The answer to the above question is what Matthew 28:18-20 signifies. The Great Commission was the term used by theologians to describe the final commission of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ before His ascension. Some might say that it would be in Acts 1:8 where Jesus gave the disciples his final words. It is true that Acts 1:8 contain the final words before Christ’s ascension but Matthew 28:18-20 is still known as the Great Commission. Acts 1:8 describes the timing and scope of the carrying out of the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 is the content of that commission and therefore known as the Great Commission. Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20 are related in that sense.
Matthew 28:18-20 reads, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.”
The Great Commission begins with a very great assurance. The assurance is that all power has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ who had been raised from the dead. This absolute power is total and complete for it includes all the power on earth as well as in heaven! What it means is that no one on earth or in heaven can stop Christ if He wishes to do something. He is God Almighty! He controls the lives of all believers as well as the lives of all mankind including Satan and his hosts and all the creatures and forces in heaven and on earth! Nothing happens without His permission and nothing gets out of control for they are all at His command. If God’s people are persecuted for their faith, that persecution is within God’s control and God knows exactly how much the believers are able to bear up under that load of persecution! The disease, the loss of a job, loved ones, property, etc are all in the control of our Lord.
After this great assurance comes the great commission! The commission can be divided into three main parts. The first part is to go and teach all nations without exception. The content of the teaching is the gospel of salvation of Jesus Christ! This is the gospel message. Without the message of the narrow door, the rest of the Great Commission is not necessary because the sinner will be unable to keep it. The gospel is very important as it pertains to the sinner’s salvation. Therefore we must guard the gospel message at all times. We must ensure that the gospel is preached according to Scriptures or else those who listen and believe might believe in another Christ which is another gospel. An anathema would be prescribed on such a person who preaches another gospel. Although the gospel is important, it is not the most important thing in the believer’s life. The most important thing in the believer’s life is that he glorifies God in all that he does. If the gospel is the most important thing in the believer’s life, then the end will soon justify the means especially when that means is to lie and to compromise the faith! Compromise was what neo-evangelicals did when they stood on the same podium with Roman Catholics and delivered the protracted gospel. Others have lied such as inviting unsaved friends to church under the guise of a tea party or barbecue when actually it was for the purpose of sharing the gospel! But when the most important thing is to glorify God the means are just as important as the ends. All must glorify God!
After the gospel message is accepted, the second part would be the commitment to be publicly identified with Christ by being baptized. This is the first of two sacraments commanded by the Lord that all believers must obey. The other is to keep the Lord’s Supper as often as we can, remembering our Saviour! The third part is to turn them into mature Christians and that is to teach them to obey the whole counsel of God. Defending the Word of God, pointing out sins and dealing with sins, practising the doctrine of biblical separation, etc are all included here. No doctrine must be pitted against another. They are all of equal importance in the sight of God. We cannot say that preaching the gospel is more important than defending God’s perfect Word or practising biblical separation; all of them are of equal importance. The doctrine of inspiration teaches us that ALL of the Scriptures are equally inspired by God, not some more or some less inspired. They have different purposes in the believer’s life. After a person is saved he must grow and become more like Christ. It is like a baby coming into this world. We cannot say that being born into this world is more important than feeding the baby milk and seeing the child grow. Neo-evangelicals today who emphasize the gospel message above other doctrines find themselves without a gospel to preach any longer. They have diluted the gospel so much by their compromise that they do not dare offend and preach about Hell and sin. Some only preach about love and heaven with no repentance. This is to preach another gospel and definitely not love, because love is always in truth! There are only half truths in such a gospel which cannot save any one! It is no wonder that Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14 , “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Last but not least is the great promise. The Almighty Christ Jesus promised to be with all His disciples who obey the above stated Great Commission. He will never leave us. He will be there for us no matter where He might send us forth as His witnesses even if it is to the end of the world!
The Great Commission is more than just the gospel message. To believe this would make us like the neo-evangelicals and will surely lead to the position of compromise. The Great Commission is to preach the gospel according to Scriptures, obey the two sacraments, and to growth in grace and in the knowledge of Christ by obeying the whole counsel of God. AMEN.