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Breaking this message down<\/h3>\n
A message for all people:<\/strong> the angels proclaimed great joy not just for Jews but for all people. All<\/em> is a big word, inclusive of everyone. Was this a trick or did it really mean everyone? Not a trick \u2013 Jesus sent this message to the entire world as mentioned below in To the world and beyond<\/em>.<\/p>\n God in the highest:<\/strong> Commentators dance all around what is mean by this phrase, often alluding to a place, which isn\u2019t indicated. When it does refer to a place, as in Luke 14:8 \u201csit down in the highest room,\u201d a different word is used: protoklisia.<\/p>\n The angel of the Lord used the word \u201chighest\u201d in Luke 1:32 \u201cHe will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High \u2026.\u201d It helps to study other religions to understand this. Most religions worship the most high god. This is the God who is above everything, the creator God, the all-powerful God who happens to love everyone. There is no mistake that this might somehow be the exclusive God of the Jews. It\u2019s the God of everyone.<\/p>\n Who is God pleased with?<\/strong> Those who do right or are forgiven. None of us are perfect. The wrongs of those who are forgiven are remembered no more and God isas \u00a0pleased with them as he would be with someone who is perfect.<\/p>\n Implicit in Jesus message are several things including the forgiveness of sins, the Kingdom of God and Heaven, taking the news to the entire world, and the benefits of being in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n As John the Baptist was taken into custody, ending his ministry and bringing to a close the time of the law and the prophets, \u201cJesus began to preach and say, \u201cRepent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\u201d\u201d \u2013 Mattthew 4:17 (NASB)<\/p>\n Jesus condemned no one during his earthly ministry but instead offered forgiveness. He said of himself, \u201cI am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.\u201d \u2013 John 8:12 (NASB)<\/p>\n Implicit in the idea of forgiveness is that you ask God for forgiveness and that you change your ways. Sometimes it\u2019s difficult to change our ways so Jesus said later to forgive 70 times 7, asking us to be like God and have a habit of forgiveness. Our wrongdoings usually involve other people, so it was Jesus\u2019 and the Jews\u2019 belief that this meant going to those who you had done wrong and making it right as well as asking for their forgiveness.<\/p>\n To obtain forgiveness Jesus said you don\u2019t need to go to a priest or temple any such thing (unless you just want to \u2013 no harm in it). You simply ask God directly. This was a change for the Jews. Living in the way Jesus demonstrated (love of others) brings you into the Kingdom of God-Heaven, which is here now and forever.<\/p>\n But He said to them, \u201cI must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.\u201d Luke 4: 43 (NASB) And he began going to areas where Jews didn\u2019t live. And even Roman soldiers and Samaritans came to him and asked him for healing.<\/p>\n In an era where men were supposedly the only people able to teach about God, and the Jews would not keep company with outsiders, Jesus was inclusive of women and took his message to the entire world: \u201c\u2026 He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses \u2026.\u201d \u00a0\u2013 Luke 8: 1 (NASB)<\/p>\n Similarly to his own mission, Jesus told his apostles to take the good news to other nations. After his death and resurrection Jesus told his 11 apostles: \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you \u2026.\u201d \u2013 Matthew 28: 19-20 (NASB)<\/p>\n In Matthew 28, baptism represents forgiveness and washing away of sins which is Jesus\u2019 primary message. The Greek word \u201cdisciple,\u201d (\u03bc\u03b1\u03b8\u03b7\u03c4\u03ae\u03c2), generally means \u201cone who engages in learning through instruction from another, a pupil, or an apprentice.\u201d It doesn\u2019t necessarily mean student and it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean convert. (The idea of convert from one religion to another came much later.)<\/p>\n Disciple refers to those who followed Jesus during his time to learn the faith (love, forgiveness, etc.) and right behavior from him. What Jesus taught can be practiced by anyone and all who follow the ways of God are in the Kingdom. Jesus noted that those in other nations had great faith in God and would sit with him in heaven.<\/p>\n A disciple is very different from an apostle.\u201d An apostle (\/\u0259\u02c8p\u0252s\u0259l\/), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek \u1f00\u03c0\u03cc\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 (ap\u00f3stolos), literally \u201cone who is sent off\u201d, from the verb \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd (apost\u00e9llein), \u201cto send off\u201d. The purpose of such sending off is usually to convey a message, and thus \u201cmessenger\u201d is a common alternative translation; other common translations include \u201cambassador\u201d and \u201cenvoy\u201d.\u201d Apostle \u2013 Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n In the early church there were evangelists who had the mission of spreading the Good News.\u00a0 Evangel literally means good news: \u201cAncient Greek \u03b5\u1f50\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03ad\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd (euang\u00e9lion, \u201cgood news\u201d), from \u03b5\u1f50\u03ac\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 (eu\u00e1ngelos, \u201cbringing good news.\u201d\u201d But this wasn\u2019t the task of most Christians. Churches with an evangelical emphasis try to make this the task of each Christian, but our task is to be the light by showing others the love of God.<\/p>\n The word \u201cconversion\u201d is used few times in the New Testament. It implies \u201crevolution.\u201d It was generally used with reference to changing the soul, not changing religion.<\/p>\n Representative examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n Matthew 13:15 \u2013 \u201cAnd understand with their heart and return [return is sometimes translated \u201cconvert\u201d].\u201d<\/p>\n Matthew 18:3 \u2013 \u201cunless you are converted [turned] and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n To Simon who Jesus felt was turning away, he said: \u201c\u201cSimon, Simon, behold, Satan has [d]demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned [sometimes translated converted] again, strengthen your brothers.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n Acts 3:19 \u2013 \u201cTherefore repent and return [sometimes translated converted], so that your sins may be wiped away,\u201d<\/p>\n The Jews of the day who followed Jesus continued to practice Judaism but with the understanding given them by Jesus. When the apostles ministered to Jewish communities in other lands, they didn\u2019t ask them to stop being Jews but to adopt Jesus\u2019 understanding and practices. When the apostles started new communities among non-Jews they didn\u2019t ask them to become Jews but to follow the practices of Jesus.<\/p>\n The idea of \u201cconversion\u201d later came to mean to change from one religion to another (or no religion to Christianity). What the idea in Jesus\u2019 terms really means is a change of heart.<\/p>\n So the church of Jesus wasn\u2019t meant to be a militant takeover of all other religions. It was about a heart change for those who needed a clearer example of what God asks of us.<\/p>\n Jesus came to make changes in religion and in the hearts of people that would affect their behavior for the better. He refused to create a physical kingdom to dominate Judaism or the world. Judaism was dominated by powerful people who ritualized religion, emphasized law over everything else, and any religious function was carried out at the Temple by priests.<\/p>\n He said the Temple would be destroyed, the leaders and people would be scattered, and to obtain forgiveness people need only ask God. So he brought the Good News of forgiveness and announced the Kingdom of God for all those who ask God for forgiveness, turn away from doing wrong, and try to do good. The Kingdom of God is here now and forever into the Kingdom of Heaven, it\u2019s for everyone, and it\u2019s eternal life.<\/p>\n Next in this series on What Is the Church: In the Kingdom, and the fullness of the Good News. Then people who love as God loves. And the function of the organized church as a positive force in people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n What is the Church, Part 1<\/a>\u2013 the people, body of Christ<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n What Is the Church, Part 2 \u2013 The message and promise of Jesus<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n What Is the Church, Part 3 \u2013 The Good News and the Kingdom of God<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\nUnpacking the message of Jesus<\/h3>\n
To the world and beyond<\/h3>\n
Breaking this message down<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Conversion \u2013 what does it mean?<\/h2>\n
Takeaway<\/h2>\n
Article in this series on what is the church, the big questions<\/h2>\n