So Send I You (2)

“As the Father has sent me, so send I you”. What does that mean?

We are Sent...

… on God’s Mission of Peace

John 14:27 NASB95

27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

In Christ we have peace with God and one another.

Ephesians 2:14–17 NASB95

14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;

We are now a part of God’s mission to bring peace to the world through reconciliation of rebellious sinners to Himself.

Just because it is a mission of peace does not mean that it will be peaceful. We are sent into a world that is at enmity with God. When Jesus was born the angels announced, “Peace on earth, good will toward men...” but He came into a world of conflict.

We are ambassadors, messengers of God’s offer of peace through Christ.

We are not the ones that bring about the Kingdom of God, we are ambassadors of the King, already members of the kingdom announcing the way of peace with a righteous God. Jude and Revelation proclaim the necessity of accepting God’s offer of peace before it is too late.

Application: remember that the church’s primary mission is one of peacefully announcing God’s terms of salvation to a world in conflict.

… into Ministry Empowered by the Holy Spirit

The ministry of Jesus has always involved the work of the Holy Spirit. Ever since creation the Spirit of God has been active convicting, convincing and drawing people to the Lord.

The Spirit of God raised up Christ from the dead (Romans 8) and now He indwells the heart of every believer to empower us for the ministry set before us.

We cannot accomplish the ministry without the power of the Spirit. In fact, it is the Holy Spirit that works in and through us to bring sinners to Christ.

Example: the man in San Pedro Sula, Honduras who accepted Christ at a crossroads in the rain.

Acts 1:8 NASB95

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

… with THE Message of Pardon for Sinners

There is only one message of that provides forgiveness of sin in the sight of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The form of verse 23 is in the passive voice, indicating that the church does not do the forgiving, but rather announces the forgiveness of God.

How? By faith - Thomas, be not faithless by believing!

Acts 10:39–43 NASB95

39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

We are also to give the warning that refusing to trust Christ for salvation is refusing to accept His Lordship and thus a person remains in their sin. We are messengers!

The Message is Christ died for our sin, was buried, and rose again. It is through faith in His name, His finished work that we have life. Read verses 30-31