TwoCents | The Great Commission Part 1

It wasn't until Alexander Duff in the 19th century coined the phrase "Great Commission" to emphasize the significance and importance of Jesus' command to His disciples that it was used. And while it's true that the phrase is not once mentioned in the entire Bible, it's important to note that the concept has been central to the Christian faith and mission since the time of Christ. Taken from the final instruction that Christ gave his disciples before His ascent. The writers of the synoptic gospels give account of this.. Matthews account..Matthew 28:18-20[18]And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [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: [20]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. John Marks account..Mark 16:15-16,19-20[15]And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16]He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. [19]So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.[20]And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Luke's Account..Luke 24:46-48[46]And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47]And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48]And ye are witnesses of these things.  But why is our obedience to this instruction, given by Christ Jesus, so important? Paul will answer this in one of His letters.. Romans 1:16-17[16]For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.[17]For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. That's why he said..1 Corinthians 2:1-2[1]And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.[2]For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. If Christ is not preached, then many who are now righteous through the sacrifice of Christ would still be condemned to Hell. This is because it's in the Gospel that God displayed his powerful might in saving us from our sinful nature, see this.. Ephesians 1:19-23[19]And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,[20]Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,[21]Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:[22]And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,[23]Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Did you see that? Perhaps you should reread the above scripture.. His mighty power was exerted in the resurrection of Christ. What does this mean? It means that, if you are looking for the might of God, you should look at the message of the Gospel of Christ. This is not just something else you are to preach, it's the only thing that we are to preach.. Because, it's in the Gospel of Christ that humanity gets to experience the power of God. See what Paul says.. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5[1]And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.[2]For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.[3]And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.[4]And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:[5]That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Paul would not do anything else than to preach Christ and Him Crucified.. Because it's by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ that people's faith can be hinged on God's power. Now, note that this responsibility was given to every Christian not just the Church leaders.. This would mean that every believer has been called into a teaching ministry.. With the responsibility of sharing the Gospel to as many people as they can.. hence Paul said 2 Corinthians 5:18-20[18]And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;[19]To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.[20]Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16[14]Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.[15]For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:[16]To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? So while it's true that it's a not once mentioned in scripture, the "Great Commission" speaks of the responsibility of the believers in Christ Jesus to go around preaching the Gospel{God's power to save by faith in Christ Jesus} to as many people as they can, obeying the instruction of Christ Jesus in the synoptic gospels. This act of going out is what's known as "Evangelism", and it's everyone's responsibility. Note that in 2 Corinthians 5: 18- 20, God first reconciled us to Himself in Christ Jesus, then gave the "reconciled" the ministry of "reconciling" others to Him and this is done through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, His death for the nature of sin, burial and resurrection. If you are a New Creation by Faith in Christ Jesus, you have been sent to preach the gospel to the world. So Go!Your Bishop.

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