NO PLEDGING, NO INITIATION, BUT YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS ETERNAL
There is no pledging; there is no initiation to become a member. But we can gain eternal membership in the Kingdom of God. How do we become members?
In this series of lessons, we will look at the love of God and his plan (his mission) in bridging the gap between us and him and bringing us back into a relationship with him. In His bridging the gap between Him and us, he calls for us to become His disciples, members of his family. And He commissions us to make more disciples. How are we to carry out his commission?
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Let Us Inviting God’s Presence:
God Most High, we submit ourselves to you. Give us membership in your Eternal Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The message of Jesus’ disciples is called the eternal gospel. It promises us membership in God’s eternal kingdom. It says that we, through Jesus, become a member of the family of God. In this kingdom, we will never die. We will live eternally with God. So, in this sense, we have eternal membership in heaven.
In Revelation 14:6, 7, we read about the First of three Angel’s Messages. This first angel presents the “Good News that lasts forever.” This angel presents the “eternal gospel”.
Revelation 14:6-7 says.
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—
7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7)
This is the only passage in the Bible where the words “eternal” and “gospel” are linked. We know what “eternal” means; it means forever, everlasting, but what does the word gospel mean? The Gospel is Good News.
The Everlasting Gospel is everlasting good news because, in it, we are given a message about God’s grace and mercy offered to save us from sin. This Everlasting Good News gets even better because, in it, we find that God offers this gift of pardon to everyone through Jesus Christ. John 1:14 tells us that Jesus came to this earth to show us God’s grace, His “loving favor, and truth.”
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14).
The thing is, Jesus lived a life without sin. Though he never sinned, He died on the cross for our sins. He became our Substitute. Although we deserved punishment for our sins, He accepted our punishment. This point is clearly made in Isaiah 53:4 and 5; and 1 Peter 3:18.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
I Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit (I Peter 3:18)
According to Revelation 1:18, Acts 2:33, and Hebrews 7:25, Jesus was put to death, but he rose to life again. He returned to heaven. He was honored by the Father. And, today, He intercedes for us. He stands before the Father, getting help for us in our battle against sin. (Split)
It says.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Revelation 1:18)
33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (Acts 2:33) (S[;t)
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
The Book, Christ’s Object lesson says that “The proclamation of the judgment [Rev. 14:6, 7] is an announcement of Christ’s second coming as at hand. And this proclamation is called the everlasting gospel. Thus, the preaching of Christ’s second coming, the announcement of its nearness, is shown to be an essential part of the gospel message.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 227, 228.
Based on the conditions of the world, soon, Jesus will fulfill His greatest promise: He will return to this earth. He will come back as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Then, we are told that after 1,000 years, Jesus will establish God’s kingdom on this earth, as expressed in the following scriptures:
John 14:1-4
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-4)
Acts 1:11
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
Revelation 21:1-4
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
These promises are part of the Everlasting Good News. We are promised eternal membership in God’s eternal Kingdom.
Let us not be deceived by any other news that may be proclaimed as good news.
There is only one Everlasting Good News. There is only one Gospel that can save us, and it will never change. Ephesians 4:14 lets us know that false teachings will come and go.
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:14)
But the Everlasting Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, does not change. Notice what it says in Deuteronomy 5:33 and Romans 2:6
33 You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. (Deuteronomy 5:33)
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6)
In other words, God will reward those who believe his message of salvation and live it in obedience to his word.
The commission given to His first disciples; He gives to us. When we choose to follow Him, we become a disciple of Christ and a member of His eternal kingdom.
We become a member of God’s family. Thus, we are called to make more disciples of Christ. And they, too, will help others prepare to see Jesus when he returns to this earth.
True, honest disciples of Christ are fully devoted, loving people. But more than that, true disciples focus on all the biblical principles of discipleship, such as those mentioned in the following text:
Luke 9:23
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)
John 13:34-35 (Split)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Thus, the ultimate purpose of a true disciple of Christ is that of being prepared and preparing others for the second coming of their Master, Jesus Christ.
The Gospel, the Good News that continues forever in the 1st Angel’s Message, is an important part of God’s work as Judge of the whole earth.
It is said that:
It is the gospel, and the gospel alone, that will give us eternal life. This life is found only in His Son. When we become a member of God’s eternal kingdom, we become a partaker of his divine nature; thus, we “escape the corruptions that are in the world” —Manuscript Releases, vol. 4, p. 35.
As disciples of Christ, we are to be working with him to save sinners so that they, too, can escape the corruptions of the world. How do we do this? Continue to Segment 5 of this video: God’s People: The Channels of Mission
Mission, My Mission (Lesson 2)
‘God’s Mission to Us: Part 2
Segment 5: God’s People: The Channels of Mission
Historically, God has always had followers who showed His love to other people and faithfully represented his character. God’s faithful followers obeyed Him and accepted His plan for their lives. God continues to choose people today. God’s people are those who accept the gift of mercy. They are those who accept his invitation to receive his grace. Moreover, All of God’s people, both in the past and present, are instrumental in fulfilling his mission to save sinners.
Genesis 12:1–3 and Deuteronomy 7:6, 11, 12 in the Old Testament tell us what God’s original purpose was for His people.
Genesis 12:1-3 says
1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Deuteronomy 7:6
6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
Deuteronomy 7:11-12
11 Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.
12 “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. (Deuteronomy 7:11-12)
God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. This covenant was a special agreement between God and Abraham and Abraham’s future children. They were to be a part of God’s plan to save sinners. God chose Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites, to be channels of blessing to all the surrounding nations.
In other words, It was God’s desire to bless Israel and, through Israel, to be a blessing to all those around them. Notice what it says in
Deuteronomy 28:10
10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. (Deuteronomy 28:10)
Isaiah 49:6
6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” (Isaiah 49:6)
So, God chose Israel to be in a covenant relationship with Him. But this relationship between God and Israel was conditional. The conditions were faith and obedience. They were to have faith in God and obey Him.
The following scriptures provide more information on this relationship between God and Israel. Read: Genesis 22:16–18; Exodus 19:5, 6; Deuteronomy 28:1, 2; and 2 Chronicles 7:14
Genesis 22:16-18
16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—
17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:16-18)
Exodus 19:5-6
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.
2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
The responsibility of Israel being channels of blessings for God also made the Israelites His witnesses. They were to be instruments of God’s “mission strategy” in the Old Testament. It was God’s desire that others, by observing the blessing the Israelites obtain from God, would inspire them to serve Him so that they could have access to these same blessings.
God’s “mission strategy” did not end in the Old Testament with the Israelites. In the New Testament, God’s mission continues. Jesus adds a new dimension to God’s saving plan: Read again Matthew 28:18–20 and Acts 1:8.
Christ’s disciples, his followers, make up his church. Different from the Israelites, Jesus commissioned his followers, his disciples, to go out to the world instead of waiting for the world to come to them.
We must remember, however, that this mission did not originate with the church. God’s mission, Jesus’ mission, existed before the world was created. This mission remains. God has commissioned the church to fulfill his mission.
What is the church’s mission?
It is the same as He, who called the Church into existence. It is the same work that Jesus does. It is as He says in Luke 19:10, “ ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’ ” (Luke 19:10).
Of course, no one in the church has the power to save anyone. But as disciples of Christ, we are called and have been given the ability to lead others to the only One who can save them. That Person is Jesus Christ.
It says in Testimonies to the Church: “The mission of the church of Christ is to save perishing sinners. It is to make known the love of God to men and to win them to Christ by the efficacy of that love.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 381.
What a privilege! What an honor! What an incredible responsibility!
Mission is to the church is what air is to our lives. Without air, we die. Without a mission, the church dies. Thus, it is up to you to personally do your part to help sustain the life of your church. How big is God’s plan to save us? To find out, continue to segment 6 of this video: The World: The Arena of Mission
Mission, My Mission (Lesson 2)
‘God’s Mission to Us: Part 2
Segment 6: The World: The Arena of Mission
God’s mission is not limited to one region, one nation, or one special group of people. Notice in Revelation 7:9, 10 how far-reaching is the geographical scope of His mission.
Revelation 7:9-10
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)
So, God’s Kingdom will consist of an unnumerable group of people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues.
Matthew 28:16–20 and Revelation 14:6, 7 have been our focus for this study. These verses help us understand God’s plan, his mission, to save humanity. They also help us see that God has called us to become disciples of Christ. As disciples of Christ, He has commissioned us to proclaim the Everlasting Gospel, the Eternal Good News, about salvation through Jesus Christ. Thus, these verses, Matthew 28:16–20 and Revelation 14:6, 7, tell us two important things:
(1) Jesus commissions us to make new disciples for Him, and
(2) the Everlasting Gospel, the Everlasting Good News, is an important part of God’s mission, his plan to save us humans.
Note that in His mission to save humanity, he does not force us to accept the Everlasting Gospel. He saves only those willing to become one with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. We must accept what Jesus did when He gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins. He expects us to respond to His love by walking in obedience to His word.
Both Matthew 28:16–20 and Revelation 14:6, 7 have a common connection. They both address the “where” of God’s mission. Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19).
Both show that we are to share the Gospel, the Good News about the Salvation of Jesus Christ, with “those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6).
In other words, the Good News about Jesus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is not limited to a special group of people. It is for all classes of people everywhere.
God’s plan, His mission for the Good News about Jesus, is that it will bring together all people and unite us into one eternal brotherhood.
Jesus is our model; when we accept Him and his teachings, He will empty our hearts of hate, dislike, pride, jealousy, and all other bad feelings that separate us from each other.
When we accept the truth as it is in Jesus, national prejudices and jealousies are broken down, and the spirit of truth blends our hearts into one. We become united in Christ. (Split)
With our hearts blended together in Christ and love, we adhere to Jesus’ commission as spoken in Acts 1:8: “ ‘You will be my witnesses.’ Jesus wants us to be His witnesses. But where? He gives us the answer in Acts 1:8. There, we find three areas of mission.
Area 1: “‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem.’ ” (Acts 1:8). At this time, Jesus’ followers were near Jerusalem. So, Jesus wanted them to start by sharing their experience with the people closest to them. God’s mission to save others starts in our homes, with our families, neighbors, and friends.
Area 2: He continues in Acts 1:8, “ ‘in all Judea and Samaria.’ ” We must reach out to those who are like us and close to us. They may speak the same language that we speak, and they may share a similar culture but are lacking in the knowledge of God and his word. This group of people includes those in our own towns, cities, or country.
Area 3: He then says in Acts 1:8, “ ‘and to the end of the earth.’ ” This says that God’s mission for us to share the Everlasting Gospel of Jesus is intended for us to reach all individuals from all places, nations, people groups, languages, and ethnicities. Thus, in our union of brotherhood, our ultimate mission is to share the Eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone.
So here is your mission challenge for this week.
Challenge #1: Pray every day this week for your community, your circle of influence. God placed you there for a reason. Seek to determine the reason.
For those up for an even greater challenge…
Challenge # 2: Research the demographics of your area (what kind of people live around you)—ethnic and religious background, old, young, poor, wealthy, languages spoken, and so on. Ask God to show you how you may be a channel of His love to them.
Share your results in the comment section below.
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