Only Some Nations?

Is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God a message of hope for only some nations, or is it Good News for all countries and peoples?

The Gospel has often been twisted into Good News for some nations but bad news for others — or, at least, a less appealing message for the latter. This occurs whenever representatives of the Church of the same Jesus who gave his life for the world associate and even identify his name and message with certain nations, races, cultures, and political ideologies. Or do we believe certain nations and races are more privileged before God than others?

After his resurrection, Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on Earth is given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of ALL nations.” Installed as the Sovereign over the entire Cosmos, he commanded his envoys to proclaim his sovereignty and salvation to all men in every nation, whether Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, male or female - (Psalm 2:6-10, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:7-9, Galatians 3:28).

[Photo by abhi shek on Unsplash]

Through his sacrificial death, the Nazarene established the promised “Priestly Kingdom” of men redeemed from every nation, a body of believers dedicated exclusively to his service, and mediating the light of his Gospel to the world – (1 Peter 2:5-10, Revelation 1:6, 5:5-14).

• “You are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's peculiar possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his glorious light” – (1 Peter 2:9).

The Apostle Paul wrote to the churches of Rome about how God actualized His righteousness “through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe, for there is no distinction.”

Sin is the Great Equalizer that condemns all men and women to bondage, despair, decay, and death. Each of us must look forward to death regardless of our rank, wealth, gender, nationality, or ethnicity. There is no escape.

However, through Jesus, every man and woman may receive right standing before God, the forgiveness of sin, and everlasting life, and on the same basis for one and all – the faith of Jesus Christ.” Death still comes, but the followers of Jesus now look forward to bodily resurrection when he appears “on the clouds of heaven” - (Romans 3:22-30, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28).

Paul used his radical monotheism to make the point.  “Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also!” No one is advantaged or disadvantaged before Him due to biological descent or national origin - (Colossians 3:11).

The “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” is creating a new humanity through His Son - One covenant community comprised of believing Jews and Gentiles. Its members are drawn from every nation. Everyone who places faith in Jesus is being made new and reconfigured into the image and likeness of Jesus.

No nation, race, culture, or political ideology can claim Jesus as its possession. Christianity is not the religion of “Western Civilization.” According to the Psalmist, God has given His Son the nations for an inheritance, “even the uttermost parts of the earth.”

Because of his Death and Resurrection, Jesus is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” They serve him, not vice versa - (Psalm 2:8, Revelation 1:4-6). The announcement of the good news of salvation is a message of life for all men and women regardless of origin or present status.

DISTORTING THE FAITH

Sadly, many churches and ministries link the biblical faith to specific nations, political ideologies, cultures, civilizations, and economic systems. This is the destructive political myth promoted most often under the name of ‘Christendom.’ It is the attempt to associate and even identify Jesus and his teachings with specific races, nations, and political systems.

However, the concept of ‘Christendom’ is a counterfeit of the true and universal Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus and his Apostles, an idolatrous conceit propagated by political operatives both from within and without the Church.

Jesus announced a kingdom that transcends all national, ethnic, social, and economic boundaries, and any attempt to limit it by such categories violates the very essence of his message, and the purpose of his Death and Resurrection - (Matthew 24:14, Galatians 3:28).

The mission of the Church is to proclaim His Good News to the “uttermost parts of the earth.” This task must be completed before Jesus returns at the end of the age to consummate all things, raise the righteous dead, and usher in the New Creation.

Neither national borders nor political aspirations will prevent his Gospel from reaching God’s goal, the redemption of humanity and the Creation. Alas, the enemies of Jesus will continue their attempts to divert the Church of Jesus from its God-given mission, especially those deceivers who operate stealthily inside the assemblies of God.

His life-giving message is for every man, woman, and child on Earth regardless of ethnicity.  All men have sinned.” Everyone needs God’s saving grace. No one deserves it, but God has graciously made it available to everyone through the faith of Jesus Christ. In the truest sense of the word, the Good News of His Kingdom is a universal and inclusive faith.

When Jesus returns, only one Kingdom will be left standing. As his disciples, we must resist every attempt to identify the Apostolic Faith with specific nations or cultures. If we do not, we may exclude others from the salvation freely available to everyone who chooses to place faith in Jesus and what God has accomplished in him at great cost.

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SEE ALSO:

• Salvation for All! - (The Good News announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)

• The City Built by Jesus - (New Jerusalem will be populated to fulfill the promise to bless all nations through Abraham – Revelation 21:24-22:5)

• The Mission - (The mission of the Assembly of Jesus is to proclaim the Good News of his Kingdom to all Nations until he returns – Matthew 24:14)