The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

The elements of the commission ought to be covered carefully for the students so they can understand its breadth and power. For instance, it is a universal message, to go to the entire world beginning in Jerusalem and Judea, then in neighboring Samaria, and expanding to the very ends of the earth (Luke 24.47-48; Acts 1.8). It is for all people, Jews (Acts 2.5-11) and Gentiles (Acts 13.46; Rom.1.16). In one sense, this Gospel is the single message of salvation, starting in God’s first telling of the Gospel in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3.15-17), going through the period of the cross of Jesus (Rom. 3.25; Gal.3.8-9), all the way through this present age, to the very coming of Jesus at his return (Matt. 24.14). Jesus was clear that no work of Gospel proclamation was to occur until the Holy Spirit was poured out on his disciples. Only the Holy Spirit’s indwelling wisdom, leading, and power are sufficient for the work of evangelism, mission, and the spreading of the Good News (Luke 24.49; Acts 1.8). Merely the telling of the Good News will never suffice for salvation, for it is only through the convicting and redeeming power of the Holy Spirit that a person can be convicted of their sin, regenerated through his power, and empowered to confess our Lord Jesus as Lord of all (John 16.8; Titus 3.5; 1 Cor. 12.3).

The promise of the Holy Spirit is a message directly connected with the coming of the Messiah, the end of time, and the ushering in of God’s Kingdom reign upon the earth. From the very beginning of his ministry Jesus identified himself as the Lord, the Messiah King who also is the Suffering Servant figure of Old Testament prophecy (Isa.42.1ff.; cf. Mark 10.45). In one sense, this entire module has sought to show that Jesus combined these two concepts, which historical Judaism had traditionally interpreted as separate ideas. Jesus understood himself to be the Messiah of God, the one anointed by God to deliver the captives, preach good news to the poor, to proclaim the favor of God, and to reassert God’s rulership in this in-breaking Kingdom. The promise of the Holy Spirit was directly associated with these motifs, and Jesus’ asking the disciples to tarry until the Holy Spirit was given undeniably asserts that in himself the New Age had dawned. This is the very heart of his message at his inaugural sermon at the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4.16ff.). Our Lord, in quoting the Messianic promise, stopped short of reading the words of 7 Page 135 Outline Point III