Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is building and expanding his multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, international church, and he is doing so through obedient disciples.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Then, after five days of forming and filling the earth, he created man and woman in his image and likeness. Then came his royal decree. Adam and Eve were to recreate, procreate, and fill the entire earth with godly disciples. Planet Earth was to be covered with worshiping sons and daughters. (Genesis 1:28)
Sadly, Adam and Eve fell, and with them fell all humanity. Ultimately the earth was filled with men and women who followed the lead of Satan. From the heart of God, came grief. From his heart also came wrath. Judgment came in the form of a universal flood, and all perished except for the family of Noah who were graciously saved through God’s ark. Then, following their salvation, a similar command came forth. Noah and his family were to procreate and fill Planet Earth with worshiping disciples. (Genesis 9:7) God’s will had not changed.
A few centuries and chapters later, God called Abraham to be his special saint. To him, a land and seed was promised. Through him and this promised seed, a special blessing was to come – one for all the families of the earth. (Genesis 12:1-3) Yes, the Hebrew nation would be special in the eyes of God, but they were a means to an end – a planet filled with worshiping saints.
Throughout the Old Testament scriptures, God showed his special favor for the Jews. However, from Genesis through Malachi, God included Gentiles in his covenant household. Rahab, Ruth, and Nebuchadnezzar were only a few internationals added to God’s special assembly. Clearly, God had multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and international interests.
Also, throughout the Old Testament scriptures, God’s people made a mess of things. They were unfaithful idolaters, and he allowed them to be severely chastened. Ultimately, most were exiled from Canaan and forced to live under foreign regimes. However, even in the darkest of days, God continued to proclaim his unchangeable intention. One day, Israel would be revived. One day, Egypt and Assyria would be revived as well. And one day, Israel, Egypt, and Assyria would all worship together. God’s worshiping community would be comprised of many nations. (Isaiah 19:24-25)
Several centuries later, when the time was right and God sent his only begotten Son, magi from the East were led by God’s star to worship at his bed. Jesus’ initial worshipers came from Jewish and Gentile ethnicities. (Matthew 2:1-12)
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus proved to be the True Adam. Through his ministry, disciples were made throughout Israel, Samaria, and the Decapolis. He was the Promised Seed of Abraham who came to bless the nations. He was the King whose kingdom was going to be international in constituency and size.
Following his death, burial, and resurrection, and prior to his ascension, Jesus gathered his disciples and communicated to them his Great Commission. What did they learn? After all these millennia, nothing had changed in the will of God. Like Adam, like Noah, like Abraham, like Israel, like Jesus – Christ’s disciples were to spiritually procreate and make disciples in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Then came the Holy Spirit in unique measure. Acts is the historical account of how God the Spirit inspired Jewish sons and daughters to speak foreign languages, love foreign people, go to foreign places, and ingraft foreign people. In Acts 8, by means of persecution, the Lord scattered his disciples. Philip travelled to Samaria. There he preached the Gospel, and there many souls were added to Christ’s multi-cultural church. (Acts 8:1-8) However, the Holy Spirit was not satisfied; he was merely getting started. In Acts 8:26-40, the Spirit instructed Philip to travel to a desert road in Gaza. Philip obeyed, the Spirit worked, and an Ethiopian eunuch was added to Christ’s flock. And what did the Holy Spirit do next? According to scripture, Philip was led to make more disciples in all the towns from Azotus to Caesarea. According to tradition, the Ethiopian eunuch was led to make more disciples throughout Africa. Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, was building and expanding his multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, international church, and he was doing so through obedient disciples. Throughout the remainder of Acts, God sent Peter to Caesarea. He sent Barnabas, Paul, John Mark, Silas, Timothy and many others to the nations.
And from these foreign nations, God inspired his Hebrew apostle to teach, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29) Clearly, any temporary wall of ethnic division had been torn down. (Ephesians 2:14-18) God was having his way with the nations. Christ was building his church. He was expanding his multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and international church around the world.
And how does the story end? One should not be surprised. In the book of Revelation, the Risen King appears in a vision to one of his best friends. He allows John to see the final chapter, and it reads like this, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ … Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you know ….’” (Revelation 7:9-14)
Friends, please glory in diversity, equity, and inclusion. No, I am not “woke.” No, I am not asking you to think like the philosophical and political weirdoes of our day. But yes, I am asking you to think, desire, pray, work, include, and worship like Jesus Christ. A multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, international church is on his mind. Is it on yours?
Unfathomable Grace 