Poll on Missions

On the basis of what John said, yes, it is a very serious question. Let me go over it.

John said:I spend much time getting the story of the cross of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ out so that He can save souls.

Does this mean all the things that happened, from the prophecies, the creation of Israel, the slaying of the prophets, the Virgin Birth, the slaying of the babies by Herod, the angel announcing the meaning of Jesus' Name, the miracles, the gathering of the Apostles, the constitution of the first New Testament Church, the horrible execution of the Lamb of Calvary, His glorious resurrection, and His powerful ascension, all of those were for nothing because after all Christ can save souls only if they hear the gospel thru the help and efforts of missionaries who gave up everything and risk lives and limbs and have their hearts buried in a strange land by grateful natives ?

 

Sorry John, I didn't mean for it to go this way. My apologies for my part in going off topic.

 

John allow me to answer this without going into C/A.
The answer is Yes...
If we don't tell people about Christ, what He did on calvary is useless to the souls in Hell.

It is up to us.
Christ finished His part, but He has given us a responsibility to carry out.
Remember He said that we will do greater things than He did.

People are not saved until they accept Christ. No matter how many times you scream IT is finished... you have a misunderstanding of what IT is.

Pinoy, when did you accept Christ?...
And you can't say at Calvary, because you didn't exist back then.

If you have not made a conscious decision to follow Him, I plead with you today to do so.

 

Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 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? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?

15 as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

You just made it into a C/A debate.

The crux of our argument against the purpose of modern-day missionaries, to save lost souls, is hinged upon our belief that Christ accomplished his work of our redeption on the cross. I am saved because Christ loved me, accepted me, and saved me.

As John has asked us not to debate C/A, I will not argue your points, TT.

I also ask that you not argue/debate ours by using a C vs. A argument in this thread.

James

 

I see what you are saying about what I said....
so I'll refrain from saying what I was about to say...lol

 

My simple answer, yes, I believe the great commission is valid today. I believe it will always be valid until there is no longer a need for the gospel or for baptisms or for churches or for faith.

I think the only real differences we have here are, 1) the purpose of the GC and, 2) the methods and people used to carry out the GC.

I think you will find, as far as ministers preaching the gospel wherever there is a need for it, you will find 100% agreement with folks on this thread. I don't know of a single person of our faith who does not believe in evangelism and establishing churches wherever God has a people longing for a refuge on this earth and thirsting for the good news of their salvation in Christ Jesus.

I think that is something that we all agree on, whether you want to call it missions or simply following your spiritual calling.

I do believe we are all on a mission as children of God, and that is to serve Him in everything that we do.:thumbs:

 

Actually, if it is me you refer to as the person who think the GC is not valid for today, let me say I don't think I voted for that one, or the other. I'm not sure though, but I remember while voting thinking that the question or the poll should have been: Was the Great Commission given to a church ?

That one I would have voted squarely as "no". And I think you know why, we've already touched on that once, which I decided not to pursue.

If by Great Commission you mean to preach the gospel as good news of an already done salvation, with no partnership existing between the preacher and the Savior, and no contribution coming from the hearer towards his salvation (such as the one Tiny Tim described), exalting Christ as Savior and Messiah alone, according Him all the glory for the finished work of salvation, pointing to Him and Him only as the One by whom the sinner was saved (whoever this sinner was), preaching His blood and His blood only as what washed the sinner's sins and continues to wash the sinner's sin, and preaching this good news of a finished salvation to one and all inside or outside the church, as many as would listen, wherever and whenever the Lord provides the opportunity to do so, then I say yes, the Great Commission, if that is what you prefer to call it, is valid for today and will continue to be valid until the time the Lord calls His people home to Him either thru death or by His return.

However, from what I've read from your post and that of others, while you all say Jesus Christ is Savior, it appears to me that while you may believe that, you do not understand it really, since your interpretation of the Great Commission is preaching the gospel as a means by which the Holy Spirit can apply the salvation that God authored for His people, a means without which no one can possibly get saved, or without which Jesus Christ can be who He is, Savior.

Please understand that my objection is akin to my objection against John Mc'Arthur's Lordship salvation in which unless one makes and actively confesses Christ as Lord then that person's salvation is doubtful, if I understand it correcty.

I believe Christ IS Lord, He always was, and always will be, Lord, and there is no God except the Creator God, and no other Name by which men must be saved except the Name of Christ, and that all these means that when time is past and eternity future begins at the judgment all those who are not God's own and relied on their theologies, creeds, idols, or whatnots will learn that Christ IS Lord.

In the same way, Christ IS Savior, because that is who He is from eternity past. He IS Savior to those who are His people before the blood on the cross in time when He shed His blood as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, He IS Savior to those who are His when He walked this earth as the Christ of Calvary, and He IS Savior to those who are His from then to the future.

Their salvation have already been secured in Christ, and therefore in undertaking the Great Commission as you all like to refer to it, the error, as I see it, is preaching Him as Savior but not really according that Title to Him unless the hearer contributes towards that Title.
In fact, I may add, that is why you have missions and why you have the Great Commission, so people can know about the gospel, and therefore believing the gospel, salvation may be obtained.

 

Tiny tim:

I have no desire to be a recipient of John's shuto if I ever get the chance to meet him in person, so I will be starting a whole new thread about what you said but with no intention of singling you out specifically.
I just think what you said makes for an interesting discussion.
All are welcome to join the "fun".

 

No problem...
I think you are right to start a thread..,

BTW, did I miss something? What is a shuto?