THE CHURCH IN ACTION LESSON 3 A COMMISSIONED CHURCH LESSON TEXT 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. Mark 16:15-20 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. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 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 24:47-49 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. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. FOCUS VERSE Matthew 28:19-20 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. FOCUS THOUGHT Jesus commissioned His disciples to take the gospel to the whole world. This great commission continues to impact the church today, as it did the early church.
INTRODUCTION A commissioning service is a powerful time where the commissioning agency, party, or individual communicates an assignment of responsibility, trust, and confidence to an individual or to a group receiving the commission. For example, individuals who graduate from the various officer training programs of the branches of the United States armed services receive their commission in a formal ceremony, which bestows on them an official rank. Missionaries preparing to minister overseas usually experience a service in which the sending agency commissions them to go and represent their church on the mission field. Ministers participate in a service where the ministerial body ordains them into the ministry and challenges them to represent well their church and their Savior as they preach the Word of God and minister to the needs of people. In each instance, these individuals undergo a formal time of commissioning receiving the challenge and assignment along with the accompanying responsibilities of the work to which they have been commissioned. Included in this time of commissioning is the communication of the will and purpose of the sponsoring body that is ordaining or sending them. Believers also have received their commission from the Lord Jesus Christ. We often refer to it as the great commission, which concisely communicates to us the most impassioned and direct appeal of our Lord to perform the vital task for which He has called and designed His church to evangelize the lost! 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 (Matthew 28:19-20). And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen (Mark 16:15-20). People often reserve the words closest to their hearts for the time just before the conclusion of their conversation or just before they leave. The words closest to Jesus heart involved the purpose of His church His commission to all believers to proclaim the good news of salvation to all people everywhere. There is no greater purpose expressed in Scripture for the church than for believers to evangelize and disciple their world for Jesus Christ. He redeemed us for this supreme purpose. The word translated teach in Matthew 28:19 is an interesting word. It translates from the transliterated Greek word matheteusate, which means to make a disciple; to teach, instruct (Thayer s Greek Lexicon). Strong s Concordance defines the word
intransitively, to become a pupil; transitively, to disciple, i.e. enroll as scholar. The King James Version translates the word as be disciple, instruct, teach. The New International Version translates the word matheteusate in Matthew 28:19 as make disciples. I. JESUS POWERFUL MANDATE In Jesus great commission to His church, He clearly gave a mandate to believers. A mandate is an authoritative command, especially a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one (Merriam-Webster s Collegiate Dictionary). Jesus left no question as to the responsibility of His people. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). A. Make Disciples Although Matthew 28:19 includes the idea of teaching or proclaiming the gospel ( go... teach ), the mandate of Christ to His church involves more than only proclaiming or teaching the message; He has called us to make disciples. We do not make disciples through one preached message or one taught lesson; rather, we make disciples through systematic instruction that builds, edifies, and establishes an individual in the faith. Jesus Christ mentioned in Matthew 28:19-20 at least three elements that are necessary to make disciples. 1. Go. First, Jesus commanded that we go to all nations. The Greek word translated nations in Matthew 28:19 is ethnos, which includes our idea of going to other countries, but it means more than that: a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-jewish) one (usually by implication, pagan) (Strong s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary). In the King James Version the word translates as Gentile, heathen, nation, or people. The gospel is not only for North Americans or for those who inhabit the Western Hemisphere. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for every living human being on the planet, regardless of race, color, or socioeconomic status. Whether one lives in a thatched hut, a nomadic tent, or a modern mansion, the gospel is especially designed for him. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17). How can we evangelize the world if we never go beyond our normal boundaries? Going requires effort. To take the gospel to the world requires money and manpower. We already have the mission and the message; Jesus gave those to us. We just need funds and available individuals to go so that we can win our world for Jesus. We need individuals willing to give and to go! 2. Baptize. When we go, we are to baptize believers. It is essential for a person to believe if he is to be saved; believing is the first step toward a relationship with God. Without faith, it is impossible to please the Lord (Hebrews 11:6). We can only build a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ on a foundation of faith believing the gospel. As vital as believing is, however, it does not abide alone in the redemptive process. Baptism also is vital in order for a person to receive salvation (Mark 16:16).
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16). The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:21). Water baptism is essential to salvation. The apostle Peter observed that we are saved by water baptism (I Peter 3:21). Moreover, the mode of water baptism also is vital. We should consider at least two things about the mode of water baptism. First, the mode of water baptism is to be by immersion. Based on the meaning of the Greek word for baptize, baptizo, sprinkling with water does not qualify. The word means to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism (Strong s Concordance). Thayer s Greek Lexicon defines the word: 1. properly, to dip repeatedly, to immerge, submerge;... 2. to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water... (Luke 11:38);... 3. metaphorically, to overwhelm. These definitions clearly reveal that true Christian baptism involves immersion into water. Interestingly, when Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, they went down both into the water (Acts 8:38-39). And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:38-39). Second, the mode of water baptism is to be in the name of Jesus Christ. Some individuals would argue that we should specifically repeat the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 28:19 in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Rather than repeat the words of Jesus, however, we should obey His commandment. He commanded us to baptize in the name (singular). Father is not a name; Son is not a name; Holy Ghost is not a name. The name Jesus is the one and only name that fulfills the commandment by its unique association with all three titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Jesus clearly stated that He came in His Father s name (John 5:43). The angel Gabriel first identified the name of the Son of God as Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Jesus also revealed that the heavenly Father would send the Holy Ghost in His (Jesus ) name (John 14:26). The only way to fulfill the commandment of Christ in Matthew 28:19 is to baptize in the only saving name the name Jesus! The Holy Spirit also anointed the apostle Peter to confirm the mode for water baptism when he preached the first message of the infant church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38).
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). 3. Teach to observe all things. Finally, we are to make disciples, which requires systematic teaching. The message of the gospel is one of change. Jesus Christ is not interested in reaching people with a message that may only capture their attention, pique their interest, or stimulate their senses. Rather, He is interested in bringing dynamic change to the lives of all mankind. To only hear the gospel does not change us, but as we learn about the ways of Christ and respond to His life-changing message, we will experience a spiritual revolution and transformation. Jesus did not come to save us in our sins, but from our sins (Romans 6:1-6). What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (Romans 6:1-6). B. Promise of God s Abiding Presence Jesus promised to abide with those who answer the call, take up the challenge, and fulfill His commission to evangelize the world. As we go into all the world, baptize believers, and teach the principles of God s Word that will transform individuals into disciples of Christ, we can be certain the abiding presence of Jesus Christ will accompany us (Matthew 28:20). (See also Hebrews 13:5.) There is nothing that aligns us more with the mission and purpose of Christ than reaching out to those who are lost. When we are sharing the life-changing message of the gospel we are fulfilling the purpose of Jesus Christ on earth. He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). II. JESUS EXPECTATIONS Most individuals would be reluctant and uneasy about the thought of leaving their most impassioned desires and goals in the hands of a dozen men fraught with human frailty. Jesus, on the other hand, expressed absolute confidence in the future of the church in the hands of His disciples. He never even questioned its future viability or success, and He predicted its ultimate and eternal triumph (Matthew 16:18). And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
Knowing the frailty of humanity and mankind s proclivity toward sin, how could Jesus be so confident in the triumph of His church? Was He not taking a huge risk by placing it into human hands? He had invested so much in the future of the church, and soon He would make the supreme investment with the shedding of His own blood. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I Peter 1:18-19). Still, Jesus did not hesitate to place the weighty responsibility of the church in the hands of humankind. He knew the church would not could not fail! However, with the privilege of administrating the business of His church came also a terrific responsibility. Jesus Christ expects His people to take seriously their responsibilities toward the advancement of His church the body of Christ on earth. What does Jesus Christ expect from His people? 1. Jesus Christ expects His people to love one another and to love the lost for whom He gave His life. Jesus said, By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35). He expects His people to demonstrate His supreme love for each other, for it clearly identifies us as His people and associates us with His purpose. (See also John 15:12-17.) Our love must reach beyond the boundaries of the church membership or body of Christ. He has called us to love the lost of this world, including our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-39). 2. Jesus Christ expects His people to have unity with Him, with His cause, and with one another in the body of Christ (John 17:11-23; Romans 15:5-6; Ephesians 4:3-4). 3. Jesus Christ expects His people to be holy. Peter admonished believers to be holy as He who called us is holy (I Peter 1:15-16). 4. Jesus Christ expects His people to be fruitful (Luke 13:6-9; John 15:2-16; Colossians 1:10). What does it mean for a believer to bear fruit? First, it involves bearing the fruit of the Spirit, demonstrating the abiding presence of Jesus Christ within. (See Galatians 5:22-25.) Second, it involves reproducing ourselves by sharing the gospel with others and making disciples. He has called us to reach the lost and win souls to His cause. What was the disciples response to the great commission, to the call of Christ to take the gospel to the lost and to fulfill His purpose for their lives? III. THE DISCIPLES RESPONSE The disciples responded to the call of Jesus Christ with complete obedience. They obeyed the call by (1) waiting on Him to prepare them to fulfill His call, and (2) by actually performing His will. A. In Preparation Obedience to Wait on God An interesting thing about the Gospels is the way in which the four different writers recorded the same events with different perspectives, details, and emphases. One reason for the differing (though not conflicting) accounts of the life of Christ involves the different backgrounds of the Gospel writers and their intended audiences. Consequently, they wrote differently to reach different audiences.
One of the other beauties and strengths of the Gospels is the way in which they support each other and fill in important details. One Gospel account may not include all the details of an event, but another may fill in the gaps. Our lesson texts reveal some of these important differences. Mark concisely revealed the action of the disciples in response to Christ s great commission in Mark 16:19-20, but Luke revealed additional information that occurred between what Mark recorded in verses 19 and 20. Luke revealed that prior to His ascension, Jesus commanded the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). This they clearly obeyed for they received the Holy Ghost in an upper room in Jerusalem about ten days following His ascension (Acts 1-2). They first obeyed Christ by waiting in Jerusalem for the Holy Ghost, which completed their new-birth experience and vitally empowered them to fulfill the great commission. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4). B. In Enactment Full-fledged Obedience So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen (Mark 16:19-20). After Jesus commissioned the disciples and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to fulfill His commandments. They went everywhere, preaching the gospel with the accompanying power of God confirming their ministry with miraculous signs. Jesus had not misplaced His trust in human hands; the believers obediently went into all the world with the gospel message. What was the result of the disciples empowered obedience as they disseminated the gospel throughout the then-known world? The world was changed so dramatically that in Thessalonica it was said of the disciples, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also (Acts 17:6). The incredible results of the believers obedient response to Christ s commission caused the infant church to grow exponentially. Over the next few days the church added numbers of new believers: about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41); about five thousand (Acts 4:4); and multitudes both of men and women (Acts 5:14). Further, the Lord continued to add new believers to the church daily (Acts 2:47). Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).
CONCLUSION One of the greatest commissioning services of all times occurred just prior to the ascension of Jesus Christ. Desiring to communicate the passion of His soul for His supreme mission on earth, Jesus gave a powerful mandate and call to His disciples. He was placing into their hands the privilege and responsibility of carrying on the work of His church. Jesus took a great chance by entrusting the mission of the church to people, but He knew that the powers of hell itself could not stop the advance of His church. He gave them the words that have become known as the great commission, calling them to go forth, baptize believers, and make disciples for His cause. But He did not leave them with only a mandate of responsibility; He also gave them a promise of great hope. He assured them, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:20). With Christ s mandate to the church also came certain responsibilities and expectations. What does Jesus expect of His people? He expects them to (1) love one another and to love the lost; (2) have unity with Him, His cause, and one another; (3) be holy; and (4) be fruitful by making disciples. How did the disciples respond to the call and commission of Christ? They responded with complete obedience. They obeyed His call by waiting on Him to prepare them and by actually performing His will by going forth and doing what He had charged them to do. One primary question remains: What will the church today do with Christ s commission for believers in these modern days of the twenty-first century? Will we go forth, preaching the gospel and baptizing believers in the only saving name of Jesus? Will we busy ourselves proclaiming God s Word throughout the world, making disciples for Jesus? We have a great call, a great commission, and a great responsibility! But we also have a great God, who has promised both to empower us by His Spirit and always to be present with us, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:20).