Believe in the Mission
HIS MISSION, OUR CO-MISSION
Terry R. Baughman
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:15–17).
Faith is an essential element of salvation and vital to the work of the ministry Jesus called us to complete. We are commissioned to go into all the world and preach to every creature and in every culture. The required response to the gospel message is always the same: Believe!
Faith is necessary for every petition and essential for every prayer. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith is in the One who made every promise and through Him the mission is possible.
Faith always leads to action. James taught, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). He went on to say, “The body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). There must be an active response to faith. Mark stated, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Acting on faith will lead to obedience to the Word of God and the plan of salvation. When the convicted crowd cried out to Peter, “What shall we do?” His response was without hesitation, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37–38).
Salvation is freely offered and easily obtained. It is a matter of faith and obedience. Simply believe and simply follow the instruction of His Word. Mark continued with the necessary conclusion, “He who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). The condemnation for those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ is the loss of an opportunity for salvation and an eternity separated from God. It cannot be any simpler and it cannot be any more stringent. We must believe!
To believe in God is to also embrace His mission. Jesus came, “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). When we receive His Spirit we will also be empowered to fulfill His mission. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me … to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We cannot claim to have faith and not be consumed with the commission. He has called us to complete what only He can do, and working with us and through us He will be able to complete it. What a privilege to find ourselves in conjunction with Jesus Christ and partnered with Him in His mission to reach the world.
The world will never be reached without a preacher, a spokesman to share the everlasting gospel. They must hear before they can believe. They must believe that they might be saved. We must follow Christ and believe in the mission!
Scripture:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14)
HIS MISSION, OUR CO-MISSION
Terry R. Baughman
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:15–17).
Faith is an essential element of salvation and vital to the work of the ministry Jesus called us to complete. We are commissioned to go into all the world and preach to every creature and in every culture. The required response to the gospel message is always the same: Believe!
Faith is necessary for every petition and essential for every prayer. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith is in the One who made every promise and through Him the mission is possible.
Faith always leads to action. James taught, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). He went on to say, “The body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). There must be an active response to faith. Mark stated, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Acting on faith will lead to obedience to the Word of God and the plan of salvation. When the convicted crowd cried out to Peter, “What shall we do?” His response was without hesitation, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37–38).
Salvation is freely offered and easily obtained. It is a matter of faith and obedience. Simply believe and simply follow the instruction of His Word. Mark continued with the necessary conclusion, “He who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). The condemnation for those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ is the loss of an opportunity for salvation and an eternity separated from God. It cannot be any simpler and it cannot be any more stringent. We must believe!
To believe in God is to also embrace His mission. Jesus came, “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). When we receive His Spirit we will also be empowered to fulfill His mission. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me … to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We cannot claim to have faith and not be consumed with the commission. He has called us to complete what only He can do, and working with us and through us He will be able to complete it. What a privilege to find ourselves in conjunction with Jesus Christ and partnered with Him in His mission to reach the world.
The world will never be reached without a preacher, a spokesman to share the everlasting gospel. They must hear before they can believe. They must believe that they might be saved. We must follow Christ and believe in the mission!
Scripture:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14)
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