The Hope of the Nations

The Good News of Jesus and his victory over death offers hope, life, and salvation and life to men and women of every nation.

Jesus sent his disciples to announce his Lordship and Salvation “to the ends of the Earth.” The promise of the Abrahamic Covenant to bless all nations through the Patriarch’s “seed” has come to fruition through the Nazarene. The covenant promises were never limited to the nation of Israel or the small territory of Palestine.

The Age of Salvation commenced with Christ’s Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement. His life-giving message must, therefore, be announced to all men, women, and every nation. The Son of God has achieved salvation for his people, and everlasting life is offered to one and all – (Isaiah 11:10, Matthew 12:21).

[Photo by Joshua Kettle (Germany) on Unsplash]

God exalted Jesus of Nazareth to the Messianic Throne as promised in the Scriptures. He is the King and Messiah “upon whom the Gentiles hope,” and in him alone, “all God’s promises find their yea and amen” - (Romans 15:12, 2 Corinthians 1:20):

• “I will tell of the decree! Yahweh said to me, You are my son! This day, I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” – (Psalm 2:7-8).

• “Behold, my Servant, whom I uphold. My Chosen, in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations” – (Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 12:18).

For this reason, Jesus now sends his emissaries to announce his sovereignty to humanity, and by giving the Gift of the Spirit to his Church, the King of Israel has empowered his disciples to proclaim his Good News throughout the Earth:

• “Thus, it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” – (Luke 24:46-47).

• “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).

This salvation is for men, women, and children of every generation, people, and nation without exception. This hope is in fulfillment of God’s promise to the Patriarch, Abraham, a hope confirmed by the prophets of Israel, and centuries later, by Jesus and his Apostles.

Christ is the promised “seed of Abraham” in whom the nations will trust, and he himself is our salvation and hope:

• “I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand upon the seashore <…> In your seed will all the nations of the Earth be blessed, because you obeyed my voice” – (Genesis 22:17).

• “They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea. And it will come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse that stands for an ensign of the peoples, unto him will the nations seek, and his resting-place will be glorious” - (Isaiah 11:9-10).

• “For I say that Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, and that the nations might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, therefore, I will give praise to you among the Nations, and sing to your Name. And again he declares, Rejoice, you nations with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all you nations, and let all the peoples praise him. And again, Isaiah declares, There will be the root of Jesse, and he that rises to rule over the nations. On him will the nations hope - (Romans 15:8-12).

• “The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations from faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you will all the nations be blessed. So then, they that are from faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” – (Galatians 3:8-9).

This same Jesus from the insignificant village of Nazareth is the promised “seed of Abraham” through whom the covenant is fulfilled. The Messiah of Israel is fulfilling the promise by gathering the nations into the Kingdom of God as his Gospel is proclaimed “to the ends of the Earth.”

God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only born Son” so all men might believe and receive “everlasting life.” No man is worthy of his gracious gift. It is offered freely to all men – (John 3:16, Acts 2:36-38, Romans 3:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

Because of his suffering “for our sins,” God raised Christ from the dead and “highly exalted him, granting him the name that is above every name” – JESUS - the name that means “Yahweh saves,” for he was sent to “save his people from their sins,” including the nations of the Earth – (Matthew 1:21).

The salvation promised by the God of Abraham is now offered to men from every nation. His Son is “the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth,” and he is “shepherding the nations” to salvation. He will do so until the day when we stand before him in “New Jerusalem” as a vast “innumerable multitude” of men purchased from “every nation, people, tribe and tongue”– (Philippians 2:6-11, Revelation 1:4-6, 7:9-17, 12:5-11).

Christ’s death voided the legal claim of Satan over humanity, and his resurrection from the dead 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 every man and nation must hear, an act of deliverance for all men that no political ideology, school of philosophy, or manmade religious tradition can ever hope to accomplish – (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Philippians 2:6-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:6-8,3:21, 5:5-14).

ONE MESSAGE FOR ALL

Because of his Death and Resurrection, anyone may 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 us, his disciples, the sentence of death will be reversed when he raises us from the dead on the last day – (1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 15:50-57).

Considering this gracious offer, the only rational response is to place our faith in Jesus and what God has accomplished through his “obedience unto death.” God is forming a new people composed of men and women from every nation redeemed by Christ’s blood. Every person who places faith and hope in Jesus becomes a member of this holy community – (Ephesians 2:15).

This is “Good News” for every man, woman, and child. This message transcends all national and cultural boundaries. Christ’s 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, this is a universal message and religion. All men have sinned. Everyone needs forgiveness, salvation, and everlasting life. No one deserves it, “No, not one,” but God offers it freely to everyone through His Son.

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SEE ALSO:

• His Name is Jesus! - (Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In this Man of Nazareth, the Salvation promised by the God of Abraham and Israel has arrived for all men)

• No Other Name! - (Jesus Christ fulfills God’s promise to bless all nations through His Covenant with Abraham. There is salvation in No Other Name)

• The Age of Salvation - (With the Death, Resurrection, and Exaltation of Jesus, the Gospel arrived for all men and every nation to hear and believe)

• L'Espoir des Nations - (La Bonne Nouvelle de Jésus et sa victoire sur la mort offrent espoir, vie, salut et vie aux hommes et aux femmes de toutes les nations)