Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave this commission to His disciples: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15 ). Luke records the same commission in these words: "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47). From a comparison of these two scriptures it is clear that the central message of the gospel is the forgiveness of sin s. This is the message Jesus commanded His church to give. On the day of Pentecost Peter proclaimed, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38 ). And again, when the gospel was first given to the Gentiles, Peter referred to the commission of Christ: "And He commanded us to pr...
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