Sabbath: God’s Mission to Us: Part 2
Image © Pacific Press
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 7th of October 2023
Read for This Week’s Study
John 20:21-22; Matthew 28:16-20; Revelation 14:6-7; Deuteronomy 7:6,11-12; Revelation 7:9-10.
Memory Text:
“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” (Matthew 28:19, NKJV).
The theme, that of God as a God of mission, runs throughout Scripture. It is the connecting thread of human history, and it demonstrates God’s purpose for His creation. Furthermore, it consolidates divine revelation with a main focus: the restoration of God’s image in His fallen children (compare with Colossians 3:9-10; 1 John 3:2).
The mission of God also functions as the background through which we should see and understand God’s Word to us. When we read the Bible, we can identify a God who is intentionally reaching out to us. In spite of the separation caused by sin (Isaiah 59:2), through His mission God continues to restore the broken relationship with humanity until the glorious moment when He will “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5, NKJV).
In the meanwhile, God has chosen to manifest Himself to us in such a way that we can understand His nature and purpose, and above all, we can have a real and lasting relationship with Him. In other words, we not only come to know Him but also share, with others, our experience with Him and His saving love.
In the Scriptures, then, God gives us the basic elements of what His mission is all about.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 14.
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read foorever friemd what a story thats what i want be with others
I am having a bit of trouble in my own mind trying to determine what the authors are trying to establish here. It is Sabbath afternoon and I have not had time to read the rest of this week's lesson yet so it may become clearer when I read more.
As a starter, I asked an AI entity to describe the Gospel commission to me:
Is that a starting point for communicating with the secular mind? Or is it just a nice little pat on the back affirming Christian beliefs and attitudes?
Just something to think about this week.
This is not the appropriate venue for a discussion of this topic but since you brought up AI, is there a link to a blog site you participate in where Christians can discuss and learn more about AI? I am apprehensive because it still needs a programmer and the programmers have biases.
Hi Jim,
There is an excellent series on "Unbelievable - Faith Expanded"
https://www.thebigconversation.show/videos/season-5/episode-5/
I have found it quite enlightening.
Thank you
It does appear that the direction of focus seems to be on a gospel commission which the author states the main focus is "the restoration of God's image in His fallen children."
It is my thought that "God's image" is Love because God is love
(1 John 4:7). The author of the lesson point to 1 John 3:2 but I like to back up to verse 1 because I think it lays the foundation that God in His love has called us His children. Then we move from this concept to understanding the the more we are able to see God the more we become like Him. We do not learn to be like God through theological study (like the Pharasees) or following a culture of Christianity. These only bring us to know facts about God and a conformity to whatever the accepted norms of behavior are in the christian group to which we are a part.
We become like God by seeing Him in our daily lives and coming to Him for all our needs, desires, and worship. The more we understand His love and grace and see how He heals both our and others broken hearts, provides for our needs, and gives peace in the storm... The more we care about those around us and the more we share boldly what we know to be our testimony of how faithful and true God is. We know that if He has done it for us He can and will do it for others.
In summary I believe the great commission is more than reciting a collection of doctrinal beliefs and teaching conformity to the culture of Christianity, but rather it is demonstrating the love of God to others the same way God has loved us. Humanity has always had to see God to understand what the law and the prophets were trying to reveal to us and it is no different today. Children learn more by watching their parents and emulating them than by what they are told.
Excellent point.
Amen to your illustration, Jodi.
Exactly.
Reading Mathew 28:19, 20, is there a model we must follow in evangelism or?
This is it. Some ministers insist on "preach, baptise then teach." Some preach, teach then baptise." While some "teach, baptise the preach." I don't want to mention what other faiths do because we are not them. Which is the right model during evangelism ministry?
That’s a great question. I like to refer to the book of Acts for examples on evangelism (Ethiopian eunuch or jailer for example) because I think there can be variance DEPENDING on individual circumstances and the working of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, we should follow God’s lead.
Is it possible that we are still seeing ourselves as a separate being? Do we still identify ourselves with our body or have we understood that we have our life only IN Christ Jesus. This means to me that all we really are is the Spirit of God with a body to bring about that in which the spirit leads.
We are Christians - a new creation, the old has passed away - behold, all things are new! This includes how we perceive ‘missions’. We do not ‘engage’ in missions, we ARE the mission - the body of Christ - which our Creator sends out to touch whoever and whatever He brings into contact with us.
There is no separation between the mission and Christ, Christ in us, us in Him, and we in the Father. We can organize, though our Heavenly Father is who leads in all things spiritual and physical.