Attendance in Heaven is not what God would like it to be. Let’s reduce the population of Hell by fulfilling the Great Commission of making Discipleships. Jesus commanded us in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. May this commandment never be the church’s great omission in its ministry, but profess and practiced in unity worldwide. The Christian church may be scattered around the globe, but the mission is the same everywhere to evangelize the world to the foot of the Cross for the Lord. While going about our everyday activities, as the Holy Spirit gives us opportunities, we are to plant the seed of the Gospel message, and to water seeds of the Gospel that others have planted by speaking the truth of Jesus Christ to those who are lost in sin and unbelief, that they may repent of their sin, accept the atoning redemption of Christ on the Cross and receive the free gift of eternal life now, with Heaven as their destiny. We may even be able to harvest the crop of born-again believers as the Holy Spirit regenerates the spirit and transforms the soul.
The Apostle Paul hears that there are contentions and divisions within the Corinthian church. It’s not unusual to have problems within a church. The church of Corinth had a sectarian issue, labelling themselves as following different church teachers and intolerantly disagree with each other. Cliché’s that say “My way or the Highway”. But, a devout Christian is a dedicated Christ bearer and devoted Christ Follower as a disciple of Jesus, who is worshiped, praised and given the glory. Only Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and is Lord of all. There are only Christians in Heaven because only by His blood shed on the Cross for your sins may you enter. Paul pleaded in the name of Jesus Christ for Christians to find “common ground” and come into unity in the Lord; not seek division.
Paul asked three rhetorical questions for them and us today. (1) Is Christ divided” No, so the body of believers should be divided either! (2) Was Paul crucified for you? No, neither was anyone else, except Jesus, the Blessed Redeemer. (3) Were you baptized in the name of Paul? No, you are only baptized in the name of the God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The dissention within the church is discouraging as the integrity of the body of Christ is marred. Baptism is a beautiful sacrament, commanded by the Lord in unity of His death and resurrection, symbolizing the death of the old heart and receiving the new, in righteous obedience and holy subservience to God. Unity in Christ, unity in doctrine, unity in the Word of God and unity of Christian experience and belief in Christ that Jesus was sent by God to redeem mankind by dying in a Cross for their sins, He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures to defeat sin and dear, He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father interceded for us, and He shall come again to earth at the end of the age to judge the living and the dead. It was St. Augustine of Hippo that once said: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” There are denominational differences in non-essential issues, but all Christians have unity in the essential issues in thought, word and actions centered in Christ.
Romans 10:13-15 For “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
There are thousands in this world that need a gentle touch and a gentle voice of a Christian because they are seeking that peace that surpasses all understanding which is only found in Jesus Christ. They are looking for a safe place in that loving relationship with Jesus Christ and most of them are only going to find it if the children of God offer the good news of the Gospel to them. If we (His church) are willing to be what God called us to be and fulfill the Great Commission to go and make disciples and teach them to obey all that He commanded. We are to go and tell the story of glory in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Go and tell them!
In Christ, Brian
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