We All Have an Assignment

Right now in a world full of lies and hate, people are craving truth. They want to know what is real, and are tired of being lied to and fed “click-bait”; bombarded by ads and gimmicks diverting our attention to the things that don’t matter. All we are consuming on our phones, the internet, and television is slowly killing us. Many people out in the world are wanting to know the truth. They are tired of being fed lie after lie, and being more confused about the meaning of life, is there life after death, and have questions like, “Who is God and Jesus?”

Since they have questions, we need to “sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you with gentleness and reverence.” (2 Peter 3:15) We have the answers they need. We just need to be prepared for it, and walk in it.

The Great Commission Examined

So, let us confidently remember our marching orders from the Lord Himself concerning the Great Commission: to boldly go into all the world and seek out those who are lost to save them.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV

Now, let’s break down this verse and see what the Lord was telling us.

But some doubted

It’s no wonder that many worshipped the risen Christ when they saw Him, but some doubted, not because of unbelief, but as the word implies—an uncertainty and hesitation. We aren’t to worship men, but, I mean, He is the Son of God, right? It’s understandable that they were unsure of what to do, how to react, and if this was even real.

We all experience hesitations and doubts regarding our faith at times, and it is important to recognize that this is a normal occurrence. Our apprehension about sharing the gospel often stems not from the potential consequences we may face, but rather from a sense of inadequacy. This feeling of inadequacy may arise from not engaging with the Scriptures as thoroughly as we ought, or from residing in sin in various forms. Furthermore, those circumstances can lead us to divert our focus from God to the challenges we encounter, as if these challenges are insurmountable for an unseen entity whom we cannot perceive or hear.

Jesus has all the authority everywhere

This was Jesus’ authoritative, final command, and not a suggestion. Jesus declares His rank of command as if an officer reminded a private of his rank before he gave the order. Because He has this authority, He can send whomever He wills to do whatever He pleases. He is our Lord, and we are to follow what He says because He is Lord over all and in every place.

Does Jesus possess authority within the government? Indeed. Does He hold authority in educational institutions? Yes, He does. What of the workplace? That applies as well. He embodies the authority and is sovereign over all aspects. Many Christians believe they are restricted from sharing the gospel in these domains; however, this is a misconception. Christian employees may convey the gospel amongst their colleagues during designated lunch breaks or meal periods while traveling. Although Christian educators may face limitations within the classroom, this does not prevent students from sharing the gospel with their peers. The Gideon’s International makes this process easy by equipping Christian Youth Groups to bring Lifebooks into schools and share the gospel to their peers, while the rights of students are protected by the United States government under the principles of freedom of speech and religion. But even if these systems prohibited the gospel 100% tomorrow, it still does not negate the authority Christ has on His church. Therefore, we obey God rather than men (Acts 5:27-29).

Go therefore

Because Jesus has all the power and authority, we go. We go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person (Mark 16:15). Nothing should stop us from going, and even our own fears should be diminished by the command we have been given.

What would happen to a soldier who disobeyed a legal, direct order from a commanding officer during wartime? According to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) in Article 92, this would range from dishonorable discharge, pay forfeiture, confinement, and possible prosecution. If a soldier goes AWOL (Absent Without Leave), according to the UCMJ, they could face serious consequences ranging from minor penalties of paying loss or demotion, to severe punishment’s like court-martial, dishonorable discharge, and jail time.

If these are the punishment’s in an earthly court, imagine how it would be treated in a heavenly one? We are to go, because we are told to go.

We are to go and do what?

There are three things that Jesus tells us to do in His last commission to us:

1. Make disciples of all nations.
2. Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
3. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.

The command is pretty straight-forward isn’t it? We are to make disciples: devoted followers of Christ, not converts. We are to produce disciples who make disciples. That is the goal. Witnessing and sharing the gospel is part of that, but not the end. We are not to get people “saved”, but that they learn, grow, and be committed believers in Christ who will take the message of the gospel to others so that they will learn, grow, and make more. Salvation is just the beginning; sanctification is a lifetime.

We as Christians…well, most of us anyway…believe that baptism doesn’t save anyone, but is a necessary part of the Christian walk, and here, commanded by the Lord. It is a believer’s baptism, meaning that we are to baptize by full submersion in water those who repent of their sin and put their trust and faith in Christ; not infant baptism, because infants cannot. Baptism is an act of obedience that follows salvation, not a means of obtaining it. It is an outward testimony of an inward transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit. It is the believer’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not the earning of salvation, but the public declaration of having that saving faith, founded in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Also, we are to teach them to observe everything the Lord has commanded. Meaning, we are not to just teach them things to know and remember, but we are to teach them to observe them. Meaning—do them. We are not to make converts or supporters of the cause, but those who are fully surrendered to the whole counsel of God found in the Holy Bible. That means going into all the world, preaching the gospel, and making disciples who will make disciples.

That little three letter word

That little, but powerful word, all, according to D.A. Carson, “…dominates Matthew 28:18-20 and ties these verses together: all authority, all nations, all things, all the days.”

Basically, this means—don’t stop. Jesus didn’t want us to leave anything out. If He is all authority, surely He wants to reach all nations with all His teaching, all the days of our lives. But, the good thing is that this command is to us collectively. We are collectively to do this, as a team. But we each have a part in it.

So, how do we do this?

That’s a good question. As you can see from the passage, the Lord doesn’t say how to accomplish all of this; He just says, ‘Get it done!’ But is the “how” up to us, or is it up to the Lord. The answer is—yes.

First, Jesus tells us that He will be with us till the end of the age. This means Jesus sends us on mission, but not alone. He gave us His constant presence of the Holy Spirit as our helper (John 14:16-17, 26), guide (John 16:13), and comforter. Therefore, He guides and directs our steps, shows us where to go, and gives us the words to say in the moment we need them. Going with us is His promise, presence, protection, power, and peace. And in the end, it is a privilege to go with our King into battle.

But He, as a commanding officer, doesn’t explain the how, but allows us freedom to make up our own mind on the method to accomplish the task. That’s the beauty of being a Christian. If you don’t like passing out tracts at a parade or working a gospel booth—that’s fine. But how are you personally accomplishing the Great Commission? There are many ways in which to do it. Maybe you like being more personable to your neighbors and sitting with them or helping them rake the leaves. While you are doing those acts of kindness, start conversations that would lead to the good news, with the hope of leading them to Christ and discipling them in the faith so that they will make disciples themselves.

In the next article, we will take a dive into one “how” the Lord gave us to fulfill the Great Commission in the story of the Good Samaritan. Until then, go and share the whole gospel in the way in which you choose being led by the Holy Spirit as He equips you to do it.