05/10/2021
Mat 28 v 16-20

Preaching the good news

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (vers 19-20)

For God so loved the world

The first question we should ask ourselves, is do we know the true meaning of preaching the good news or is the gospel presented in the bible only reserved for the “elect few”, either to teach or to receive?

Without letting this sound like a sermon, I believe it is important to understand that the good news is available for everyone to hear and respond to, “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the WORLD, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3 v 16) [AMP].

Does this mean that anyone can teach the word, preaching the good news?
Your answer to this question probably depends on your background and upbringing in the church or perhaps you were never church bound to begin with and believe, as I do, that the body (of Christ) should practice the gifts of the Spirit, which includes teaching, should you be called to do so.

An instruction from the Lord

There could be an argument that Jesus only instructed His disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations, through preaching the good news and baptizing these people in His name, but in vers 20 He says that they (His disciples), should teach others to “observe all that He has commanded them” [paraphrase].

I believe this includes sharing the gospel, which also includes the breaking of bread whenever we have fellowship. We are called to be the “light to the world” and the “salt of the earth” (Mat 5 v 13-16). As we know salt preserves goodness, while light prevents you from stumbling in the dark.

If only an elect few were privileged to teach and receive the good news, what hope is there for the rest of us? We serve a righteous, just and loving God, who gave part of Himself, in the form of His Son, who suffered at the hands of mankind, to offer penance for our sin and overcame death through His resurrection.

Therefore, preaching the good news should form part of our Christian walk if we are to observe everything the Lord has instructed. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the Word of God and the only way to be reconciled with God.

This truth will set you free from your bondage to sin and if you read this and realise that you cannot continue on this path of self-destruction, do not harden your heart. Allow the Lord to renew your mind and save you from this perverse world.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by “The Lockman Foundation”

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay