Doctrines (posted Sunday, January 14 2007)

After His resurrection but before He ascended to heaven, Jesus Christ gave many signs, explanations, and parting words to his disciples and to the eleven apostles. The last among these is a command called The Great Commission by theologians, and it represents a simple summary of what Christ expected of His followers on earth.

What is this commission that Jesus gave to us?

What is The Great Commission?

The Webster's Unabridged Dictionary defines the word "commission" as: the act of giving in charge; an authoritative order, charge, or direction; authority granted for a particular action or function. Therefore we can say that The Great Commission is that final magnanimous direction given by Jesus Christ to His followers, and the authority to perform that function.

- Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

It is of no small importance that these words are in the Gospel of Matthew, which was written to the Jews. For nearly 1500 years since the bringing of the Mosaic Law, the Jewish mindset was that of performing deeds and works to gain and keep God's favor. The full nature of divine Grace had not yet been revealed, and during Jesus' ministry, His disciples and others continually asked what they could do to enter His kingdom. While He was on earth, the deed was to follow Him; now that He was ascending to heaven, the deed became to tell the whole world about Him.

What does this actually command Christians to do?

This final command from our Lord Jesus Christ actually contains two separate but related parts. First, Jesus tells believers to "go and make disciples of all nations". Making someone a disciple actually means to teach someone as a pupil or student. And what are the nations to be taught? This is clarified later in the same passage, when Jesus says "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." The term "the nations" had specific meaning to the Jews reading the Gospel of Matthew, and referred to other nations and peoples.

Putting this all together, the first half of The Great Commission is that all followers of Christ are to teach the world to obey His commands. The implications of this brief order are truly staggering, not only by what is said but by what is left out. For example, Christ should not only be taught to certain groups such as other Jews or fellow believers, but the message should go to the whole world. Nor are Christians commanded to teach the world to follow the Mosaic Law or the Ten Commandments or other teachings from before Christ. Rather, Christians are to live by the laws of charity, forgiveness, and fellowship.

- Matthew 5:38-39 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

- Matthew 5:43-44 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

- Mark 12:17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.

- Mark 12:29-31 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

- Luke 10:36-37 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

- Luke 31:17-19 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

- John 13:14-15 "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

- John 21:16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

Part two of Christ's last words is just as important and insightful as the first. He commanded: "baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The focus of this study is on "in the name of", a phrase which indicates recognizing being bound in submission to, and becoming the complete property of, the name into which was baptized.

Rephrasing this segment to better include some of this subtle meaning, the second part of this commission is that believers are to take those from all nations who accept the Gospel and identify them as being in complete submission to the whole Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This baptism may be performed ritually in water as a symbol of a new believer's submission. But the command from Christ is in the realm of the spiritual typology of identification. We are to baptize the nations not as John the Baptist baptized, but as Christ baptized.

- Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

- Mark 1:7-8 And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

- John 1:32-34 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

- Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Conclusion

This study has shown that Christ's final command, The Great Commission to all who follow Him, is to teach all nations to obey His commands of lovingkindness, and to be identified with the Trinity. This can be further summarized as spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

Just before He actually and finally ascended into heaven, to sit at the right hand of the Father, Christ reminded the faithful of this final command.

- Acts 1:8-9 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

In every sense of the word, this commission of believers is truly great. Anyone who loves Christ must give careful consideration to live in this command. Especially in our modern age, technology and worldwide evangelistic ministries make fulfilling this charge so much easier than it was for the early church. We as believers are shamed if we do not follow this so simple command from our Lord Jesus Christ to tell everyone about Him.