The Great
Commission is the driving force behind our actions as citizens of the Kingdom
of God. It is a command that supersedes all human law. There is a right way to
carry out this command. That way honors God and brings him glory. There are
wrong ways to attempt to carry out this Commission. These grieve God and dishonor
him before the world.
Mat
28:18-20 Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all
authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make
them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will
be with you always, to the end of the age."
If you have
been in an evangelical church for any length of time, you have heard this
passage of scripture explained and promoted many times. Jesus speaks here to
his disciples just before he ascends into heaven.
Jesus
reveals the foundation for the Commission in the first statement. After that he
sets forth the pattern of ministry for his followers. As he has shared with
them, they are now to duplicate his work out in the world. They are to be his
Body at work until he comes again.
Since all
authority is in the hands of Christ, his commands carry the force of heaven
itself. What he rejected when Satan offered it during the wilderness
temptations, he has gained through obedient suffering on the cross. Jesus has full
authority to set the path for his followers and to expect obedience from them.
Making
disciples of others must be a part of our daily lives. Jesus expects us to
allow his Spirit to work through us during each day. Whether we are at home, at
our jobs, or relating to our communities, we should be aware of the need to
help others learn of Jesus and grow in their knowledge and obedience.
Through
baptism an individual identifies with the Risen Lord Jesus. Baptism does not
save an individual. Only faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to the leadership
of the Holy Spirit can do that. Baptism, however, serves the purpose of a
public testimony indicating the person is not ashamed to be called a Christian.
In today’s world once again this has become a dangerous stand to take.
The Risen
Lord is emphatic we are to teach other to be obedient to what he has taught us.
Making a disciple is far more than sharing knowledge. It must be more than
recognizing who Jesus is as the Son of God and his authority as part of the
Trinity. Knowledge is not the same as recognizing Lordship.
Jas 2:19 Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons
also believe---and tremble with fear.
Obedience
comes from a willingness to submit to leadership and authority. James tells us
even the demons recognize the truth about the nature of God and through him
Christ, but they are not submissive to his Lordship. We must learn what Jesus
taught and then we must be obedient to it. We must teach others the same.
Salvation comes through faith, not knowledge. To make faithful followers we
must teach them the necessity of obedience through faith.
Finally we
make disciples by helping them to see they have the ongoing presence of Jesus
with them. His promise to be by our sides at all times until he returns to take
us home is as old as God’s relationship with man. The Psalmist in the Old
Testament took comfort and gained strength through that assurance.
Psa
73:23-25 Yet I always stay close to you, and you hold me by the hand. You guide
me with your instruction and at the end you will receive me with honor. What
else do I have in heaven but you? Since I have you, what else could I want on
earth?
Making more
disciples is every disciple’s job. It is a basic part of the responsibility of
the Bible study group.
