John 20:21-23 ” Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.’ And with that He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’ “

Within these verses we see the three foundational rocks of the early Church…Peace, Presence, and Power. Jesus is reminding the disciples that true reconcilation with God has been purchased by His death on the Cross. (John 14:27) His Presence, by way of the Holy Spirit, is their commissioning for the sake of evangelism and missions. That’s because Jesus is the supreme pattern for us to follow as He empowers, equips, and guides. (John 17:18) Finally, Jesus gives them the authority to bind or loose (also called “keys” to lock or unlock) the Kingdom of God through the forgiveness of sins, as they declare God’s Word and the Gospel Message. All three of these foundational rocks being built upon the true rock…Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:18-19) So our responsibly today is to share the Gospel as instruments of His Peace, Presence, and Power to the lost.

Author: kezha1

A Christian mother, grandmother, and retired nurse living in Illinois. Called into a ministry of encouraging others to find their ultimate plan and purpose in life through Christ. View all posts by kezha1