2 Corinthians 5:13-15 (NKJV) For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
We seldom pause to think about the fragility of mankind until a crisis hits, such as the recent outbreak of COVID-19 where millions have lost their lives. We must not waste the crisis but ask what we can learn from it. We must not forget there are two kinds of death: physical death and spiritual death when someone enters eternity. The church must rise to the calling and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the last and great commission of Jesus Christ entrusted to the church—His body of believers.
The Apostle Paul was one of the most passionate preachers of the Gospel recorded in the Bible. He would rather be accursed in exchange for the salvation of his people. One thing that drove him so passionately could be the revelation given to him by God, but we too have the same knowledge about Jesus after we have read what the Apostle Paul wrote in this passage. The question is whether we are living our lives for God, and have a passion for Jesus and a sense of urgency to preach the Gospel.
Church attendance around the world is at approximately 60% of their pre-COVID levels because either our hearts have grown cold, or we are too accustomed to watching service online. While the church is struggling to find her footing in a post-COVID environment, God is still compelling us to reach out to the lost with the Gospel. Because Jesus came to die for the ungodly, everyone has the right to be saved. Therefore, we need to listen carefully to and heed the urging of God in our hearts to share the Gospel in the marketplace, and with our friends and neighbours, because we are the witnesses that God has placed among them. He has entrusted the church to carry out this mission on earth.
Therefore, let us imitate the passion that Paul had for preaching the Gospel. We are disciples of Jesus Christ, and we know that the great commission is for all of us to preach the Gospel to all nations. Look no further than the city where you are residing, because most of the nations are represented there. We are sent to the world to be witnesses and ambassadors for Christ.
Sermon Series: God’s Compelling Love
效法保罗的热忱
哥林多后书5:13-15 我们若果癫狂，是为神；若果谨守，是为你们。 原来基督的爱激励我们。因我们想，一人既替众人死，众人就都死了； 并且他替众人死，是叫那些活着的人不再为自己活，乃为替他们死而复活的主活。
在危机爆发之前，我们很少停下来思考人类的脆弱性，比如最近爆发的新冠疫情，数百万人失去了生命。我们不能浪费这场危机，而是要问我们能从中吸取什么教训。当一个人进入永恒时，我们不可忘记有两种死亡：肉体上的死亡和灵里的死亡。教会必须回应呼召，传扬耶稣基督的福音。这是耶稣基督托付给教会的最后的大使命——教会就是祂信徒的身体。
使徒保罗是《圣经》记载中最热忱的福音传道者之一。他宁愿被诅咒以换取他子民的救恩。驱使他如此热忱传道的原因之一可能是上帝给他的启示，当我们读完使徒保罗在这段经文中所写的，我们对耶稣也会有同样的认识。问题在于我们是否在为上帝而活，是否对耶稣充满热情，是否有传扬福音的紧迫感。
世界各地的教会的出席率只有疫情前的60%，或许是因为我们的心变冷淡，或者我们太习惯于线上聚会了。尽管教会正在努力在新冠疫情后的环境中站稳脚跟，但上帝仍在激励我们向失丧的人传福音。因为耶稣为罪人死，所以每个人都有得救的权利。因此，我们需要留意听上帝在我们内心的催促，在职场中及与我们的朋友和邻居分享福音，因为我们是上帝放在他们中间的见证人。祂已经托付教会在世上执行这项使命。
因此，让我们效法保罗对传福音的热忱。我们是耶稣基督的门徒，并且我们知道大使命是要我们向万民传福音。单单看你所居住的城市就知道了，因为大多数国家都有代表在这里。我们被差派到世上做基督的见证人和使者。
讲章系列：上帝激励我们的爱
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