A Closer Look at the Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20

A Closer Look at the Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20

Over the next couple of weeks, I want to take a closer look at the five passages covering the Great Commission. This will be looking at what is said and what our responsibility, as Christians, is for the Great Commission. This week we are looking at Matthew 28:18-20.

1. Because of the power of Christ, we are commanded to go — Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave, He has the authority and the power to command us to go! Because all power has been given to him he has commanded us to go and take the gospel to a lost and dying world! We can then rely on His power to help us as we go take the gospel to the world!
2. We are commanded to go— This command is not just for the disciples. This command is to the church! We as Christians have been commanded to go and take the gospel to the whole world! It is not a suggestion or an option, rather it is a command and failure to obey is a sin!
3. We are to go teach all nations— We are to go and teach them the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ! Many in the world do not know who Christ is or what He has done for them so we must go and teach them about Christ. This means discipleship should start before salvation! You start teaching them where they are and lead them to Christ by teaching them! This also means we are to go to the whole world to teach them about Christ as well!
4. Once they accept Christ, baptize them!—Once they are Christians then we should baptize them! This does not save them, rather this is an outward sign of an inward change! This is for them to follow obedience in baptism and to show others they are identifying with Christ!
5. Now we help them to grow by teaching them more— This is where we continue to disciple them! Salvation is not a stopping point it is a starting point! This is where we continue to teach them the Bible and the word of God to help them grow! The point of this is to help them grow to become mature reproducing Christians! They will be able to go out and repeat the process!
6. No matter where we go, Christ is with us!— We should go knowing that Christ is going with us! No matter where you are or what situation you are in, Christ is with you! This should give us the confidence to go take the gospel all around the world! He is with us no matter what and that should make us realize that we must go take the gospel to the whole world!

This is one of the most common Great Commission verses that is quoted in Christianity today! This shows us that we are commanded to go and that we do not go alone, Christ goes with us! The question today is what are you doing as a Christian to fulfill and obey the Great Commission?