It's a Command, not an Option

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: 

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, 

and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Acts 1:8

In Old Testament times God raised up a nation born of Abraham, named Israel, as the people through which He could reveal His plan of salvation to the world. After Israel rejected Jesus, God raised up a new group of people through which He would actively work in the world. That group is known as the Church or the body of Christ. The Church has a special position and purpose in God's plan for the nations.

After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, He appeared several times to His followers. Each time, He presented an urgent challenge to them. That challenge was their responsibility to reach the entire world with the Gospel message. This mission, assigned to believers, by Jesus has become known as the "Great Commission." It is the greatest commission or assignment ever given man. It is the responsibility to reach every living person with the Gospel.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

The following passages of scripture record the Great Commission as Jesus gave it to His followers.  Jesus told His followers, 

"As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." John 20:21-23

The Great Commission began with God. Over the years God repeatedly sent His messengers, the prophets, to draw sinful man to Himself. These messengers were often rejected. Finally, God sent His only Son, Jesus. 

Everything God required of Jesus as a messenger, He also requires of us since we are sent "as" the Father sent Him. So, what was required of Jesus?

     *    He came to the world with a divine mission.

     *    He left all to come.

     *    He was willing to identify with fallen humanity.

     *    He was willing to suffer and die for the mission.

     *    He fulfilled His mission by both declaration and demonstration.

     *    He finished the work God sent Him to do.

Known as the key to the Scriptures, the following passage reveals God's plan for the death and resurrection of Jesus. It calls for sharing the message of redemption to the nations of the world.  

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things.  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.  Luke 24:45-49

It is not enough that Jesus died for the sins of men. Lost men are not automatically saved. We must share the Gospel with them and bring them to God. The penalty of sin is death.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 

Because of sin, every man and woman is doomed to Hell. Only those who accept the Lord Jesus and receive forgiveness for sin will be saved.  God does not want one person to perish: 

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

There is no question as to God's desire for everyone in the world to be saved:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.     Romans 10:13

But. . .  

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  Romans 10:14 

God wants everyone to be saved, but someone must tell them this good news.  

The command is to "go." 

The destination is "all the world." 

The Gospel is to be preached to every creature. 

Jesus promises to work with those who go by powerful demonstrations of miraculous signs. Some people seek signs in their ministry when they are not fulfilling the command to go and then they wonder why they have no power.  

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:14-16

Jesus has chosen and ordained us to go and bring forth spiritual fruit. 

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.   John 15:16

Jesus said "all power" was given to Him by God. Because of this, Jesus had authority to commission His followers to circle the world as they knew it then with the Gospel.   

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.  Matthew 28:16-20  

Note in this passage: 

→     Believers are the people Jesus is calling to the task. 

→     "Ye" [all believers] are the messengers.            

→    The power of God is the motivation that enables the messenger to go forth. 
             It is the power of the Holy Spirit of God, not the power of man and his methods.

→    "Go" is the mandate given in this record of the Great Commission. 

It is to be the priority of our life, not an option.

→     Teaching and preaching are the methods to be used.

The purpose is to make disciples of all nations. This is the multiplication of the Gospel.

The people to be reached are "all nations." This is the magnitude or scope of the command. It includes the entire world.

The one who is to go with us is Jesus. This is the manager of the program. He will guide and direct us through the Holy Spirit as we fulfill the Great Commission.

The precepts to be taught are the message. 

The message to take to the world is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Biblical Studies

10/08/13
09/16/14
10/10/15
10/20/16  
08/20/19

03/02/21