Go into all the world and preach the gospel was the charge the Lord gave to His disciples (Matthew 28.18-20; Mark 16.15-16). The Lord’s people took the charge of the Apostles in Acts 8 and went everywhere preaching the word (8.4). According to Paul’s letter to the Colossians, this was accomplished (1.23). As they preached the word, they were living the life mastered in morality and spirituality. Our charge is not different and it must be adhered to and demonstrated to everyone we come in contact with.
Jesus in His sermon on the mount gave Pentecost pointers, gospel previews and kingdom principles to those Galilean Jews. Being a moral culture in the midst of an immoral world should not be difficult, but unfortunately it is at times, especially with all of the modern-day allurements that confront us (Matthew 5-7). Our charge is to master the “B-Attitudes”, the “Christian Graces” and the “Fruit of the Spirit“. Just as Noah (a preacher of righteousness) had to proclaim and live amongst immorality, we have to as well (2 Pet. 2.5). Yet, we’re made aware of Noah’s life condemning the world through righteous behavior (Heb. 11.7). Our charge is to live a life full of salt and beaming with light before those who are in the dark (Matthew 5.13-16).
When reading the Sermon on the Mount, the “Blessed” should cause us to consider our minds and hearts before God and man. Powerful sayings such as blessed are the “poor in spirit” or the “meek or merciful” should captivate the attention of those who see them exuded in our character. These beautiful sayings aren’t found in the political realm nor in the social atmospheres of our culture. These are mind changing, life-altering and eternal adjusting to those who see Christ living in us (Colossians 1.27). These character-building truths grant us hope and assurance and truly we are the only hope for the world. For this reason we must take the gospel to the world today, for now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6.2).
As we go and preach the message of Jesus Christ, let us never forget what we’re to preach. Jesus upon His ascension to the Father said, “thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that REPENTANCE and REMISSION OF SINS should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem”. (Luke 24.46-47). It is through this powerful message we persuade men and women to leave the pleasures of lust and sin and turn towards righteousness (Matthew 9.12-13). The church of Christ alone has the obligation to teach everyone the good news of Jesus overcoming death by mastering morality and maintaining righteousness (Acts 10.34-43). Hopefully people will see the need to leave ignorance, blindness, lewdness and hard-heartedness and turn to the Lord (Ephesians 4.17-19).
Our charge is to demonstrate through the scriptures why the Lord was raised from the dead and how this affects every man alive. Paul told the Romans that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (1.4). This should cause the sinner to at least consider changing their character and conduct. This should cause us to work on our explanation to those who struggle in their character. When we demonstrate the beauty of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead because of holiness, then the one outside of holiness should have a desire to hear what they must do to be saved (Acts 2.37).
As the church of Christ, we cannot get the message of hope and salvation in the reverse order. Once a person realizes what the Lord did (obey the Father’s will) to save us, then we can discuss deeper truths like the church, repentance and salvation. Keep in mind that our aim is to develop the minds of man through righteous teaching (Titus 3.3-5). The human condition is and will always be lying in wickedness, but we can do our part in shedding some light on the situation at hand (1 John 5.19). Let us do our part in being wise in our approach (Pro. 11.30). Let us use words, which convey clear and concise messages (Pro. 25.11). Let us be mindful of the time it takes to truly make a disciple for the Lord (Matthew 28.18-19).
OUR OFFICIAL CHARGE AS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.