Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Sent by Jesus Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA April 27, 2003 Main Scripture text: John 20:19-23. The portion of this passage that I want to talk about today has to do with the commissioning of the Church. What does it mean to "commission"? Literally, it is "the act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty." Jesus has sent us just as He was sent by the Father. The Church is the incarnation of God in the world today. That is why it is referred to as "the Body of Christ." How did the Father "send" Jesus? First, Jesus was the expression of who God is (see John 1:1, John 1:14). God knew that we needed to see His Word, His love, mercy, and compassion fleshed out in human life. That hasn't changed. The best shot people have to see and receive God's love, mercy and compassion is to see it fleshed out in human life. Second, the Father didn't send to condemn the world but to save it (see John 3:16-17). Yes, God will one day judge the world, but he sent Jesus to rescue as many people as possible and that is what we are to be about, too. There are three implications to all this: If Jesus has sent us as the Father sent Him that means Jesus needs us. I should say He has chosen to need us. Because He is God, He doesn't "need" anything. But He wants for us to represent Him in and to the world. This is why Paul refers to us as "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20). Jesus is counting on us to continue the work He began on the earth. The second implication is that we need Jesus -- desperately! Without intimate union with Jesus the church is nothing more than another social institution powered by human effort. He is our message, power and authority. The third implication: obedience is critical. If we are to be fit messengers and instruments of Jesus Christ, our relationship with Jesus must be one of love and devotion for Him, lived out in absolute obedience to Him. To not obey is to say I don't love or trust Him (1 John 2:4). Our text ends with a about our forgiving the sins of others. Only God can forgive sins, but it is the church's great privilege and responsibility to convey the message of God's forgiveness to the world. Along with that responsibility comes a related responsibility: warning those who are in rebellion against God that by refusing to repent, they are forfeiting the mercy of God and subjecting themselves to the wrath to come. Supporting texts: Matthew 28:18-20 | Mark 16:15-18 | Luke 24:46-49 | John 1:1,14 | Genesis 2:7 | John 3:3-7 | John 3:16-17 | 2 Corinthians 5:20 | John 15:5-7 | Matthew 17:20 | John 8:29 | 1 John 2:4 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here. (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of this sermon is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 030427a: Sent By Jesus. © 2003 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us