The command of Jesus to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mk 16:15) is urgent in the light of the world’s events that point to the return of our Lord Jesus for His Church. Hence, it is to be obeyed by all believers.
Why Must We Preach?
We preach because the Bible declares that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23) and "… there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Man’s only hope is the forgiveness of sin, which is the cause of all man’s problems and the world he lives in. The world may look like it is getting better in medical, technical and materialistic comforts of life here, but sin is growing and destroying man both physically and spiritually.
Paul, writing to the Ephesians Christians said, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph. 2:8– 9).
No other religion offers God’s forgiveness by grace. The Bible says, "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you" (Acts 13:38). John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as "the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world" (1 Jn 1:29). Therefore, the Gospel is the good news that God will forgive us because of Jesus. "Those who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (Jn 3:16).
How Are We To Preach?
Paul said, "To the Jews, I become like the Jews to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law … to the weak, I become weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some" (1 Cor. 9:20, 22). Did he mean that he would behave like they behaved? No, by this Paul meant that he would take all pains to relate with the people and seek to communicate the gospel in a way that they would understand. In short, "preaching the gospel in the garb of the people".
Every person lives and grows within a cultural context. This encompasses language, race, colour and all nations. It has been said the message is sacred but the method by which we communicate is not. Missionary anthropologist Paul G Hiebert reminds us that human beings can only receive and respond to the gospel when it is presented in "their language, symbols and rituals". The preacher must therefore ensure that the message is biblically sound and that his delivery is relevant and effective in the context of where he lives.
The task is great and challenging but to those who will obey the command, Jesus said, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Lk 10:19).
The Command To Preach
After the resurrection of Jesus and before He ascended, He said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (Mk 16:15–17).
Let us "work while it is still day" (Jn 9:4). |
