In John 19:21 Jesus says, “...as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” In Greek the first “send” and the second “send” are two distinct words with slightly yet important different meanings. The first “send” means to send on a mission, or to accomplish something. The second “send” means to send with a message. The church has a mission, and the mission is to get out the message of the Gospel. Everything else is secondary.
This message we are commanded to share has the power to transform, bring forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God and eternal life, IF we share it.
It is popular today to do mission work without sharing the Gospel. If the people we serve do not hear the Gospel, they cannot be saved, and will perish in their sins. They may be fed, they may be helped, but they are still lost. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” To have the opportunity to share the Good News and to choose not to leaves them lost and unforgiven. It is to choose to let them retain their sins. We have a great responsibility entrusted to us by the Lord. We dare not shirk it.
