It is mind boggling to think about how much information is shared through social media. People record videos, they filter photos, and they post updates. It's common in today's world for people to share private moments and public thoughts about anything and everything--- almost. The reason I say almost is:
Because out of hundreds of posts from Christians, very few of those posts tell of how good God is. When we asked Jesus to be our Savior, Jesus changed us. We should never shrink back from proclaiming our love for Him online or in person.
Today we're going to use several familiar passages of Scripture to stress the importance of us sharing Christ with the world. Telling others about Jesus is what helps to make a church be an authentic church. Authentic, because we truly care about other's salvation. PRAYER
The good news of Jesus Christ should be incorporated into a believer’s everyday life. We begin our story today in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus had been crucified and had risen from the dead. The lives of the disciples would take them in different directions, and they would move out of Jerusalem because of the persecution there.
But as always, God has a strategy for carrying the good news of salvation to the ends of the earth. And part of God's strategy involves each of us. That strategy simply requires us to make disciples wherever God places us at a given time. Whether that's in South America, Europe, Africa or right down the street. Jesus said it like this:
Matthew 28:18-20 – “Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
It was now about forty days after Jesus had risen from the grave after His crucifixion. Matthew was recounting the last words. He heard from Jesus when he wrote his gospel account. What Matthew records is like Jesus's marching orders for the disciples. This passage has come to be known as the Great Commission. These orders to the disciples are orders for us as well.
Jesus tells us to make disciples and to teach them to observe everything that He has commanded us. Jesus didn't instruct us to teach others to know everything He commanded because just knowing is not enough. He is calling us to fulfill it.
Think about it. We can mentally agree with doctrines, but if they don't change our lifestyle, what use are they? Jesus is basically saying you know all the things that I have taught you over the years. Now go do something with it.
We read this commission and many of you are probably saying that this making disciples of others is an out-of-reach goal. But instead of making the process complicated, let's look at the simplicity of it.
We come to church. We go to Bible studies. We attend Sunday school and through it all we observe the teachings of Jesus. Then we are supposed to share that with someone else how to do it. It really is that simple. An authentic church would look forward to being able to share the gospel with anyone that God sends our way.
If we are engaging with all the commands of Jesus and applying them to our lives, sharing with someone else should come naturally. We're not to stop at our profession of faith. But we're to teach everything we've learned to others. And on top of all of that, we should remember that we won't be alone in any of it. Jesus said that He would be with us always.
Then along comes the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote a couple of letters to the Corinthian church out of concern for their spiritual maturity. Actually, it’s believed that Paul wrote 4 letters to the Corinthians. We only have a record of 2 of them. The people were a little bit confused about their beliefs. They needed to sort out their problems to get to the mission. So, Paul writes and tells them:
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 – “From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
Every Christian has a before-Jesus life and an after-Jesus life. That is what Paul is describing in this passage. Paul explained that he no longer knew people from a worldly perspective. We have to remember that at one time, Paul was persecuting Christians. Paul viewed Jesus superficially and it led him to reject Jesus and to persecute His followers. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was transformed.
In that transformation, Paul now knew Jesus was more than a man. So, now he too viewed other people, not as Jews VS. Gentile, but instead he saw them as those in Christ and those without Christ. Paul's transformation was so strong that he now viewed himself as a new creature. And he was.
His old self was gone and now everything was new. His view of the world changed. His priorities changed. His words, actions and attitudes turned completely around. You can find Paul’s story in Acts 9. It's quite dramatic with blinding light and a vision of the risen Christ. Now not everyone’s story is going to be as dramatic as that. But every follower of Jesus does have a story. You have a story. And it is that story that Jesus calls us to share with others as we tell them how Jesus changed us.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 – “Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.”
What Paul is saying is that the gift of salvation doesn't include an immediate escape from this earth. So, God left something for us to do. Our job is to brag about how Christ saved us. And how He can save others too. Jesus died for you so that your sins could be forgiven. What's so hard about boldly telling others about that?
There is a lot of disunity in our world today. It may be between ethnicities, religious beliefs, political parties or whatever. But in it all, one side has to initiate the work. That's required for this difficult task of reconciliation. It isn't easy, but someone needs to humbly seek reconciliation even if they are the party that has been wronged. Paul is addressing the disunity between the Christians and the non-believers.
Before we came to no Christ in a personal way, we didn't understand how sinful we were. The thought of admitting our sin and trying to reconcile with God seemed very difficult because we didn't think of our sins as being that bad.
But still Jesus had to die on the cross to reconcile us to God while we chose the things of this world over the things of God—what he identified as enemies of God. We were so different from Him. There was no easy way to reconcile. Sin separated us from God, but thank God His arm wasn't too short to reach down and save us.
In all of this, I am saying that people who need the gospel are no different from us. No one is too far gone. As you share Christ with others, don't forget how much He was willing to pay for your reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 – “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Not many of us have “ambassador” as one of our character traits. The word “ambassador” is so rarely used that a lot of people don't even know what it means. An ambassador is someone who represents one state or land to another. They are official representatives of the one who sent them. And we're therefore to be treated with the utmost respect. When Paul said that we were ambassadors of Christ, he meant that Christians should see themselves as representatives of God. We have an important job to do and that is to showcase Christ and deliver His message so others can know Him too.
So God has made us Christ's ambassadors. He wants us to represent our Savior. In His absence, God expects us to carry out Christ's mission. What does that mean?
- We're valued. God doesn't need us, but He wants us. God believes we can be successful ambassadors.
- We're approved. We don't go out as Christ ambassadors in our own credibility. Our verification comes from the stamp of approval that God places on us and not on our worth.
- We're equipped. We don’t have to try to create our own presentation of the Gospel. We simply communicate the message that is given to us. The gospel doesn't need improvements. It's good news for a reason. We simply need to open our mouths and share what the Scripture teaches us.
We are worthy when we share God’s love with others. Paul planted a church in Thessalonica, but he couldn’t stay long. A mission team arrived and were labeled as those who “turned the world upside down.” That reputation served them well.
As they shared the Gospel, they witnessed many conversions. The change in that area was so noticeable that this mission team was persecuted. That church shouldn’t have made it, but they did. Instead of folding under pressure, they thrived. So Paul wrote them this letter and expressed his genuine gratitude and persistent prayer for the congregation.
1 Thessalonians 2: 7-12 – “Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
********9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers.
********11 As you know, like a father with his own children, 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
We can see that instead of burdening the people, they cared for them. Every one of us needs a gentle caretaker to help us develop as we follow Christ. Every believer needs intentional, patient, loving, and endearing people to strengthen our discipleship. Paul mentioned that he gave the church two things: Christ’s gospel and Paul’s example.
When we think about it, it is being unfaithful to God to befriend someone without sharing the news that can change their life. We can’t simply claim we love someone if we’re unwilling to share God’s love with that person. We love someone intimately once we become intentional about their spiritual condition.
Don't think that you have to prove yourself to someone before you can share Christ with them. God reaches people through us. We know how much God loves us. And we should be eager to share that with those who need to hear it.
God causes many relationships to form in our lives. Some may be casual. Other relationships may be a lot closer. Some involve people off the street or in the grocery store. Other relationships may include our own families.
But if you want to love someone well, do what Jesus did. Be present in the lives around you and share with them the message of the One who can change everything.
I hear and have heard it so many times. This church is so friendly. The people really seem to care. You are and you do. Let's take that friendly caring attitude and be an ambassador for Jesus.
Once the gospel has transformed us, we get this indescribable privilege of serving as an ambassador for Jesus. Not only does Jesus want a relationship with us, but He wants us to work with Him in the family business of offering hope in this world.
When we share the good news of Jesus with others, God is the one making His appeal through us. We are speaking on God's behalf. God earnestly desires people. If God desires them we ought to be able to plead on behalf of Christ.
So will you not be ashamed to tell someone about your relationship with Jesus?
We should be excited of how our lives were changed once we met Jesus. Others should see that excitement in us and want that same life-changing experience.
I close with this: If sinless Jesus accepted the penalty for sinful people like us, how can we keep silent? Let's be an authentic church. Let's go and tell.
