“Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47 NLT).

WHAT WAS WRITTEN MUST BE FULFILLED

The risen Lord Jesus opened His disciples’ understanding of the Scriptures, so that they might see the necessity of Christ’s suffering and resurrection, in order to fulfill the Scriptures. And not only that, but the necessity that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations. Jesus accomplished all that was necessary to fulfill the gospel, but He commissioned His disciples to carry out the necessity of preaching it to all nations.
 
Today, we are Christ’s disciples. The necessity of gospel preaching is now ours. So we preach Christ died “for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). And we call people from every nation to repentance that they may receive the remission of their sins. We preach unto repentance, trusting the Spirit to move hearers, not only to feel sorrow for their sin, but to choose the forsaking of it. At the same time, we preach the remission of sins, which is the pardon and forgiveness of sin’s penalty and also the removal of sin’s power.
 
The necessity of the gospel accomplished, was fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The necessity of the gospel preached, He has given unto us.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the remission of sins for those of us who have repented and believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. You have not only forgiven us, but You have adopted us into Your family as Your children. Now empower and embolden us to preach the gospel to all nations, starting with our Jerusalem, our home, and beyond. In Jesus’ name, amen.