The Joy of the Journey
The Unstoppable Good News of Jesus Christ
The power of the Gospel is undeniable and unstoppable. Throughout history, no force or opposition has been able to stop the message of hope and salvation brought by Jesus Christ. The seeds of the Gospel were planted over two thousand years ago, and they continue to bear fruit in the hearts of believers worldwide today. As we dive into the Scriptures, we will see how the good news of Jesus Christ is destined to be preached to all nations, regardless of any obstacles in its path.
The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20 is aprecise directive to preach the Gospel. It is where Jesus commands his disciples to “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.” This commission is not limited by time or location; it is a call to spread the message of salvation to every corner of the earth. The directive of Jesus was not just for the disciples’ time but for all of us who have taken up our cross and follow Him. We are called to spread His messenger of love, Hope, healing, and salvation to everyone who will listen.
In the book of Acts, we see the fulfillment of this commission as the apostles boldly proclaim the Gospel in the face of opposition and persecution. Acts 4:18-20 recounts Peter and John’s response to the religious leaders who commanded them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus: “But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'” Their passion for sharing the good news of Jesus was unstoppable, even when it cost them dearly.
Despite threats and imprisonment, the apostles continued to preach the Gospel, and the Word of God spread rapidly. Acts 5:42 tells us, “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”
The apostle Paul remained steadfast in his commitment to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. In Philippians 1:12-14, he writes, “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” They tried to silence Paul by putting him in prison. They made one mistake. They gave Paul a pen and paper; now, we read his letters and are encouraged today. In these letters, we witness the mighty work of God by reading words of encouragement, correction, and instruction about being a Jesus follower. Letters of Paul now make up over a quarter of the New Testament.
Despite the world and the devils’ attempts to stamp out the hope of the good news of Jesus, the gospel still goes forward today. In Romans 1:16, Paul declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
The early Christians faced unimaginable challenges, yet the message of salvation could not be silenced. But as modern Christians, we live in a world where the gospel is still being challenged today. There are still constant attempts to silence the message of truth. We cannot shriek away and hide the gospel, for it is the “power of God onto salvation…!” We live in a world where churches are being censored on social media and other platforms. There are people today who are under the control of the devil who are still trying to silence the truth. It doesn’t matter because when one platform closes for the truth to be shared, God will open new paths for the gospel to go forward. People need the message of hope through Jesus and the good news He came to share. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, redemption, and eternal life. It is a message that cannot be contained or extinguished by any force on earth. As believers, we are called to continue spreading the good news to all nations, knowing that the power of God is at work in us and through us. So, let us all be the salt and the light that Jesus has called us to be.
