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| Beliefs - Bible Studies The Two Parts of the Great Commission |
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“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commission is viewed by the church as one of the most important
scriptures on outreach. It is too, but it is so much more than a command to win
souls for Christ. Let us take a closer look at what Christ says to see what else is
there.
Teach
The first thing He tells us is to “teach all nations”; “Go” is a part of the whole.
Teach here actually means to make one a disciple, that is to win them to Christ.
The language is strong and is commanding here, not suggesting. Christ is
saying that this is a must; we must teach the world of Christ, so that they will
receive Him as Saviour. How else will they come to Christ?
This is followed by Baptism, not to salvation but following salvation. This is a
catalyst for the growth of a young Christian.
Teach Again
The second thing we see is “Teaching them to observe”. The teach part here,
though not as strong as the first, is also a very important part, and one I feel is
neglected too often in the local church. Christ tells us to teach others what they
should believe or know concerning our foundation and walk in Christ. That we
should teach Christians what to observe or keep. The things commanded by
Christ serve to guide us here. The whole idea is that we have a responsibility, to
the new and the established Christian alike, to teach them and supply them with
a strong foundation and then build upon that foundation.
There are those in every denomination who have no clue what belief is held in
the church they attend. Even if they know their belief, they do not have enough
study in the word, not just reading, to judge the validity of that belief. It becomes
our duty to see that every person, starting with preachers and reaching to every
individual in every church, knows the facts of their faith. There should never be
a preacher ordained who does not show an established knowledge of that
foundation.
Authority Given
Christ ends this verse with an assurance of his presence to the end of time, an
assurance that is of overwhelming strength. If you notice the red words do not
begin in verse 19, and there is a word in 19 that alludes back, “therefore”. When
you see the word therefore, you must see what the therefore is there for. Christ
says in relation to the therefore that “All power is given unto me”. This is the
reason we can “GO”, and not only that, but also we can have confidence in His
presence because “all power is given”.
There is another little overlooked word, “All”. You may already know this but all
means all and that is all all means.
The word used for power (exousia) means authority, so everything in heaven
and earth is under the authority of Christ. If He tells the trees to jump, they ask
how high. There was a preacher I knew who, while walking in the woods, came
upon some cultivators of marijuana. They threatened his life because of his very
presence. His reply? “Your father must first get permission from my Father.” And
guess who gave the authority to Christ. “Go ye therefore”.
Jonathan Baker
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commission is viewed by the church as one of the most important
scriptures on outreach. It is too, but it is so much more than a command to win
souls for Christ. Let us take a closer look at what Christ says to see what else is
there.
Teach
The first thing He tells us is to “teach all nations”; “Go” is a part of the whole.
Teach here actually means to make one a disciple, that is to win them to Christ.
The language is strong and is commanding here, not suggesting. Christ is
saying that this is a must; we must teach the world of Christ, so that they will
receive Him as Saviour. How else will they come to Christ?
This is followed by Baptism, not to salvation but following salvation. This is a
catalyst for the growth of a young Christian.
Teach Again
The second thing we see is “Teaching them to observe”. The teach part here,
though not as strong as the first, is also a very important part, and one I feel is
neglected too often in the local church. Christ tells us to teach others what they
should believe or know concerning our foundation and walk in Christ. That we
should teach Christians what to observe or keep. The things commanded by
Christ serve to guide us here. The whole idea is that we have a responsibility, to
the new and the established Christian alike, to teach them and supply them with
a strong foundation and then build upon that foundation.
There are those in every denomination who have no clue what belief is held in
the church they attend. Even if they know their belief, they do not have enough
study in the word, not just reading, to judge the validity of that belief. It becomes
our duty to see that every person, starting with preachers and reaching to every
individual in every church, knows the facts of their faith. There should never be
a preacher ordained who does not show an established knowledge of that
foundation.
Authority Given
Christ ends this verse with an assurance of his presence to the end of time, an
assurance that is of overwhelming strength. If you notice the red words do not
begin in verse 19, and there is a word in 19 that alludes back, “therefore”. When
you see the word therefore, you must see what the therefore is there for. Christ
says in relation to the therefore that “All power is given unto me”. This is the
reason we can “GO”, and not only that, but also we can have confidence in His
presence because “all power is given”.
There is another little overlooked word, “All”. You may already know this but all
means all and that is all all means.
The word used for power (exousia) means authority, so everything in heaven
and earth is under the authority of Christ. If He tells the trees to jump, they ask
how high. There was a preacher I knew who, while walking in the woods, came
upon some cultivators of marijuana. They threatened his life because of his very
presence. His reply? “Your father must first get permission from my Father.” And
guess who gave the authority to Christ. “Go ye therefore”.
Jonathan Baker