Hope for only SOME Nations?
Is the Good News of the Kingdom of God a message for only SOME nations, or for all?
After his Resurrection, Jesus declared that “all authority in
heaven and on earth is given to me; go, therefore, and make disciples of all
nations.” Installed as Lord over all the entire Creation, his
disciples are commanded 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).
By his sacrificial death, he established the promised
“priestly kingdom” comprised of men and women from every nation and separated
for his exclusive use. In the book of Revelation, it is for that reason
that the entire creation declared him “worthy” to receive
all power and glory. In his death and resurrection, the God Who created all
things has “spoken” definitively and with great finality in His Son - (Hebrews 1:1-4, Revelation 5:5-14).
Paul wrote that God’s
righteousness is actualized “through faith in Jesus Christ for all who
believe, for there is no distinction.” Sin is the Great
Leveler that has condemned all men to bondage, despair, decay, and death.
One’s ethnicity, gender, or social status makes no difference. But now, through
Jesus, all may receive right-standing before God, and all on the same basis – the
faith of Jesus Christ - (Romans 3:22-30).
And 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 because of his biological descent or national origin - (Colossians
3:11).
In Christ, God is creating a new humanity with members drawn
from every nation. Regardless of one’s nation of origin, everyone who places faith
in Jesus is being shaped into his image.
No nation, race, society or culture can claim Jesus as its
possession. The announcement of the good news of salvation and the enthronement
of Jesus is a message of hope and life for all men and women.
Sadly, too many churches have long
histories of linking Christianity to specific nations, cultures, political
ideologies, and economic systems. This is the destructive lie promoted as “Christendom,”
the nefarious attempt to identify the faith of Jesus with specific races,
nations, cultures, and ideologies. If anything, “Christendom” is the counterfeit of
the true and universal Kingdom of God.
Christ’s announcement of God's kingdom transcends all national, ethnic, social, and economic boundaries. Any attempt to limit it by such categories violates the very heart of the Gospel - (Matthew 24:14, Galatians 3:28).
The mission of the Church is to proclaim this good news to the “uttermost
parts of the earth.” The completion of this task is necessary before the
return of Jesus in glory. Neither national borders, racial biases nor societal
demands will prevent it from reaching God’s intended goal.
This message of hope is for
every man, woman, and child wherever he or she may live, regardless of his
or her ethnicity. All have sinned, and all need God’s salvation. No one deserves
it, but God has graciously made it available to everyone on the same basis - the
faith of Jesus Christ. In the truest sense of the
word, the good news of the Kingdom of God is a universal and “inclusive”
faith.
When Jesus returns at the end
of the present age, only one Kingdom will be left standing. As his disciples, we
must resist every attempt to associate, link or identify the biblical faith with
any nation, race, culture, or civilization, for, if we do not, we may exclude others
from the glorious salvation that is freely available to everyone who exercised
faith in Jesus, intentionally or not.
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