Kingdom Disciples

Christ’s Death and Resurrection are foundational and indispensable to the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles . The Apostle Paul discusses the future resurrection of believers in his second letter to Timothy in response to denials of this “ sound teaching .” Faith in the future resurrection is central to the doctrine of salvation proclaimed by Jesus and his Apostles. This teaching is utterly reliable since it is based on the historical Death and Resurrection of Jesus, and the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles – (Acts 1:21-22, 2 Timothy 1:13).

Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ Through Jesus of Nazareth, the God of Abraham brought His promised salvation to the world . The child carried by Mary was “ begotten of the Holy Spirit .” The angel instructed Joseph to name the child ‘Jesus’, because he came to deliver his people from their sins. His name pointed to the saving act of God for humanity that was about to unfold. Ever since then, men and women have experienced the ‘ Salvation of Yahweh ’ through Jesus of Nazareth.

With the Death, Resurrection, and Exaltation of Jesus, the Gospel arrived for all men and every nation to hear and believe . After his resurrection, Jesus declared: “ All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me; therefore, go and make disciples of all nations !” He then sent his disciples to announce his Lordship and Salvation to “ the ends of the Earth .” The Era of Salvation , the time of God’s Kingdom,  began with his Death and Resurrection; therefore, his  life-giving  message must be announced to all men.

Only Jesus is the Light of the World, the expression of God, and the source of truth, life, and salvation, and he alone reigns supreme . From time immemorial, presidents, kings, dictators, and religious deceivers have claimed to be humanity’s best hope for peace and prosperity, self-proclaimed bulwarks of order who hold back the darkness that threatens to overwhelm society. Today, this plague of pretenders is worse than ever,  especially in the churches and political arena of the United States of America .

We are not acquitted before God from the works of the Law but through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – Romans 3:21-26. Having demonstrated that all men violate God’s revealed will, Paul concludes that no one is acquitted before God “ from the works of the Law .” Instead, we are justified “ through the faith ” or faithfulness of Jesus. We are reconciled with our Creator because of the gracious act of the Messiah for us. Since we deserve condemnation and death, all we can do is respond with repentance and faith to what God has done through the obedient death of His Son.

The Good News announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to the men and women of every nation . After his resurrection, Jesus declared that “ all authority in heaven and on earth is given to me; therefore, go and make disciples of all nations !” Thus, he sent his disciples to announce his lordship and salvation to “ the ends of the Earth .” Christ’s  life-giving  message must be announced to all men and in every nation under heaven.

The fullness, grace, and truth of God are found only in the Word made Flesh, namely, Jesus Christ of Nazareth – John 1:14-18. The Gospel of John begins by introducing key themes that are expanded in the book - Life , Light , Witness , Truth , and Grace .  Jesus is the Light of the world , the source of Grace and Truth , the True Tabernacle and Temple where God dwells , and the only born Son of God who dwells in the “ bosom of the Father .” The Prologue concludes by declaring that Christ is qualified to interpret the unseen God since he alone has seen the Living God.

The righteousness of God refers to His faithfulness. He fulfills His promises, and this is demonstrated by the salvation He has provided in Jesus . Paul stresses the “ righteousness of God ” in his Letter to the Romans, the righteousness that is revealed whenever the Gospel is proclaimed. This message is the “ power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ,” including “ Jews and Greeks ” alike. Salvation is available to all men through the “ faith of Jesus Christ ,” God’s “ Righteous One ” (“ From faith for faith… My Righteous One will live from faith ”).

Paul connects the bodily resurrection of believers to the New Creation. Both events are vital for our redemption and our salvation . There is “ now no condemnation ” of anyone who is “ in Christ Jesus .” This happy condition exists because “ the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death .” In his  Letter to the Romans , the Apostle Paul links our salvation to the inheritance we have through Christ and the coming redemption of our bodies when Jesus returns – (Romans 8:1-2).

Central to the hope of the Apostolic Faith is the bodily resurrection of the dead. This will occur when Jesus appears at the end of the age . The biblical faith is forward-looking. Foundational to the doctrine of salvation is the resurrection of the righteous dead. That event will also mark the arrival of the New Creation. The New Testament links the resurrection of the saints to two events. The past Resurrection of Jesus, and his arrival at the end of the age. Our salvation will remain incomplete until Christ raises us from the dead.

Salvation and Redemption are found in no other name than ‘Jesus’. He alone achieved victory over Sin, Satan, and Death . Jesus of Nazareth declared: “ All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations .” He sent his disciples to announce the salvation purchased by his death to the “ ends of the Earth .” The Age of Salvation commenced with his Death and Resurrection; therefore, his  life-giving  message must be announced to all men. The Son of God has achieved salvation for his people!

Paul presents his gospel to the assemblies of Rome, a message for all men about God’s salvation and wrath . In his  Letter to the Romans , Paul describes the message of salvation that he proclaims among the nations. The “ Gospel of God ” is the “ power of God for salvation ” to all men who accept and believe it. Due to humanity’s sin, two forces are at work in the world -  righteousness  and  wrath . Through His son, God has provided the solution to humanity’s desperate plight, one that is available to all men through the “ faith of Jesus Christ .”

Jesus Christ fulfills the promise to bless all nations through Abraham. There is salvation in no other name but his . Foundational to the biblical doctrine of redemption is the Covenant that God made with Abraham and his “ seed .” This includes the promises to bless all nations and to grant the Patriarch descendants, “ as innumerable as the stars of heaven .” But how and when are the nations blessed, and who or what is the seed of the Patriarch destined to inherit the promises?

Jesus calls us to proclaim the Good News of his Kingdom to every nation and inhabited part of the Earth . The Message proclaimed by Jesus Christ is not about reforming civil society or governments. He summons all men to repent and join a radically new social order and a very different political reality, namely, the  Kingdom of God . His message is contrary to the political ideologies of this world. We must respond positively to his invitation since the end of the age is approaching when the existing order will disappear forever.

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.

What identifies the people of God and determines membership in His Assembly is Jesus, especially the Messiah revealed on the cross,  and nothing else ! This does not mean that the Law of Moses served no purpose, but it is not the basis for determining who is acquitted of sin by God. Right standing before Him is obtained “ through the faith OF Jesus Christ ,” and not “ from the deeds of the Law .”

The young rich man approached Jesus to ask what he should do to inherit everlasting life. In the passage, the reader is confronted with the cost of discipleship. In the version found in the Gospel of Matthew , this man is described as “ young ,” and in Luke , he is a “ ruler ,” presumably, of the local synagogue. He was someone of status in the community. His haste to ask this question points to his sincerity.

Before his Ascension, Jesus claimed to have been given “ all authority in Heaven and on Earth ,” therefore he would send his disciples to announce his Lordship and salvation to the “ nations ,” to the “ uttermost parts of the Earth .” The Era of Salvation commenced with his Death and Resurrection, and his Life-Giving message must therefore be proclaimed to all men, women, and children. Did he not die for the entire world and not just Israel?

In the first chapter of  First Thessalonians , Paul anticipates the Letter’s main subjects, including the tribulation of believers, Christian hope, and the “ arrival ” of Jesus when, as God did for the three Jewish exiles in the  Book of Daniel , he will rescue his people from “ wrath .” Moreover, he will resurrect the righteous dead, and “ meet ” his assembled saints as he descends from Heaven. On that day, his disciples, both the living and the dead, will “ obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ .”

Salvation includes the bodily resurrection of the saints and life in the New Creation, which will occur when Jesus arrives . Central to the doctrine of salvation is the promise of  redemption . God will not abandon what He first created, and both the term and the concept mean the  recovery of what was lost . The universe is enslaved by sin and condemned to decay and death. In God’s redemptive plans, the end state of redeemed things and persons is vastly superior to their original state, and this principle is epitomized in the promises of bodily Resurrection and New Creation.