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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (36)

 

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 22:47

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     In our last study, we noted that the Great Commission of Jesus may have been stated several times to the disciples during the 40 days following the resurrection of Jesus.

 

B.      If so, this would easily account for the different wordings of the Great Commission in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

 

C.     In this lesson, we are going to look at the words of the Great Commission as recorded by each of these inspired men.  The end result of this study should be interesting.

 

I.                    THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST (Matt. 28:18)

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

A.     Matthew’s gospel is the only one to record these words for us.

 

B.      Power defined:

1.       Strong (1849):  force, delegated influence

2.       Thayer:  power of authority (influence), the power of rule…(the power of him whose rules and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed), authority over mankind, the sign of regal authority

3.       Vine:  freedom of action, right to act

 

C.     Jesus declares that His authority is universal in nature:  “…in heaven and in earth.”

1.       All of mankind is subject unto Jesus Christ.

2.       There is not a person or being in heaven or earth who is not under the authority of the Christ.

3.       Satan may be “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), but he, too, is subject to the authority of Jesus Christ.

 

D.     Jesus’ authority is found in three titles that He wears.

1.       He is the King of kings (1 Tim. 6:15).

 

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

2.       He is Lord of all (1 Tim. 6:15).

 

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

3.       He is the Head of the church (Col. 1:18).

 

And he is the head of the body, the church…

 

E.      What is authorized to be done in the Great Commission springs from the power, that is, the authority of Jesus Christ who is over all.

 

II.                 THE PARTS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 22:47)

 

A.     Matthew 28:19

 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

 

1.       The Lord issues three directives to the apostles.

a.       Go

b.      Teach

c.       Baptize: 

1)      Controversy surrounds the meaning of this word.

2)      The definition of the word, however, is simple, “to whelm, to overwhelm, to dip, to plunge, to wash, submerge, to immerse

3)      According to Colossians 2:12, baptism is a burial.

 

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 

2.       All of the words are action verbs.  All involve effort on the part of the disciples.

3.       NOTE:  If any of the actions are omitted, then the Great Commission has not been fulfilled.

4.       Two additional points:

a.       “All nations” are involved in this commission.  The New Testament of Jesus Christ is binding on all men, Jews and Gentiles.

b.      They were to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

1)      Simply put, they were to baptize by the authority of the Godhead.

2)      The Oneness Pentecostals have a unique interpretation of this phrase.

a)      They believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one being who is manifested in three different ways.

b)      His name is Jesus.

c)       Therefore, they believe that the words “in Jesus’ name” must be said when one is baptized.  If they are not said, the baptism is not valid.

d)     Answer:  The phrase is not something that has to be said.  It is something that is to be done.  Baptize “in the name of” or “by the authority of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  NOTE:  We do not have one baptism wherein we know precisely what was said when the individual(s) were being baptized.

 

B.      Mark 16:15-16

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

1.       There are two commands given to the apostles in this verse.

a.       Go

b.      Preach

1)      Preaching is just another form of teaching. 

2)      It involves the heralding of a message from the King.

3)      Mark’s account reveals “what” is to be preached, the gospel.

a)      The gospel is the “good news” of salvation through Jesus Christ.

b)      There is only one true gospel.  All others are condemned (Gal. 1:8-9).

2.       The gospel is to be preached to “every creature.”  Race, gender, body type, socio-economic status, and position do not matter.  Every creature must hear the message.

3.       Mark reveals two results of the preaching.

a.       Those who believe and are baptized shall be saved.

b.      Those who do not believe will be condemned.

1)      Some will argue that baptism is not necessary by looking at the second half of the verse. 

a)      Jesus doesn’t mention baptism.

b)      He only says that if you fail to believe you will be condemned.

2)      Two answers:

a)      #1:  In the first part of the verse, Jesus is clear about what one must do to be saved:  believe and be baptized.

b)      #2:  In the second part of the verse, He does not mention baptism because if a man refuses to believe, he will not be baptized.

 

C.     Luke 24:47

 

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 

1.       Luke also reveals that preaching is involved in the Great Commission.

2.       The preaching is also to be done “in his name,” that is by the authority of Jesus Christ.

3.       Luke harmonizes with Matthew when he says this preaching is to be one “among all nations.”

4.       The preaching was to begin in the city of Jerusalem.

5.       The preaching was to include two things.

a.       Repentance

1)      This is the first time this is mentioned.

2)      Repentance can be defined by three words:  change, turn, and death.

3)      This is the most difficult commands for men to obey.  It involves man giving up his will in order to do the will of God.

b.      Remission of sins

1)      The word “remission” simply means “forgiveness.”

2)      God wants man to know that he can be forgiven of his sins.

3)      What Peter says on the day of Pentecost is a divine commentary on Jesus’ teachings here (Acts 2:38). 

a)      Peter is important because he was one of the apostles who personally heard the Great Commission. 

b)      Too, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit when he spoke.

 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

c)       Peter clearly connects the forgiveness of sins with the command to be baptized.  The little word “for” literally means “in order to obtain.”

 

 

III.              THE PICTURE OF THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47)

 

A.     We have looked at each account of the Great Commission separately.

 

B.      In this last section, let’s put all of the accounts together.

 

And Jesus said unto them,

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye, therefore, to every creature in every nation in the earth.

And teach and preach the gospel unto them beginning in Jerusalem.

Those who believe, repent, and are baptized for the remission of sins shall be saved.

Those who do not believe shall be damned.

 

C.     If this is not what Jesus commanded the twelve apostles, why is it wrong and what was commanded?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     The last time the Great Commission was set forth, Jesus was about to ascend to the right hand of God.

 

B.      At that time, He was to be given “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him” (Dan. 7:14).

 

C.     Ten days after His ascension, the Holy Spirit would be outpoured on the disciples, and they would preach the gospel for the first time in the city of Jerusalem.

1.       This was the first time the Commission would be carried out, but it would not be the last.

2.       That Commission is still authoritative today.

a.       The church must go and teach!

b.      Those who believe, repent, and are baptized for the remission of sins shall be saved.

 

D.     QUESTION:  Have you submitted to the terms and conditions of the Lord’s Great Commission?

1.       If you refuse to obey the terms, you cannot be saved.

2.       If you have omitted any of those conditions, you are not saved.

3.       If any of the conditions of salvation were perverted when you obeyed, you are not saved.

4.       If any conditions were added to these things, then, you are not saved.