Weekly Recap

For the last three weeks, Pastor Chris has been teaching on the atonement - what Jesus accomplished on the cross and how his sacrifice brought us peace with God, with ourselves, and with others.  This final week we looked at how God wants to accomplish his peace or shalom through us.  This is God’s mission:  he wants to work through us to bring others into a right relationship with him by delivering the message of the Gospel.  The mission is the message and the message is the mission.  Whether we realize it or not, when we accept Jesus, we also choose to accept this mission and it will not self-destruct but endure forever.

In 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Paul considers what our motivation should be.  He says that Christ’s love is what compels us to no longer live for ourselves and to embrace our new identity in Christ.  Jesus gave us the mission of reconciliation and allows us to join him in his work, even if from a human standpoint, it doesn’t seem to be the most efficient plan.  Yet, Jesus told his disciples and us to make disciples of all nations.  What we refer to as the “Great Commission” is really a command.  How many of us share the Gospel with as many people as we can as often as we can?  Often our discipleship is very self focused and consumer oriented and that is falling short of what God calls us to do.  The Gospel is not about us but about who Jesus is and what he came to do.  Our testimony alone is not enough to save other people; we must be willing to be ambassadors of Jesus.

Atonement is not only about peace through people but also throughout the whole creation.  According to author Justin Schell, “The cross of Christ is ground zero of a new creation where restored fellowship is made possible as the Spirit of God breathes new life into humanity.”  He also makes the point that “the renewing effects of Christ’s atoning death reach as far as the effects of sin to which it is a response.  The atonement brings about the union of God and sinners within the story of the union of heaven and earth.”  In Romans, Paul tells us that creation waits in eager anticipation to be liberated from its bondage of decay.  The same transformation that will happen to us when Jesus returns will happen to creation as well.  John also describes the new heaven and new earth in Revelation using the language of Genesis in describing a renewed Garden of Eden.  This future we are promised was taken care of at the cross and will be fulfilled when Jesus returns.  Then we will do what we were created to do - serve God.  Serving God and reigning over his creation is what God wanted for us from the beginning.  We get God forever - he is our great reward.

However, the book of Revelation also reveals that those who choose not to have their identity in Christ will not be clothed in his righteousness and will be assigned to spiritual death.  In the end, God will give everyone what they want.  The good news is that God wants everyone to come to repentance and until Jesus returns, the invitation is still open for everyone to come.  This beautiful invitation is for all people, but it requires an R.S.V.P.  We are all given the offer of a free gift - we must not wait until it’s too late to accept his invitation.