Go Into All The World
Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). There are an estimated 400,000 Christian missionaries who literally take the Gospel to the farthest ends of the earth. Missionaries are in most countries around the world. But aren’t there unbelievers right here in Springfield, Missouri? Aren’t people in Springfield, MO part of God’s created beings? Isn’t Springfield, MO part of the world?
In addition to missionaries serving all around the world, some of us Christians share the Gospel right here where we live, on street corners just like this one. Now I’d like to read Mark 16:1-16. This is after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Savior died on the cruel cross, bearing God’s wrath over sin. Jesus did so in order to save His people from their sins. But these verses start off where Jesus has already risen from the grave.
He Is Risen; He Is Not Here
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were afraid. And he said unto them, Do not be afraid: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee: there shall you see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they anything to any man; for they were afraid.
They Believed Not
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
And they went and told it unto the residue: neither did they believe them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
Those of us who are followers of Jesus are to share the Gospel. To go into all the world is to share the Gospel as we go. It is a continual sharing. We never “get over” being saved. We never get over the Gospel. In fact, I dare say for those of us who are truly saved, salvation becomes sweeter as we get older. It’s astounding that Jesus would suffer, bleed and die for a guilty sinner like me. But He did! He paid the sin debt that He did not owe and God offers salvation to all who repent and believe the Gospel.
Real Followers Of Jesus Should Share The Gospel
So without a shadow of a doubt, true believers, real followers of Jesus Christ are to share the glorious Gospel with this lost and dying world. Again, if you are a biblical Christian, you can share the Gospel with your family, friends, co-workers and strangers alike. You many never open-air preach on a street corner and that’s alright. But if you are truly saved, you should be sharing the Gospel with someone.
How could you keep the greatest gift of all-time to yourself? It isn’t like you lose anything by someone else receiving Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Instead of losing anything, you actually gain a brother or sister when someone truly repents and surrenders their life to Jesus, when they believe the Gospel. Why would you not share this amazing, glorious gift with others?
What should really motivate true believers in sharing their faith is Mark 16:16, right after Jesus commands us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, He says these words: He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
He That Does Not Believe Will Not Be Saved
Oh, are you hearing this? Jesus said he that believes shall be saved. But he that doesn’t believe will not be saved. No, in fact unbelievers will be damned. You are already guilty, you are already under God’s condemnation if Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior. Fellow Christians, this should make us want to share the Gospel more urgently and more often. Unbelievers are already damned by Almighty God. They are already under His condemnation.
Please listen to John 3:14-21: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment (condemnation): the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
If Jesus Is Not Your Lord And Savior You Are Condemned Already!
Oh folks, those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus are condemned already! If this is you tonight, you are a dead man or dead woman walking. Yes, you are spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins and you are guilty, guilty, guilty. You are condemned already. You don’t have to do anything else in your life to go to Hell. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
What does it take to go to Hell? Absolutely nothing on your part. You are already guilty. You are already condemned. All you have to do is die in your sins and you will split Hell wide open. You are already on the broad road to destruction. Jesus said: Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14).
Don’t die in your sins and go to Hell. Repent, repent, repent. Repent from your sins and surrender your life fully and completely to Jesus Christ the Lord. Do this today. Don’t continue rebelling against God. Don’t continue telling God, No, I will not have Jesus Christ rule over me. Instead, repent and believe the Gospel. Stop trusting in yourself and your own good works which aren’t even good. Trust in the Righteous One. Trust in the risen Lord. Oh, trust in Christ alone for your salvation.
How Many People Die Every Day?
Over 150,000 people die each and every day. One day it will be your time to die. One day it will be my time to die. I’m ready to meet my Maker. Are you? Have you repented from your sins and surrendered your life to Jesus? If not, if God is convicting you over your sins and revealing His Holiness to you, do not reject such a great salvation. Repent and put your faith in Jesus. Repent and believe the Gospel.
So many people are dying and headed for Hell. That’s what compels us to share the glorious Gospel out here in the open-air. Jesus commanded us to share the Gospel. He said go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
God Commands You To Repent
If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, God commands you to repent. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all people everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
Repent from your sins and put your trust in Jesus. Believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ the Lord. Believe in Christ alone. If you are a follower of Jesus, are you an obedient one? Are you sharing the glorious Gospel with this lost and dying world? Are you sharing the Gospel as you go?