“Jesus has already made a better place in this world. The role of God's people is to embrace, display, and proclaim this better place… God's people… are called to be the better place that Christ has already made and that the wider world will not be until Christ returns.”

Proclaiming God's better place

In the Gospels

  • Jesus focuses on proclaiming the kingdom and recruiting followers to do the same (Luke 4:43; 9:60).
  • Jesus sets his followers apart as witnesses to all that he said and did (Acts 1:8).
  • Jesus calls his followers to fish for people and to make disciples who are like him (Matt 4:19; 28:19-20).
  • Jesus anticipates a day when the gospel wil be proclaimed to the entire world (Matt 24:14).
  • Jesus recognizes that the world wil often reject the gospel message and its messengers (Luke 10:11; John 15:18-20).

In Acts

  • Jesus sends his followers to be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
  • The apostles constantly testify to Jesus, the resurrection, and the kingdom (Acts 8:12; 17:15; 28:31).
  • The apostles strive to speak the word of God boldly (Acts 4:29).
  • Paul summarizes his mission in terms of proclaiming the good news (Acts 20:24-25).

In Paul's letters

  • Paul repeatedly expresses his desire to proclaim the good news to places that have not heard it (Rom 15:19-20).
  • Paul reiterates Jesus' commission to proclaim the gospel, whether or not it is convenient (2 Tim 4:1-2).
  • Paul underscores the church's responsibility to appeal to the world on God's behalf (2 Cor 5:15-21).
  • Paul implores believers to live quietly and wisely among outsiders and to be prepared to speak to them graciously and convincingly as opportunities arise (Col 4:5-6; 1 Thess 4:11-12).
  • Paul encourages believers to respect public authorities and not to interfere with their work (1 Tim 2:1-4).
  • Paul warns believers against partnering with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14-18).

The remaining letters

  • James warns against befriending the world and pursuing worldly agendas (Jas 4:4).
  • Peter summarizes the church's purpose in terms of proclaiming God's mighty acts on our behalf (1 Pet 2:9).
  • Peter insists that we conduct our lives honorably among the Gentiles so they may see our way of life and come to honor God (1 Pet 2:11-12).
  • Peter encourages believers who are subordinate to unbelievers to live in such a way that they may b e won over to faith (1 Pet 3:2).
  • John speaks of believers as those who have conquered the world and must not be drawn to worldly things (1 John 2:13-16).
  • The undeniable heroes of Revelation are those witnesses who hold fast to their testimony to Jesus and to the word of God (Rev 6:9; 12:11; 20:4).

– John Nugent, Endangered Gospel

Endangered Gospel