The Great Commission
August 4, 2010
18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20
46and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:46-47
Last week we spoke about the Great Commission. Its a passage often talked about and read in churches but a passage that is not taken seriously enough. Webster's dictionary defines the word commission as "an authoritative command," so Jesus's words are not to be taken lightly. The Great Commission can be broken down into three different steps. He first says to "Go", then "Baptize", and then to "Teach."
His first command is to go. Most of us act like only some Christians are called to go to other nations to preach the gospel, that God only made it the duty of some Christians to evangelize in other nations. This is completely and utterly wrong. Jesus commands his disciples to go, and if we have learned from previous lessons, that there can be no distinction between a Christian and a Disciple. They are one in the same. God is commanding all Christians to go to every nation and spread the Gospel of Jesus. Luke 24:46-47 states that the reason Jesus died was so his glory would be proclaimed through all nations.
His second command is to baptize. After someone accepts the Gospel, they are to be baptized. Baptism is a symbol of you dying to yourself and being resurrected in the likeness of Christ. It also represents the joining of a Christian community. His last command is to teach. When we think of teaching, the first image that comes to mind is of people sitting in a classroom. This does not necessarily mean this is Jesus meant. Jesus taught his disciples through a relationship with them. He would teach them and pray with them, not in a classroom, but just as time went on.
Please take this passage seriously. It is our duty as Christians to spread the Gospel everywhere we go.
Matthew 28:18-20
46and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:46-47
Last week we spoke about the Great Commission. Its a passage often talked about and read in churches but a passage that is not taken seriously enough. Webster's dictionary defines the word commission as "an authoritative command," so Jesus's words are not to be taken lightly. The Great Commission can be broken down into three different steps. He first says to "Go", then "Baptize", and then to "Teach."
His first command is to go. Most of us act like only some Christians are called to go to other nations to preach the gospel, that God only made it the duty of some Christians to evangelize in other nations. This is completely and utterly wrong. Jesus commands his disciples to go, and if we have learned from previous lessons, that there can be no distinction between a Christian and a Disciple. They are one in the same. God is commanding all Christians to go to every nation and spread the Gospel of Jesus. Luke 24:46-47 states that the reason Jesus died was so his glory would be proclaimed through all nations.
His second command is to baptize. After someone accepts the Gospel, they are to be baptized. Baptism is a symbol of you dying to yourself and being resurrected in the likeness of Christ. It also represents the joining of a Christian community. His last command is to teach. When we think of teaching, the first image that comes to mind is of people sitting in a classroom. This does not necessarily mean this is Jesus meant. Jesus taught his disciples through a relationship with them. He would teach them and pray with them, not in a classroom, but just as time went on.
Please take this passage seriously. It is our duty as Christians to spread the Gospel everywhere we go.
Posted by Rooted Students
