What is the Great Commission?
Introduction. The Great Commission is when Jesus commissioned the apostles to preach the gospel throughout the world (Matt. 28: 18-20, Mk. 16: 15-16, Luke 24: 47-48). Per Acts 1:8 and Acts 2, this was the beginning of an organized effort to have the gospel preached well beyond the land of Palestine where Jesus had focused his earthly ministry. In fact, by Rom. 10:18 less than thirty years later, the gospel had reached "the world", contextually a likely reference to the farthest reaches of the Greek and Roman Empire where the Jews had been dispersed.
Preaching is vital and involves both salvation and condemnation. The gospel is God's power unto salvation (Rom. 1: 16). Jesus said, "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." (Mk. 16:15-16, NKJV).
All nations taught, baptism in name of the Godhead, and repentance and remission of sin were to begin in Jerusalem. Unlike the Jewish system, every creature and all nations were the target of the Great Commission (Mk. 16: 15, Matt. 28: 19). The apostles were to baptize into the name of the Father,...Son,...and Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28: 19). The "into" indicated the relationship begun as a result of baptism. Remission of sin, as never before experienced, began in Jerusalem (Heb. 10: 1-4, Luke 24: 47, Acts 2).
The apostles were to make disciples by baptizing them. "...make disciples of all the nations," Jesus said, "baptizing them..." (Matt. 28: 19, ASV). The Pulpit Commentary observes: "The present participle denotes the mode of initiation into discipleship. Make them disciples by baptizing them."
Conclusion. The Great Commission is responsible for ushering in Christianity and for the rapidity of the spread of the gospel. There continues to be the urgent need to preach the same gospel today (Gal. 1: 6-9, Rev. 22: 18-19).
Preaching is vital and involves both salvation and condemnation. The gospel is God's power unto salvation (Rom. 1: 16). Jesus said, "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." (Mk. 16:15-16, NKJV).
All nations taught, baptism in name of the Godhead, and repentance and remission of sin were to begin in Jerusalem. Unlike the Jewish system, every creature and all nations were the target of the Great Commission (Mk. 16: 15, Matt. 28: 19). The apostles were to baptize into the name of the Father,...Son,...and Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28: 19). The "into" indicated the relationship begun as a result of baptism. Remission of sin, as never before experienced, began in Jerusalem (Heb. 10: 1-4, Luke 24: 47, Acts 2).
The apostles were to make disciples by baptizing them. "...make disciples of all the nations," Jesus said, "baptizing them..." (Matt. 28: 19, ASV). The Pulpit Commentary observes: "The present participle denotes the mode of initiation into discipleship. Make them disciples by baptizing them."
Conclusion. The Great Commission is responsible for ushering in Christianity and for the rapidity of the spread of the gospel. There continues to be the urgent need to preach the same gospel today (Gal. 1: 6-9, Rev. 22: 18-19).