Bulletin
Mission Successful?
Mission Successful?
What was the mission of Jesus? Many wealthy and poor Americans will want to answer this question by saying, “to help the poor”. But we don’t read about Jesus handing out money. In fact, I don’t know a single place in scripture where Jesus handed someone even a single dollar/Denarius. So his main mission wasn’t creating wealth. True, he commanded his followers to give to the poor, (Mat. 6:2-4), and to do so secretly so as not to make a show of it. Nor was his mission to promote social reform, nor political change, nor stop global warming. His mission may impact these indirectly, but not primarily. The angel at his birth had the answer.
“But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “ Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:20). Now that we have a mission statement, let’s seek some clarification. Chose A or B in the following.
A Jesus saved us from our sins, like a get out of jail card, we are free from the consequences of our actions, as long as we believe.
B. Jesus saved us from our sins, because he has caused us to stop sinning. Now forgiven, we believe to the point of being transformed into a person like he was on the earth.
Which view do these passages support? “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3:26). The power of the gospel is getting us to turn away from wickedness, and then towards God. “A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the LORD.” (Isaiah. 59:20). Why did Jesus die on the cross? “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1John 3:7-9). So was Jesus successful? Jesus has changed millions of lives causing them to cease from sin, and saving them from the ultimate effects of sin. So are you a successful person? It will not be measured by wealth much or little, but has he stopped us dead in our tracks? Now born again! (John 3:1-5).
Dan Peters
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