Tag: witnesses

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Romans

The need for us to go

Romans

We’ve talked about this not too long ago, so this should be short and sweet. I’ve mentioned before that we were chosen before the beginning of the world to be God’s children.

There have been, however, Christians who have taken this concept too far and said, “Well, if God has already chosen those who will be saved, there’s no need for us to go out and evangelize them.”

That kind of thinking overlooks one key thing. God commands us to go.

The reason: though he doesn’t need us to evangelize, nevertheless, he chooses to spread his gospel through us. He has given us the keys to his kingdom.

But if we don’t use them, people will not be saved.

That’s why Paul says,

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?

And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14)

These are all rhetorical questions, and the answer is crystal clear to all of them. People can’t.

They can’t call on the one they haven’t believed in. They can’t believe in the one they have not heard. And they cannot hear without someone preaching to them.

Paul then says,

And how can they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:15)

Again, the answer is that they can’t.

But here’s the thing to note: God has called all of us who are believers to go. All of us have been commissioned by him to go and share his gospel.

Jesus told his disciples and us,

As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 20:21)

And again,

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

We don’t need to wait for him to send us. He already has.

So Paul says of those who take the gospel out,

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10:15b)

How about you? You’ve been given the keys to the kingdom.

What are you doing with them?

Categories
Acts

Chosen…to go

Acts

I said yesterday there were two stories in Acts that shows both the election of God, man’s choice, and our need to go and spread the gospel.

Looking at today’s story, I think I should make that three stories. (The third is that of Cornelius in chapter 10).

Here is Saul, a Pharisee, totally hardened to Christ, and determined to wipe all Christians off the face of the earth. And had God simply let him be, he would have gone straight to hell.

But then God intervened. Why? Because he chose to save him. We see this in God’s conversation with Ananias.

When God told Ananias to go and help Saul, Ananias basically said, “God, are you serious? Don’t you know this guy is trying to kill us?”

God’s answer?

Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. (Acts 9:15)

I alluded to this yesterday, but God’s answer here again blows up the argument of, “If God has determined that certain people be saved, then we don’t have to do anything. We don’t have to go and evangelize others. God’s already chosen those who will be saved.”

Can you imagine Ananias using that type of reasoning with God?

“Well God, if you’ve already chosen him, there’s no reason for me to go.”

How would that line of reasoning flown with God? Not very well I suspect.

Why? Because God commanded Ananias to go. And he has commanded us to go as well.

Certainly, God could save people without our help. But for the most part, he has chosen to effect his salvation through us. He has put the keys of the kingdom in our hands. And if we don’t go, those gates will remain locked to those who don’t know him.

Note that particularly in this story and in the story of Cornelius, while Jesus appeared directly to Saul, and an angel appeared directly to Cornelius, still God required that his people go and talk to them.

He requires the same of us.

Ananias was chosen by God and told to go.

Phillip in chapter 8 was also chosen and told to go.

And we see here in this chapter that God called Saul also that he might go and preach the gospel to both Jew and Gentile.

You were chosen to go as well.

I heard someone say something once that I’ve already remembered. He asked, “What are the first two letters of the word ‘God?'”

Then he asked, “What are the first three letters of the word ‘Satan?'”

What will you do?

Categories
Isaiah

Precious to God

Isaiah

This is probably one of my favorite if not favorite passages in scripture.

But now, this is what the Lord says– he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:  “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. 

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

The God who created us in the womb, who formed us into his masterpiece speaks here.

I have redeemed you. 

For the Israelites, this would have the idea of being led out of Egypt and the hands of their other captors. 

For us, it has a deeper meaning.  That through the cross of Christ, we’ve been redeemed from the penalty of sin.  That through his blood we have found forgiveness.

I have summoned you by name.  You are mine. 

We are not just one of billions of people here on this earth.  He knows us by our very name.  And when he looks at us, he says, “You are mine, my beloved child.”

When you pass through the waters I will be with you. 

Jesus says here, “When the waters in your life become too deep for you and things seem desperate, just as I was with Peter, I will be with you, taking your hand and leading you over the waves of life.”

When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. 

Here he’s saying, “Whatever trials you go through in life, you will make it through.  They will not overcome you as long as you trust in me.”

And then God goes on to say,

Because you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you.  (4)

This is probably a reference to God giving Egypt, Cush and Seba to Persia because of its kindness to Israel in letting the people return to their homeland. 

But in the same way, God considered us so precious and honored that he sent Jesus to die for our sins, taking our place on the cross.  He was given in exchange for us, so great was God’s love for us.

And then he promised that no matter how far gone they were, no matter how scattered among the nations they were, he would bring them back. 

The same is true with us.  No matter how far we have fallen from God, no matter how messed up our lives are, he will bring us back if we turn to him. 

No matter how blind or deaf we were to him, he will bring us back (8).

And now he calls us to be his witnesses.  To not just rest in his salvation, but to bring his salvation to the ends of the earth. 

He tells us,

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.”  (10)

What is the message that we are to give?

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.  I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.  (10b-11)

Or as Jesus said,

I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  (John 14: 6)

So as God’s precious and beloved children, let us take Jesus out into this world that others may know him too.