What Really Is The Message?

In biblical essence, God has created all things to reflect His glory. His redemptive work is “to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Col 1:20, ESV). Right from creation to the new heaven and earth, God not only seeks to redeem but also to integrate the physical and spiritual rather than to separate them.

There is no dichotomy between evangelism and social transformation. On the contrary, evangelism must be in tandem with social transformation to make a profound and lasting impact on a society – or an individual. A spiritual conversion is a conversion of life. No outward change is synonymous with no inward change for it is impossible for the soul to be God’s whilst the life is not God’s at the same time. The Apostle Paul teaches that the man who is “in Christ” is “saved” but the man who is “not in Christ” perishes. He who finds salvation in Christ embraces the cross of repentance and faith and enters into a new life in Christ even as he dies to his former self.

The Great Commission encompasses the convicting, regenerating and sanctifying role of the Holy Spirit without whom, pure human efforts are inadequate and futile, at worst. The mandate of the Great Commission, that is, to make disciples – not converts, entails intentional spiritual formation that culminates in “bearing fruit in keeping with repentance” (Mt 3:8) as well as “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12).

Rather than to ‘christianise’ the world, the responsibility of the church is to gather out of the world the ‘elect’ of God into the fellowship of Jesus Christ in whom rests the true nature and work of faith. It is imperative for the church, therefore, to be strong and bold in preaching the Message with conviction. It is only when we ourselves are convinced of the truth of the Message that we are able to persuade and convince others in turn.