God's Mission

I have mentioned in this space, a number of times, that God has placed his family in the world to partner with him to complete his mission. What is his mission? Perhaps the most succinct statement of God's mission is found at the end of the gospel of Matthew.

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And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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The main focus of God's mission is making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey.

To make a disciple, God's family connects a person to Jesus by introducing him to the gospel, and demonstrating what life as a disciple is like. The person, then, recognizes that his life does not agree with God's design, and that God condemns people who do not follow his design. But the person, also, recognizes that the Father sent the Son into the world to die for mankind's sin. So, the person accepts, and believes, in Jesus' work to reconcile, to redeem, and to justify, mankind. The person agrees to turn his life, and to live a lifestyle that agrees with God's design. And the person chooses to give his primary allegiance to the Father, Son, and Spirit. 

This is a general description of the process. Not everyone follows this process exactly. I know of people, who realized God is the primary, and absolute, authority over all creation. Therefore, people should bow, and give their primary allegiance to the Father, Son, and Spirit. They, initially, did not understand their sin, and their need for forgiveness. They chose to follow Jesus based on an understanding of authority. They learned soon afterward about sin, and Jesus' act to bring forgiveness.

Baptism does not have any effect on a person's life, and relationship with God. It is a symbol, and a proclamation, of a person going through the process we just explained, and making a choice to stand with Christ. The person is announcing his intention to follow Christ. 

Teaching to obey is the continuing process. Once, the decision process, that baptism symbolizes, is complete, a person needs to move down the path of completion, and realization, of God's design. Jesus, as a person, is a picture of what God's design is supposed to be like, and what each person is to make progress towards. We, all, as followers of Jesus, need to continue in the process of agreeing with him, and continuing to make choices, and changes, so that we all end up obeying all that Jesus commanded.

One author organized all of Jesus' commands into seven groups, or seven general commands. If we focus on the seven, we can spend a lifetime trying to master them. There is a balance between exerting our own energy, and relying on God's grace. Maybe not a balance, but a simultaneous exerting, and resting in grace.

We cannot exert ourselves, and earn saving grace. But we can exert ourselves to live in agreement with God's standards, and design. We can position ourselves to receive grace from God for transformation.

I admit I do not totally understand how this agreement between exertion, and rest, works. I can think of activities that will put us in the correct position to receive grace: reading and meditating on God's word, prayer, and worship. I know of some who would encourage silence, solitude, and fasting. And probably others.

The aim is to get into position to receive grace, to change our hearts, and, as a result, change our actions, and practices. And, then, to complete Jesus' commands more completely, and purely, without ceasing, until he returns.

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Jesus' Seven Commands

• Repent and believe
• Be baptized
• Share in the Lord's Supper
• Love
• Pray
• Give
• Make disciples