“Mark 16:14-20”

Monday, June 29, 2020

“Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

---End of Scripture verses---

As we know, the story and mission of Jesus didn’t end at His death. Jesus arose from the grave and ushered in a new beginning with fresh hope and eternal assurance for all those who love Him and obediently follow Him. So, when Jesus left the earth, His work on earth was really just beginning. Before Jesus ascended back to heaven He commissioned His chosen ambassadors to continue His work and share His Good News on earth. He told them to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (verse 15), and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (verse 16). Jesus told His apostles to go out and make disciples by teaching people to believe in Him and to be baptized in order to be saved. After Jesus ascended to heaven, that is exactly what we see them doing in the book of Acts. The Acts of the Apostles is the inspired account of some of the apostle’s endeavors to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus. Please read the passages in the attached “Conversion Chart”. You will see that people were converted to Christ and saved from their sins by believing in Him and obeying the command to be baptized.

Of course, belief and baptism is just the “starting point” of a life of salvation and devotion to Christ. In the Great Commission Jesus also told His apostles to teach people "to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Faithful Christians try their very best to obey Jesus at His every word and command (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:8-9).

Lord willing we will begin a journey into the book of Acts starting tomorrow. This will be another “rerun” but one we are five years removed from so it will seem new to most of us. Please read Acts 1:1-11 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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