SERMON
The Commission: Go for Me
Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV)
Pastor Sunil
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2 Corinthians 5:13-15; 20-21 (NIV)
13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus’ last words were – Go, and make disciples of all the nations…
Why? How?
Were Jesus’ words a command, in the sense that “You’d better do it, or else?”
For Matthew, this is how his gospel – his story of the good news of Jesus Christ – ends.
Everything about Jesus’ life, his relationships, his teachings, his miracles, his death, his resurrection, all pointed to this: Go, and make disciples of all the nations…
Of all the people in the world, he chose flawed, unremarkable, even doubting (Matthew 28:17) followers to make possible God’s destiny for humankind
How badly do you want God to be with you, to be in you?
How much do you want Jesus to live through you?
Go…for Him. Bring his saving love to those he sends you to – by your actions, but by your words as well
Influence people with the reality of 1 Corinthians 5:21 (in my words):
“God caused Christ, who himself could never sin, to actually absorb our every sin into his very being, so that in Christ we might be made good with the goodness of God”
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2 Corinthians 5:13-15; 20-21 (NIV)
13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus’ last words were – Go, and make disciples of all the nations…
Why? How?
Were Jesus’ words a command, in the sense that “You’d better do it, or else?”
For Matthew, this is how his gospel – his story of the good news of Jesus Christ – ends.
Everything about Jesus’ life, his relationships, his teachings, his miracles, his death, his resurrection, all pointed to this: Go, and make disciples of all the nations…
Of all the people in the world, he chose flawed, unremarkable, even doubting (Matthew 28:17) followers to make possible God’s destiny for humankind
- Go for me…because…
- You were made for love – my love, and that barrier of sin & brokenness that prevented my love from getting through has been torn down through my sacrifice on the Cross
- My love for you, in you, keeps growing (as you follow me)
- My love in you, for me, now grows for others – “it constrains you…”
- Story of the “Other” Wise Man (Henry Van Dyke) – made into a 1985 Movie starring Martin Sheen
- That love makes you want to help fellow pilgrims – be my influencers – be mentors
- You have discovered your worth – you are now my ambassadors – my representatives
- It is only as my representatives and influencers you can grow as my disciples
- Go for me…because “as the Father sent me (the Son), so I send you (his newly adopted sons, newly adopted daughters… John 20:21).” There’s no one else I want to send!!
- Go for me…so that…
- As you carry other people’s burdens – that is your cross – you will experience me as personal, as real. And I am real. And personal
- My kingship is experienced when people know that their destiny is not death, because I took that on myself
- All that you say, all that you do, is a yearning, is an imploring with me that humanity be reconciled with God, their Creator, who wants to be their Father
- The sinner no longer needs to carry the weight of guilt – they are free
- Those who have sinned no longer need to carry shame – they are now valued, worthy, and they belong!
- Go…influence your children, your spouses, your parents, your neighbors with the fact that their life has meaning – that they “should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:15)
- Go for me…so that…I can live through you!
How badly do you want God to be with you, to be in you?
How much do you want Jesus to live through you?
Go…for Him. Bring his saving love to those he sends you to – by your actions, but by your words as well
Influence people with the reality of 1 Corinthians 5:21 (in my words):
“God caused Christ, who himself could never sin, to actually absorb our every sin into his very being, so that in Christ we might be made good with the goodness of God”