General Articles

Study in Hebrews: Jesus, God’s Ambassador :: By Sean Gooding

Published on: by RR7

 

Hebrews 3:1-6, NKJV

1 “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

Last week we looked at Jesus, the Captain of our Faith. Today we will look at Jesus: God’s Ambassador. The dictionary defines an ambassador as an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country and a person who acts as a representative or promoter of special activity. Jesus fits both of these definitions quite well, and like His brothers and part of the work He is doing, we too should be active heavenly ambassadors.

  • Jesus Was Sent to A Foreign Nation

Jesus is called an Apostle in verse 1. An apostle is one sent with a message just like an Ambassador can be. Jesus came from Heaven to Earth. He left the beauty and comforts of Heaven, His home, to come and represent the King of Heaven to mere men here on Earth. He was the approved emissary from Heaven, the perfect Son of God who came and took on flesh, dwelt among us, showed us how wonderful His homeland can be, and offered us the opportunity to move there.

We don’t often think of Jesus as an Ambassador (Hebrews 1:1-2), but He was one sent from Heaven to represent it to us, and now He represents us to it as our Advocate. Jesus, we are told, was a Faithful representative of Heaven. All too often, we hear of diplomats who get involved in crimes and bring shame on their homeland. But not Jesus; He was a faithful representative, He brought no shame to the One who sent Him, and in turn, He has sent us, His local churches, to present the Kingdom to the lost masses. We are continuing His work in tandem with Him and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gave us what is called The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV), and it is the driving force for the local church anywhere that it exists. It is the very reason for the existence of the local church, that being to make more disciples. Take a look at Matthew with me:

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

This is why we spend millions of dollars on missionaries, tracts, crusades, evangelism, and the simple export of the Gospel. This is why we try to share the Gospel of salvation to any and all who will listen. Jesus came, and He was the first Ambassador, the first one to show us how wonderful the Kingdom of Heaven can be and is. He wants us to share the same message with all who will listen. Sometimes this means we will have to go or send others to foreign nations.

I have friends who have served the Lord’s churches in Kenya, France, England, South America, and to the very ends of the earth. We have seen men and women, boys and girls from all areas, creeds, languages, and backgrounds, come to realize that Jesus is the Son of God, that He was raised from the dead, and that He paid the price for their sins and offers them eternal life in heaven.

  • Jesus was sent to promote a special activity:

Jesus came to promote God’s loving grace to mankind. We sinners do not need to fear God. God has made a way, opened a door, and created for us an opportunity to become not just citizens of Heaven, but His children, born again and indwelt by His Holy Spirit forever. Jesus came to promote God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s kindness.

In like manner, as co-ambassadors, we should be promoting God’s offer of life, His grace, His love and mercy, and especially His kindness. This is the very heart of missions: that God loves you. He loves me. He loves us all and offers us the free gift of eternal life in Jesus. Are you promoting this free gift? Do you speak about it to your children, your relatives, and friends? Do you speak about it to all who will listen?

Jesus is still promoting the special activity, His sacrifice for us and His resurrection for us. Sadly, there is another special activity coming sooner than we want to admit. Soon, Jesus will return, and there will have to be a judgment. This is not as pleasant an offer like the one with eternal life, but it is the truth nonetheless. Like Jesus, we must be faithful ambassadors; even when there is bad news to be told, we must tell the truth. If we fail to warn the people around us of the coming doom, we are in the wrong. See this dire warning to the men of God from Ezekiel 33:8-9:

“If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life” (Berean Study Bible).

God requires that we, like Jesus, be faithful ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Yes, there is a heaven awaiting those who trust Jesus. But there is a hell for those that reject the matchless grace and love of God and the free gift of eternal life. Jesus spoke of both, and we should as well.

God bless you,

Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church

How to Connect with Us

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MississaugaMissionaryBaptistChurch
Online: https://www.mississaugamissionarybaptistchurch.com/ (under construction)
Email: missionarybaptistchurch76@yahoo.ca

 

Zero Tolerance :: By Edwin Tan

Published on: by RR7

 

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on” (Proverbs 4:14-15).

The above passage of Scripture is truly relevant in the ever-darkening days we live in. The implosion of every form of wickedness seemingly knows no boundaries. It has reached a point where acceptance of evil has been as good as an aspect of the new normal.

Take the case where perverse practices are being part of the curriculum for preschoolers – what might be considered as sexual abuse of kids has become a tool of formal education under the auspices of the new normal! Disney has had such a horrendous makeover, so much so that it can be deemed as an affront to the many around the globe who cherish the nostalgia associated with their wonder years. Forget about Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in the original form many are familiar with – in their place at this moment is hard stuff that was once upon a time meant exclusively for mature people!

As this tide of evil continues to gain significant momentum, the author of confusion has undoubtedly capitalized on this heinous trend. This is where the master of deceit goes into full swing with the notion that unrighteousness is socially acceptable and, furthermore, a norm of a reshaped world of the future. He would certainly take a cruel step further; he would say that Christ died for all sins, so it is alright to party because, at the end of it, there is still a pardon for sure. Nothing wrong about that, as everyone is on board with it. There is still more than enough time to confess those sins before the Lord; such a loving Heavenly Father would be full of grace and mercy. He would not send them to the lake of fire!

Why, in the first place, did the above passage of Holy Writ (Proverbs 4:14-15) take a stone hard and very serious look at those who stray into the path of lawlessness? It is not a laughing matter when these practices earn the displeasure of the Heavenly Father. God is not amused; on the contrary, He is deeply grieved by such waywardness. Did He not rain down His judgment in the days of Noah – the same being so for Sodom and Gomorrah?

The notion of getting away with it is another vile tool of deception – courtesy of the evil one. So, what if there are people going off course yet going on with their lives in a decent fashion? Really the case or just another illusion? Eye and ear could only picture outward appearance, but what can be said of that which is hidden from public view? It only becomes a shocker when the veneer of deceit is torn apart.

Creation can be taken for a ride but not the Creator. He knows every deep, dirty secret. These are the things He never destined any of us for. “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit” (1 Thess 4:7-8).

Traveling on the path of unrighteousness is indeed tantamount to rejecting God. There is a very heavy price for such a move. The enemy is given a free hand once the love of the Heavenly Father is being ridiculed. It is as good as the pathway to hell being set into motion. The evil one will hurl all his fiery darts with impunity; he can literally have many field days with his unwitting victims. There is no more hedge of protection once the love of God is spurned. The wicked one is truly cunning and intelligent; a seemingly harmless setting could implode, especially when there is a false sense of calm and safety! The powers and principalities of darkness can help themselves at the expense of the victim.

Just think for a moment about what the ultimate price to pay would be when the grace of God is turned down. One thing for sure is that there will be no more guarantees. The dark forces could sneak up at any given moment – toast in a matter of seconds! Then where is the final destination for the godless soul?

It is quite a tough call to turn down the crowd, but consider the final outcome. There is no doubt that being ostracized, marginalized, and looked down on really sucks. But having the favor of evil people counts for zero – at the end of the day, everyone in that crowd has to pay the penalty for their stance. It is truly not worth it when the so-called goodwill of unrighteous folks in a short space of time is obliterated by eternal damnation. Better to end up a loner in the eyes of the world when the reality of receiving a reward for so doing is guaranteed!

But the man or woman who puts God first is never alone. Our Heavenly Father knows every human weakness, and on that note, His grace is sufficient for all who believe in Him. Be surprised how the hand of God works in the bleakest setting, very much like streams of living water in a parched landscape so typified by incessant lawlessness. With this in mind, God is the only viable option through Jesus Christ, His Son. He will not turn down any individual who genuinely calls upon His Name.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

There is, therefore, every good reason to stand firm while turning away from the evil path, despite the ramping up of wickedness. This truly would be a brief stint of roughing it out when a glorious eternity beckons!

Maranatha

Edwin

Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com