Acts 1:6-8 ~ you will be My witnesses

Salvation offered to us in Jesus Christ. The cross is a representation of mankind intersecting God's salvation in the holiness of God; transforming lives in faith, hope and love

Acts 1:6-8


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”


Mark 16:14-16
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

The Good News does not always reach the headlines. You might remember April 2009 (Easter) Newsweek Headlines': "The End of Christian America". The quote in the magazine was, "There it was, an old term with new urgency: post-Christian. This is not to say that the Christian God is dead, but that He is less of a force in American politics and culture than at any other time in recent memory." Some of the data was skewed. And the fall in numbers was attributed, although not announced in the article, to the decline of Catholicism in the North East USA. It never was reported the people who fell away from Catholicism over priest sexual abuses, returned and forgave the Church. Pope Benedict comforted the victims by saying it was as painful as Jesus Christ dying, wrongly labeled a sinner, on the cross. The people of Jesus Christ know about forgiveness.

The larger error is believing the Christian Church is struck down by numbers. The Light of Jesus Christ continues to shine.

We live in interesting times. The faithful believe more strongly. The unbelieving are more vocal and upset with topics like the exclusivity of Christian religion being the Only way into the Kingdom of Heaven. Religion is not ever the way into God's Salvation. It is Jesus Christ opening His arms willingly on the cross for all of mankind. Everyone. Jesus is the door, the gate, the way, the truth, the life to eternal salvation. Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, isn't religion, He is relationship.

People love to debate and get angry over Salvation. It is God's work. Salvation is a gift of God. Man can discuss it; God's salvation won't change.

Every 500 years there is a real shift in Christianity. 500 A.D. - 100 years after the 400 year persecution of Christians - Jesus Christ was readily accepted, loved in Europe. Mankind found new grace to allow room for slaves, women and all of mankind at the Communion Table. The Gospel's love and up-building was pouring into Africa. New Empires grew and spread the Gospel into Syria, Russia, and Scandinavia.

1000 A.D - the last holdouts for Hellenic Christianity disappeared. England becomes united under Christianity. Ireland establishes the Church and monasteries as the Emperor of Ireland is established. Russia, Vladimir the Great converts and the Russian Orthodox Church is founded. At the same time, the Latin speaking world was electrified with a renewed interest - studying the scriptures in their Greek version. Paving the way for 1500 A.D - mankind pursued the printing of the Bible and Martin Luther opened the path of Jesus Christ to breakaway from man's abuses of Jesus' Church.

We live in interesting times. For 2,000 years the Light of Christ has shone from His Church - and the gates of hell have not prevailed against it.

In our country, we see growth in Churches believing in Jesus Christ and proclaiming the Scriptures as God's Word. In Europe, countries that have seen Church attendance fall are seeing an up-building of 3% in just a few years. No one saw the European Churches coming back. Except the Lord.

The Pew Forum found:
By 2050, Christian Africans will grow another 25%. African Christians believe tremendously in the works of Jesus Christ for today. They believe in Jesus and witness life transforming miracles.

In the 1960's, the Christian Korean Church saw the Holy Spirit awaken the Korean people. Today the Christians in Korea are about 45% of the total population. Once again we see up-building of the Christian soul leads to optimism in the culture. Tremendous growth.

Fox News reports according to China Aid, a Texas-based human rights group, the number of Christians in China has increased 100-fold since 1949. Current estimates range from 80 million to 130 million active members. And one startling estimate from a Chinese Christian businessman has that number doubling or even tripling in the next generation. Christianity could become one of the macro forces shaping Chinese culture, say experts like Dr. David Aikman, author of "Jesus in Beijing."‬‪

The Good News does not always reach the headlines.

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Who is called to witness to Jesus Christ. As salt. As flavoring, using the opportunities God gives us. We are called. Live your faith.

<><