Sent

The good news is that, through His mercy and grace, God has provided the means for the salvation of mankind. All of us are sinners and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), but thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the penalty for our sins has been paid. Salvation is ours and all we need to do is confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is our Lord and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Believing with our hearts results in righteousness and confessing with our mouths results in salvation (Romans 10:10).

What’s even better news is that this gift of salvation is available to everyone. In giving the gift of salvation, God does not make a distinction between people. He does not make a distinction between Jew and Gentile. He is the one true God and Lord of all and God gives generously to all who call on the name of His Son, Jesus (Romans 10:12). As the prophet wrote in Joel 2:32 and Paul reiterated in Romans 10:13, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord receives God’s gift of salvation. So, the good news is for all people, for everyone on the earth that God created.

It is God’s will that no one should perish but rather that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And all it takes is for them to call on Jesus in faith. But in order for someone to call upon the name of Jesus in faith, in order for them to believe the good news of salvation that He brings, they have to know who He is. In Romans 10:14 (NLT), Paul writes, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” It’s hard for people to believe in someone or something that they have never heard of or about!

Someone must tell people about Jesus. Someone must go and bring the good news to those who have not heard it. Someone must take the gospel across the street and around the world. In Romans 10:15 (NLT), Paul asks, “And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?” The gospel needs to be sent and it needs to preached. But who is to preach it and who sends them to do so? That’s a very good question, and one that is answered quite clearly in Mark’s gospel:

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. (Mark 16:15, NLT)

These are the words spoken by Jesus to His disciples. So it is Jesus who does the sending. And whom does He send? When He spoke those words, He was sending His disciples, but His words apply to all who choose to believe in Him and follow Him. It is not just the responsibility of evangelists, pastors, preachers, and missionaries. It is the responsibility of each and every believer to bring the good news of salvation to those who have not already heard it, whether they are next door, across the street, or around the world. We have been sent so that all may hear and believe.