Over the next few monthly newsletters, a discussion concerning The Great Commission will be the subject. Throughout the New Testament, the commission for disciples to engage and evangelize non-believers is explicitly or implicitly written.
While Matthew 28:19-20 is commonly known as the Great Commission passage, there are numerous passages highlighting the Lord’s continuous and all-encompassing nature of the commission. 1) Matthew 28:19-20, “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.” 2) Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” 3) Luke 24:46-48, “…The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” 4) John 20:21, “…As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 5) Acts 1:8, “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.” The Lord’s command to go and tell others is a continuous theme throughout Scripture. Jerry Rankin, former International Mission Board President of the Southern Baptist Convention, commented specifically on Matthew 28:19-20, when he wrote, “This record of Jesus’ concluding challenge to His disciples before He ascended to the Father …was not just the introduction of a new task; it was a reminder and final commissioning of a task that had already been clearly defined and articulated throughout the biblical narrative.”
There are some who believe that the Commission is only for those who heard Jesus in the first century. This theory is flawed as the scope of Matthew 28:19-20 is for all nations, a task too large for the original disciples to fulfill. Of paramount importance then, is defining who is a disciple. Michael J. Wilkins wrote, “…a disciple is a title for those who have placed their faith in Jesus and are now followers of Jesus, converts.” This definition of a disciple is accurate as Luke informs readers in Acts 8:4, how the initial imperative, as you are going, was initially completed, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Note the three elements in this verse, “those who had been scattered,” “preached the word,” and wherever they went.” The word for preach the word is the word, evangelize. David Earley connected all disciples with preaching when he wrote, “The word preach sounds formal, like some man standing behind a pulpit…That is one way to preach but certainly not the only way. Anytime we tell the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection for our sins to another person, we are preaching the gospel.” Therefore, the first realization in fulfilling the Commission is for all disciples, wherever they go, to tell others about the gospel. Cleon Rogers wrote, “…there is a command to go. Without the going, the making disciples is not possible, and especially when “all nations” is the object.” Concerning the Commission’s mandate for all believers, Richard D. Land wrote, “The Lord’s Great Commission to the church and to all His disciples down through the ages is an all-embracing mandate. Jesus commands all Christians to go into the world and to proclaim the Gospel with the goal of conversion of the listeners to saving faith in Jesus Christ.”
Many Christians feel inadequate, not being able to clearly articulate the gospel message or fearful of embarrassment or failure. Nevertheless, Scripture suggests the heart of a disciple should be overflowing with a great attitude of what Jesus has done in the disciple’s life. What is your story? What has Christ done for you? Is your relationship with Him worth sharing?
Evidence suggests communicating God’s message of salvation for disciples is not optional. David Early commented on Matthew 28:19-20 when he wrote, “Jesus’ commission to evangelize the world was not a suggestion to be considered but a command to be obeyed.” Bill Bright wrote, concerning the responsibility of the Great Commission, “This command is the duty of every man and woman who confesses Christ as Lord. We cannot pick and choose which commands of our Lord we will follow.” Concerning God’s purpose for all believers today, Ed Stetzer wrote, “…if we understand the Bible applies to the immediate hearer and to us, then all believers are called and sent by God to go wherever and for whatever purpose God chooses.” How many opportunities do we miss sharing the good news of the gospel? Pray for God to bring into your life, one person, the day after you read this article to share the gospel message. I promise you, He will answer your prayer! It is simply a matter of obedience, motivated by an overflow of love. As the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 states, “As you are going, make disciples…! You can only make disciples when you go and tell.
