Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – to all whom the Lord our God will call.”

This is an absolutely magnificent statement of the evangelistic imperative. That it was prophetic, rather than something Peter had thought up, is clear from the very universalism of it, since it was at least a year or two later that God got it through to him that Gentiles were as much candidates for salvation as Jews. (Acts 10) It is significant that the Holy Spirit is part of the “salvation package,” since Peter had only just been baptized in the Spirit himself. That’s more confirmation that this was prophetic! The only awkward thing about this is that it specifies “everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.” There have been many arguments as to whether God actually calls everyone on earth, but I think Paul states the issue pretty clearly: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) God knows who will respond and who won’t, but everyone should be given the opportunity to respond to God’s invitation. We tend to be satisfied with “salvation for me and mine,” but that is ignoring the character and will of God our Creator. He doesn’t create anyone for the purpose of their going to hell, even though He knows many will. The whole issue is huge, to the point of being beyond our “mental horsepower” to sort it out, but at the very least we can understand that everyone is to be told the Gospel and given the opportunity to accept it.

I will never forget the time, about 30 years ago, that I was talking with a Japanese pastor who was so convinced of predestination that he insisted the Church had no responsibility to evangelize, because “God will save those He wants to.” I was blown out of the water, because as a child of missionaries and a missionary myself, my whole world view was predicated on God desiring people to be saved. I am happy to say that after a couple of years of my friendship, that pastor made a 180 degree shift in his position, wanting the whole nation to hear the Gospel and receive it! (Incidentally, he and I are still good friends, though long-distance at this point, since he now lives in a very different part of the country.) I am not personally gifted as an evangelist, but I must not let that be an excuse not to share the Gospel with all who will receive it. As a pastor, it is my desire and aim that everyone in this church likewise recognize what a privilege they have to share the Gospel with those who don’t yet know it. We can’t force anyone to accept it and be saved, but we can “set the table” so that all who are hungry may feast, for their salvation and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the meeting I’ll be attending today, with people having come from Singapore because of their desire that Japan be saved. Thank You for the people You are drawing here from many nations, particularly those that are not traditionally “missionary sending” nations. Thank You for answering our prayers for laborers for the harvest! (Luke 10:2) May Your will be done indeed, not just in Japan but around the world, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!