5:17 church

I think the answer to the above question is one single three-letter word. The word is “and”. It’s right in the middle of Luke 24:46-47.

And Jesus said to them: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Luke 24:46 is the heart of our faith. It’s central to what we as Christians believe – that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to reconcile us to God and to grant us new life. If you deny verse 46 you deny the Christian faith. All history led up to Jesus’ death and resurrection (a la the BC-AD division of time). We always remind ourselves of verse 46 at Communion.

But it’s very easy to neglect v47.  We put v47 on hold. We thank Jesus for what He’s done – and we often stop there. But Jesus doesn’t allow that. That’s why Jesus used that small but important three letter word  – “and”. Yes, Jesus died and rose again – that is the heart of our faith. But Jesus said “and” – and v47 – and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

What we are to see here is that it’s as much the purpose of God that the gospel goes to all nations as it was for Jesus to die and rise again.  Jesus told His followers: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). Jesus was sent to save, we are sent to proclaim Jesus as Saviour. We need to remember the question that God calls us to answer isn’t whether we’ll be a missionary but where we”ll serve as a missionary. Where and how can we best promote the gospel?

For a long time, the words from a Sons of Korah song have haunted me. The words go:

“All I can see is you with your dreams saying Jesus, won’t you come follow me!”

I pray that that might never be said of me. Instead, I think C.T. Studd nailed it when he (famously) said:

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him”.

For me personally, I think it’s easier to stay in the safe, secure environment of the ‘mother’ church – enjoying the feeling of a larger congregation and the ‘happening’ vibe that comes with more numbers in church.

The Chinese Christian Church Brisbane St Lucia English-speaking congregation – SLE – has a great ministry and mission. A number of 5:17ers loved being part of SLE. But there are people in our area who SLE just hasn’t been able to connect with in order to promote the gospel to them. We planted 5:17 church so that we can reach as many different people as possible.  5:17 might be a small church, but we begin with the confidence that in God’s sovereignty, we play our part in the end result – the picture of heaven we see here:

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 (Revelation 7:9).