Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
This passage of scripture teaches us that the gospel is an equal opportunity provider, so that anyone who truly desires to be saved in God's kingdom, can have the freedom to be saved. When Christ says we are to teach and baptize all nations, He means exactly what He says, and therefore no religious bigotry or air of superiority must be manifested as the good news of salvation is being presented. Back in the days of Christ, many of the scribes and pharisees had cultivated an attitude of regarding those who were not bloodline Jews as being unclean, and based on this warped interpretation of their fellowmen, many Samaritans and gentiles were routinely excluded from the kingdom of God.
But Christ came to correct this error that had been harbored for centuries, for by precept and example, He showed that all men are regarded as equal by God, for the cross is a level playing field, where every person has equal opportunity to be saved in God's kingdom. Furthermore, sacred history has shown that many people who had nothing to do with Abraham, ended up being more faithful and sincere, than many who were genetically connected to him. Prominent amongst these was the woman to whom Elijah was sent, during the deadly drought that took a fearful toll on man and beast, during the days of Jezebel and king Ahab.
This widow woman from the city of Zidon was considered a foreigner to the Jewish people, yet she manifested a faith in God that was scarcely to be found in the Hebrew nation, and her relationship with God was among the first mentioned and commented upon by Christ, as He entered upon His earthly ministry. Let's read:
Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
The "Acceptable year of The Lord" has again resurfaced in our day, for just as it was in the days of Elijah, when the Jewish nation was steeped in idolatry, we too in our day are also embedded in gross idolatry of no ordinary kind, yet a work of reformation and change has been given to all those, who like Elijah, have been partakers of God's grace, mercy, and truth. Thus we are to sow beside all waters, and as we come in contact with or fellowmen on a day to day basis, we are to see in everyone the potential to become a son or daughter of God.
The preaching of the gospel is represented as a net which is cast by fishermen, and which brings in all types of fish, some good, some bad, and some in between. In this net, there might be some salmon, and some sardines, but there may also be some groupers and "Groupees", mingled with swordfish, shrimp, octupus, and piranha. Whatever and whoever they may be, all are to be found in the same net together, and it's only after they are brought to shore, and given a thorough sifting, that those that are fit for the kingdom are retained, but the gospel must be presented as an equal opportunity for all people.
The genius of the gospel is that God can save anyone who desires to be saved, and His work in our hearts can change the vilest sinner into the meekest saint. The apostle John was not always meek and yielding in his temperament, and could aptly be described as a piranha in his former years before meeting Christ. Yet through the power of God he became known as "John the beloved", and what God did for John, He can and will do for any member of the human family that accepts His gracious overtures to save to the guttermost. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which delineates the correct attitude to our fellowmen, as it pertains to their salvation, and it is the will of God that as many as are willing, be saved eternally. Let's read:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!