Daily Lesson for Wednesday 11th of October 2023

Throughout history, God has always had those who faithfully represented His character and, in obedience, followed His purposes. God’s people are those who have been called and who have accepted His invitation to be partakers of His grace. All of them have been—and continue to be—God’s instruments for the fulfillment of His mission.

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God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants had a specific purpose. They were called, created, and commissioned to be agents of God’s mission—channels of blessings to the nations (compare with Deuteronomy 28:10, Isaiah 49:6). However, they were chosen within a covenant relationship with God, based on an implied conditionality of faith and obedience (Genesis 22:16-18; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 2 Chronicles 7:14). This process, that of attracting the surrounding nations to Israel, was God’s “mission strategy” in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, God’s mission continues. The risen Lord and Savior now launches a renewed “mission strategy” (see Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) in which Christ’s disciples—who comprise the church—go out in mission to the whole world instead of, as with ancient Israel, the world coming to it. Mission did not originate with the church. On the contrary, the church exists because God still has a mission to be fulfilled and is using His church to fulfill it.

Yet, a question remains: What is the church’s mission? It is the same as that of the One who called the church into existence: “ ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’ ” (Luke 19:10, NIV). Though none of us in the church can save anyone, we can and must point others to the only One who can save, Jesus Christ.

“The mission of the church of Christ is to save perishing sinners. It is to make known the love of God to men and to win them to Christ by the efficacy of that love.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 381. What a privilege and tremendous responsibility!

Amen!(0)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/23d-02-gods-people-the-channels-of-mission/

Daily Lesson for Tuesday 10th of October 2023

This is the only place in Scripture in which the words “eternal” and “gospel” are connected. The gospel is the good news of grace offered to all through Jesus Christ. He came into our world to show us “grace and truth” (John 1:14). He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice to bear the penalty of our sins (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 3:18). He rose to life, returned to heaven, was exalted by the Father, and today intercedes for us in the heavenly sanctuary (Revelation 1:18, Acts 2:33, Hebrews 7:25). He will soon fulfill His greatest promise—to return in majesty and glory and, ultimately, after the millennium to establish God’s kingdom on earth (John 14:1-4, Acts 1:11, Revelation 21:1-4). These are all essential realities of the eternal gospel.

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Nevertheless, the fact that this message is eternal is remarkable. There is only one gospel that can save us. It will remain the same until the mission of God is fully accomplished. There will never be another gospel. Deceitful teachings and doctrines come and go (Ephesians 4:14), but the message of salvation, the eternal gospel, is unchanging, and those who believe and live it in obedience will be rewarded (see Deuteronomy 5:33, Romans 2:6).

The same commission given to the first disciples also is given to us today. We must continue the task of making disciples for Christ everywhere. But what kind of disciples? Good, honest, fully devoted, loving people? These traits are essential, but they are not enough. We must make disciples focused on all biblical elements of discipleship (Luke 9:23; John 13:34-35; 2 Corinthians 5:17) with an ultimate purpose: being prepared and preparing others for the second coming of the Master, Jesus Christ.

“The proclamation of the judgment [Revelation 14:6-7] is an announcement of Christ’s second coming as at hand. And this proclamation is called the everlasting gospel. Thus the preaching of Christ’s second coming, the announcement of its nearness, is shown to be an essential part of the gospel message.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 227, 228.

Amen!(0)

The post Tuesday: The Eternal Gospel: The Message of Mission appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/23d-02-the-eternal-gospel-the-message-of-mission/