Sent, For His Glory

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit..." | John 20:21-22 (ESV)

These verses are a clear reminder that the Gospel is supposed to move Christians outward, towards people. Jesus, the one sent by the Father to save the world (John 3:17), became the Sender, commissioning his disciples to serve with the Gospel identity of ambassadors (John 17:18). And what we see clearly in the Johannine "Great Commission" is that all three persons of the Godhead are involved in this commissioning: as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends his disciples, equipping them (as a foretaste of Pentecost) with the Holy Spirit.

C.H. Spurgeon, the 19th Century British pastor and theologian, said...

"Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter."

Does this mean that every Christian is called to pack their bags, leave the comfort of their homeland, and set sail for some remote jungle in Ecuador? Of course it doesn't, but what it does mean is that Christians are all on mission; the same mission. Just as the Father sent the Son, so too the Son has sent us empowered by the Holy Spirit, to live into our mission of making disciples.

Why did Christianity spread so rapidly in the first century church? Because the early church understood and lived into their calling as missionaries. Every Christian did evangelism — and they did so endlessly. In his book, Center Church, Tim Keller speaks of the reason why the the early church was effective in their evangelism. 

"Numerous passages indicate that every Christian was expected to evangelize, follow up, nurture, and teach people the Word. This happened relationally — one person bringing the gospel to another within the context of a relationship."

Brothers and sisters, we must begin to see this expectation for ourselves as well. Our mission is no different than the mission of the early church. We are missionaries sent by Christ into the world (i.e. our neighborhoods, our communities, our vocations, our families etc) to share the Gospel and make disciples. This is our mission. Regardless how you choose to slice it, you are an ambassador for Christ and God is making his appeal to the world, through you. Trust in the power of the Holy Spirit and walk in faith and obedience to the call that God has placed on your life. 

Go, and make disciples!


For His Glory,

Pastor Jason