTINCTION
In the man from Nazareth, the one God who created all men has
“spoken” definitively and with great finality, especially in his death
and resurrection. The words given previously “in the prophets” were true
enough, but partial and preparatory. It is His Son alone who “achieved the
purification of sin,” therefore, he now sits “at the right hand of
the Majesty on High places” as the Great High
Priest who mediates life for his people. Only Jesus attained the Salvation that
was foretold by the “prophets,” the “purification of sins” – (Hebrews
1:1-4).
The “righteousness of God” is now available
to all men “through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe, for there is no distinction.” The
offer of Salvation is open to all men because of the faithful obedience of
Jesus, the one who “died for our sins” even while we were yet “enemies
of God” – (Romans 3:21-22).
Sin is the Great Leveler that previously
condemned every man, woman, and child to bondage, decay, hopelessness, and
death. In the end, neither ethnicity nor economic status made any difference. Death
awaits one and all.
Because of his sacrificial death, anyone may receive right standing before God, and on the same basis, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, poor or rich; namely, “from the faith of Jesus Christ.” In response to his faithful act, the penitent man is acquitted by God by placing faith in Jesus and what God accomplished in him.
In his declaration to the assemblies of Rome, the Apostle Paul employed
his radical monotheism to make
the point. The one God of Israel is the God of both Jews and Gentiles. No man
or woman is advantaged or disadvantaged before Him because of biological
descent or national origin:
“Or is He the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, of the Gentiles also, if so be that GOD IS
ONE, and
he will
justify the circumcision from faith, and the uncircumcision
through the faith” –
(Romans 3:29-30).
THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD
Ever
since His Son “achieved the purification of sins,” God has been CREATING
A NEW COMMUNITY composed of men and women from every nation who have been redeemed
by the blood of Jesus.
- “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” - (1 Peter 2:9).
In the
preceding passage, each noun is in the SINGULAR number – one
priesthood, one nation, one people. Regardless of their nationality,
Jesus is forming men and women into one new humanity conformed to his image. Every
person who places faith in him and submits to his rule becomes a member of this
community and a “priest” in His Kingdom tasked with reflecting his light
in a very dark world – (Ephesians 2:15).
 |
| [Photo by Joseph Sintum on Unsplash] |
No nation, civilization, or political ideology can claim Jesus as its exclusive property. His announcement of Salvation is a message of life and hope for every man, woman, and child on the planet, therefore, it transcends all national and cultural boundaries. His domain is a UNIVERSAL kingdom, and he and his priestly representatives proclaim one message to all humanity, including the nations of the Earth.
Since
this Gospel is for everyone, in the truest sense,
it is a universal faith and religion. All men have sinned. Every man needs
Salvation and everlasting life. No one deserves it, but God graciously offers
it to everyone “freely” throughout the Earth.
Finally,
this Salvation is offered on the same basis to every man, namely, from the faith
of Jesus Christ. All we can do is respond in repentance and faith to what
God has achieved for us through the death and resurrection of His Son. The
offer of Salvation is open to one and all.
RELATED POSTS:
Comments
Post a Comment