The Mission of Jesus Christ: Save the World

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isa 9:6-7

The birth of Jesus had been prophesied for more than a millennium as an event that would usher in a new kingdom. It had been anticipated and longed for by those that were in bondage and despair, who had little hope of change. His birth occurred at a time that was chaotic and full of civil and religious bondage, economic disaster, war and despair for those that loved God. It would be yet another 30 years before He would begin His discourse for liberating the people. Jesus ministered for three years, teaching the people the true way to worship and serve their God. And when He fulfilled His destiny through death on the cross, followers felt their hope had died with Him.

Even after His death many of his disciples did not remember what He said about arising, empowering them and establishing this new kingdom. They wanted an immediate solution in their natural environment. We have the benefit of history and know His death was just the beginning of this new kingdom that would open up a way of hope and prosperity for all men.

Like the disciples of Jesus’ day, we also want immediate solutions to our own undesirable circumstances. And like the early disciples, we also have heard Him speak of His kingdom; and many of us too have forgotten what He said about His resurrection, empowering us and establishing a kingdom of righteousness and equality.

We live in a chaotic time when there is so much war, despair and bondage. And like yesterday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He still lives today and is dealing with us as individuals to save this world. Change may not be immediate but it has begun. We are given the same opportunity as His early disciples to be change makers empowered with the Spirit of God, stand up as witnesses of Jesus and set the captive free. There are some who heard the words of Jesus Christ but are fishing for earthly rewards. But then there are those who like the early disciples that may have been distracted for a moment but have returned to fish for disciples that will fill Christ’ kingdom.

Jesus has already come to save the whole world and yet it is not saved. We see trouble and discouragement everywhere and people seem without hope. It is today as it was when Jesus came into the earth. But now He is not walking the earth in a physical body preaching, delivering, healing and setting the people free. He is still doing the work but it is from His spiritual place on the throne. He has sent us now as disciples to do the earthly work in His stead. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick and set free those that are in captivity. He has empowered us to do that work. Jesus is still saving the world but much of the physical work must be done through us on earth through His power. It cannot be a religious rite or hypocritical work that does no one much good. We must reach out and touch the lives of the lost, hungry, sick and imprisoned. If we say God is not moving in the earth, it is because we are not letting Him move in the earth through our hands and feet. Jesus is the head of the body, giving instructions to us as His hands and feet to go forth with His power as foot soldiers in the war against oppression everywhere.

The biggest threat to God’s kingdom was Satan, who sought to overthrow God is heaven and who settled in the earth to deceive all men. Satan is the enemy of God and man and his greatest effort is to lead men in rebellion against God. His first and strongest weapon is to cause men to disbelieve God and His concern about their problems. We see evidence of his work everywhere as men have persuaded and been persuaded that there is no God or in some false representation of the true God. We are the deciders of which kingdom will be established…the Kingdom of God or a kingdom led by Satan in rebellion against God.

Every individual person on earth who has hope of liberty and prosperity must know that the beginning of these blessings is simply to believe in Jesus Christ and His mission on earth to save all mankind. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16-17). What people are looking for today, often without even knowing it, is personal salvation. People want to be saved from oppression, poverty, sickness, despair, mental torment and hopelessness. Deliverance from all of these abnormalities is what Jesus came to give every man, woman and child. There will always be those, even as in the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, who strive for the benefits and blessings by oppressing others. They are people motivated by the enemy spirit against Christ and man to establish themselves with imperial power over men. Jesus is still looking for a called out, humble and righteous people that will resist the oppression of all men whether black, white, yellow, pink, red or brown. True Christianity was to establish God’s kingdom on earth for all men everywhere so that they could enjoy the benefits of a righteous God. Christ yet lives to restore God’s kingdom.

Even though religion or the church man established may fail to fulfill the mission of Christ to save the world from evil and oppression, Christ still exists to work through whosoever will believe. Religious hierarchies will always miss the mark because they operate through power and control over the lives of men, contrary to the teachings of Christ. Christmas is about remembering God’s miraculous gift of Christ sent to every individual to reestablish man’s prosperous life through the spirit of love rather than promotion of wealth by oppression of the many.

There was a time when the nation of America believed in the vision of righteousness and equality for all men as an inalienable right from God. They had fled from oppression by the imperialist society in Europe who robbed the people of their God-given rights to civil, religious, social and economic liberty. America is a nation that was established through war against tyrants so that there could be a place for citizens to grow in all of their God-given rights. But America has forgotten. Somewhere in dark closets of power mongering, America gave this nation over to tyrants who seek to oppress the many for the profit of the few. It is being done through a legal system set up and led by men with power and influence over systems to cause people to do their will. It is using the law to rob the poor and supply the needs of the rich. A spirit of deception has always been in the earth, ready to be used by anyone willing to submit to the power of evil. Restraining true religious practice gives room for wickedness to work. What could not easily be done by war has invaded America through a spirit of deception and greed to overthrow what was to be a righteousness people and nation.

The problem today is the same as it has always been. Will the righteous stand up and defend the world against oppression through the power God gave all men to prevail against evil or will the nation become another imperialist nation oppressing the rights of many for the few? Whether the deception exists in the Democratic or Republican Congress, White House, church, local government, employers, or in your home, Jesus has come to set the captive free. He still needs foot soldiers…your arms and legs…to do the physical work in the earth. It is not the Baby Jesus that is telling you to bow down and serve Him, but it is the Risen Savior in heaven with all power in His hands that is telling all men that He will stand with you with great power if you will stand up for righteousness. We must remember at this time the miracle that God gave the world and that angels and Christ are still interacting with men on earth. The message of the angel is still being heralded for all people:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luk 2:10-14

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Heb 9:28

Let’s Keep Christ in Christmas!

Merry Christmas