What does "He commanded us to preach" reveal about our role as Christians? The command in context “ ‘And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.’ ” (Acts 10:42) Peter is explaining to Cornelius that sharing the gospel is not a suggestion; it is a direct order from the risen Christ. A universal assignment, not a selective call • Jesus issued this mandate to the apostles, yet their letters show the baton passes to every believer (2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15). • The Great Commission echoes the same rhythm: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). • Our role: every Christian is a messenger, regardless of age, background, or gifting. Preaching as telling—everyday language • The Greek term kēryssō means “to herald, announce, proclaim.” • It is less about a pulpit and more about clear, public declaration—coffee shops, living rooms, office hallways. • Ordinary speech can carry extraordinary truth when centered on Christ. Testifying: words backed by witness • “To testify” (martyréō) adds weight: we share what we know firsthand. • Our changed life validates our spoken message (Acts 1:8). • Credibility grows when listeners see consistency between gospel words and gospel fruit. The message we carry • Jesus is God-appointed Judge—so people need salvation (John 5:22–24). • Jesus is living Savior—so salvation is available (Acts 4:12). • The cross, resurrection, and call to repentance form the non-negotiable core (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Powered by the Spirit • The same Spirit who fell on Cornelius’ household (Acts 10:44) empowers our witness. • Boldness comes from dependence, not personality (Ephesians 6:19). • Prayerful reliance keeps preaching relational, not mechanical. Practical ways to obey today • Share a concise testimony: who Jesus is to you, in three minutes. • Open Scripture with a friend; let them read a gospel paragraph aloud. • Use everyday platforms—texts, social media captions—to drop seeds of truth. • Support missions, church plants, and evangelistic outreaches financially and with hands-on help. • Integrate gospel statements into normal conversations: “That reminds me of how Jesus…” Encouragement from other passages • Mark 16:15 — “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” • Romans 10:14-15 — People cannot believe unless someone tells them. • 2 Corinthians 5:20 — “We are therefore ambassadors for Christ.” The phrase “He commanded us to preach” settles the question of our purpose: we are appointed spokespeople, Spirit-enabled, carrying the most urgent news humanity will ever hear. |
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