11/04/20
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
In our previous message, we shared some thoughts about what most evangelical Christians and some charismatics call the "great commission." In the event that some listeners did not hear our previous message, I want to include today a few principles as a review. The words, "the great commission," do not occur in the Bible. No one knows for sure who started the phrase "the great commission." Some Post-Reformation missionary probably coined the term in the 17th century; but Hudson Taylor, nearly 200 years later, popularized the use of the phrase "the great commission." Since that time, the phrase has been the theme for countless mission talks and conferences.
First, let us consider four different levels of professing Christians. Unfortunately, many professing Christians have agreed with a doctrine or a teaching but never have been born from above. That is what many call being "saved," although that is a misconception because salvation is a process, not a one-time event. Only God can save. The next level consists of all those who have genuinely been born from above, by the grace of God. Unfortunately, for many long years, too many Christians have equated the Gospel to simply being "saved."
Then it is the will of God that all those who have been born from above to become disciples of Christ. Again, unfortunately, too many Christians have never become disciples of Christ, either because they have never heard of the difference or who have declined to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow the Lord Jesus. Finally, not every disciple moves on with the Lord to become part of the remnant, or the overcomers. That is clearly brought out in Revelation, Chapters 2, 3, 12, and other scriptures.
We should always remember what the Lord's purpose is for each born from above believer. Paul said, in
The Apostle John said, in
(4) Another part of the so-called "great commission" is given in Mark 16:15-16,
No man, no group of men, no church, no "missionary board," no seminary, no Bible school has a right to send forth anyone. Those whom the Holy Spirit sends out must be prepared by the Lord and must have a heavenly vision. They must understand the purpose, plans, perspectives, will, and ways of the Lord. Otherwise they can only preach that "Jesus saves." Christians should "go" only if they are called to go by the Lord and then sent by the Holy Spirit.
(5) Now let us look at Matthew 28:18-20, which is an expansion of Mark 16:15.
We must always remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Apostle, our great Prophet, our Evangelist, our Pastor and Teacher. We read in Ephesians 4 about the 5-fold ministries, given by the Lord. One of those ministries is that of an evangelist. Paul said, in
It is important to note that the Lord specifically told Philip, an evangelist, to go from Jerusalem down toward Gaza into the desert. Then the Lord specifically told Philip to go near to a specific chariot. Note that Philip never started anything that led to the Ethiopian eunuch being "saved." Philip simply heard the rhema word of the Lord and obeyed.
Around 1972 or 1973 the Lord specifically quickened to me and my wife to start a Bible study in our home and to invite our neighbors. About 6 or 7 of the neighbors came regularly, one evening a week. We had no idea whether any of them were Christians. For about 6 weeks I shared with them about, "Who is Jesus Christ"? Then we started through the Gospel according to John. All sorts of good things happened. It was like we sat back and watched the Lord work with those people. One evening the Lord lengthened arms and legs of most of them to make them equal in length. The Lord baptized a few of them in the Holy Ghost in their own homes, although I never talked about Pentecost. No one laid hands on them, no one prayed for them. The Lord just moved on those folks in miraculous ways. About 6 months later we saw a need for a similar type of meeting for some new people in the New Testament house church of which we were a part. But nothing happened. Why not? because the first time the Lord said, "do it." The second time we saw a need and set out to fulfill that need. But the Lord honors what He tells us to do.
Now we need to be careful. There are two ways to evangelize ... man's way and God's way. Man's way includes a number of approaches to increase the number of people in "our" church. We use the best ways of the world to try to get more people to join "our" church - anything that will appeal to the natural senses of mankind at all ages. But unless the Lord gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) then all of our "work" amounts to wood, hay, and stubble.
As a result of walking in man's ways to evangelize, we produce a mixed multitude and eventually a division. Historically, this has happened over the past 150 years or longer. That has produced hundreds or thousands of different denominations, non-denominations, and house churches.
Now, what about God's way of evangelizing? First, the Lord adds to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47). Notice that word "daily." How many people did Peter "save" on the day of Pentecost? none. Man can add to man's church but only the Lord can add to His church.
Shortly after the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts, there must have been at least 10,000 souls in the church at Jerusalem. I am sure that they all loved hearing the apostles preach and teach. And they received the true Gospel, not some watered-down version. BUT ... the Lord never worked with a multitude. He never promoted one large "mega-church" where the believers could just relax and be spectators. Therefore, the love of God went into action to allow persecution against the church at Jerusalem ... to get the believers back on track to fulfill His way of bringing the Gospel to all of the earth.
Therefore, the first major formation of Christian churches was not accomplished by apostles, evangelists, or sent preachers. The apostles stayed in Jerusalem while the others spread the good news everywhere. There is no indication the apostles exhorted them to preach, or to evangelize, or to obey the so-called great commission. I sincerely doubt that the early apostles ever heard of a phrase called "the great commission." But the Word of God is quick and powerful. Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and where He takes up residence, He will change the lives of those around Him.
We know, from 1 Corinthians 12:18, that God sets the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him. I believe that is true geographically as well as spiritually. Almost 50 years ago the Lord quickened to me that He set me and my wife in a suburb of Washington, D.C., not to do something and not to say something, but primarily just to be. Just by the presence of Christ within (and the presence of other Christians around our nation's capital) we help to hold back the presence of evil.
There are two major ways that we can preach the Gospel. One way is by speaking.
The scriptural way for the majority of the church to preach the Gospel is primarily by our example. The early churches exhorted Christians to evangelize by their lives, not by preaching. Words today mean very little to non-believers. But people in the world are hungry. They want to see something to give them hope, particularly during this pandemic. Actions speak louder than words. A picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, too many Christians today act very much like those in the world. Are we living out our faith, our walk with the Lord?
If each Christian, by our example, were to help two neighbors to come to the knowledge of the saving grace of God and each of those two repeat the process, it is amazing how fast the number of Christians would multiply.
In Justin Martyr's First Apology, written about A.D. 155, he mentions three examples of how Romans were converted to Christ. (quote)
None of those things mention preaching or any great commission. Apparently, the majority of those converted in the 2nd century were converted by witnessing the lives of the Christians, not by preaching.
Consider what will happen when God's people arise and shine.
Now it is true that those verses speak about Jesus. But they also apply to Christians who are abiding in Christ. When that happens, we won't have to beat the bushes to try to save the lost. They will come to our door.
Paul told the church at Thessalonica to mind their own business in order to win the world!
What was the result after they walked honestly toward them that are without? Paul said he didn't need to preach.
The Word of God is capable of growing and increasing in two ways. First, as the number of disciples increase and second, as they become filled with the Word of God, which grows in them like a seed planted in good soil. He must increase, but we must decrease.
A disciple lives by the Word of God, which is intended to grow inside of him.
That being true, what will come out of a disciple's mouth? the Word of God.
If the Word of God is inside us, everywhere we go we would preach the Word by our life, by our actions, because that is what is in us.
Some Christians have never even heard what it means to be a disciple. Churches should consist of disciples, not a mixed multitude. The most effective weapon the devil has against the church is filling it with non-disciples, so that our churches become diluted and a mixed multitude. This is a huge problem, but we have our own ways and traditions that we don't like to give up.
In summary, to interpret the so-called great commission in terms of Acts 28:18-20 and/or Acts 16:15-16 is just not true. The Bible contains perhaps hundreds of commandments. The phrase, "the great commission" implies all other commandments are some lower-level exhortations.
Here we see what the great commission or the great commandment really is - love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Under the Old Covenant that was a commandment.
Under the New Covenant, that is a promise. If we continue in the faith, we really will come to love the Lord with all of our being. Of course, that is impossible except by the power of the Holy Ghost.
It all comes down to obedience to the Lord in all things.
A glorious liberty awaits all those who remain, abide, inseparably united with the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
First, let us consider four different levels of professing Christians. Unfortunately, many professing Christians have agreed with a doctrine or a teaching but never have been born from above. That is what many call being "saved," although that is a misconception because salvation is a process, not a one-time event. Only God can save. The next level consists of all those who have genuinely been born from above, by the grace of God. Unfortunately, for many long years, too many Christians have equated the Gospel to simply being "saved."
Then it is the will of God that all those who have been born from above to become disciples of Christ. Again, unfortunately, too many Christians have never become disciples of Christ, either because they have never heard of the difference or who have declined to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow the Lord Jesus. Finally, not every disciple moves on with the Lord to become part of the remnant, or the overcomers. That is clearly brought out in Revelation, Chapters 2, 3, 12, and other scriptures.
We should always remember what the Lord's purpose is for each born from above believer. Paul said, in
Ephesians 5:25-27, "... Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
The Lord will have what He desires.
It is also important to understand God's original ways to achieve His purpose for His chosen people. His purpose and His ways for His people have never changed and never will change. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, each man was to gather manna for himself and his family every day, except for the Sabbath or the day of rest. The manna speaks of the word of God. But the Israelites said, "let not God speak with us; we will hear the voice of the Lord through Moses." That condition still exists in the church today. We want to hear what the Lord has to say through the pastor. Since the Israelites did not want to hear God speak to them directly, we read in
It is also important to understand God's original ways to achieve His purpose for His chosen people. His purpose and His ways for His people have never changed and never will change. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, each man was to gather manna for himself and his family every day, except for the Sabbath or the day of rest. The manna speaks of the word of God. But the Israelites said, "let not God speak with us; we will hear the voice of the Lord through Moses." That condition still exists in the church today. We want to hear what the Lord has to say through the pastor. Since the Israelites did not want to hear God speak to them directly, we read in
Deuteronomy 10:8, "At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day."
That is prophetic of the three functions of the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec, to which all true Christians have been called, but few have entered into. Those three functions are listed in priority order. To bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The next most important function is to stand before the Lord to minister to Him, not to people. That is confirmed in Ezekiel 44 and Acts 1:8.
The third function is to bless in His name. Fifteen verses in the Bible tell us to bless the Lord. I believe that function also includes to bless other members of the body of Christ. Way back around 1970 my wife received a prophecy that she had a ministry of blessing others. For a year or so she interpreted that to mean that she was to lay her hands on the shoulders of Christians and say, "I bless you in the name of the Lord." Then the Lord spoke to her and said, that's not the way it is. The Lord said to her, "You ARE a blessing to others, simply because of the Christ within." Note the last 3 words of Deuteronomy 10:8 say "unto this day." Unto what day? In other words, those 3 functions are true for all of time.
Let us look at the order of events as given in scripture. After the resurrection of Jesus but before His ascension, five sets of verses are pertinent.
(1) John 20:22, "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" and they did. The same is promised to as many as the Lord our God shall call, provided we receive Him.
The third function is to bless in His name. Fifteen verses in the Bible tell us to bless the Lord. I believe that function also includes to bless other members of the body of Christ. Way back around 1970 my wife received a prophecy that she had a ministry of blessing others. For a year or so she interpreted that to mean that she was to lay her hands on the shoulders of Christians and say, "I bless you in the name of the Lord." Then the Lord spoke to her and said, that's not the way it is. The Lord said to her, "You ARE a blessing to others, simply because of the Christ within." Note the last 3 words of Deuteronomy 10:8 say "unto this day." Unto what day? In other words, those 3 functions are true for all of time.
Let us look at the order of events as given in scripture. After the resurrection of Jesus but before His ascension, five sets of verses are pertinent.
(1) John 20:22, "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" and they did. The same is promised to as many as the Lord our God shall call, provided we receive Him.
(2) Before the Lord sent out anyone, He told His disciples to "tarry in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Closely related is step 3.
(3) Jesus said, in Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Jesus said, Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall "be." It does not say ye shall "do." There is a big difference between doing and being - and ye shall BE witnesses unto the Lord, not unto the world, not unto men, but unto ME. Unfortunately, human nature is a doer. We want to do something for the Lord. We have little patience. We don't like to wait until we are prepared to go out. We think that we are prepared after we are born from above. Where are we to be witnesses? to the uttermost parts of the earth; but the emphasis is on "unto ME," unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
Power is the regenerating force that works life in and through us. Jesus first gave that Holy Ghost power to the disciples on the day of Pentecost.
A witness tells about something he has seen, heard, or experienced. The word "witness" actually means a "martyr." In other words, we all should be martyrs as unto the Lord, not as unto men. In the broadest sense, every Christian must exchange our natural life for the life of Christ. Paul said, in
Jesus said, Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall "be." It does not say ye shall "do." There is a big difference between doing and being - and ye shall BE witnesses unto the Lord, not unto the world, not unto men, but unto ME. Unfortunately, human nature is a doer. We want to do something for the Lord. We have little patience. We don't like to wait until we are prepared to go out. We think that we are prepared after we are born from above. Where are we to be witnesses? to the uttermost parts of the earth; but the emphasis is on "unto ME," unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
Power is the regenerating force that works life in and through us. Jesus first gave that Holy Ghost power to the disciples on the day of Pentecost.
A witness tells about something he has seen, heard, or experienced. The word "witness" actually means a "martyr." In other words, we all should be martyrs as unto the Lord, not as unto men. In the broadest sense, every Christian must exchange our natural life for the life of Christ. Paul said, in
Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
The Apostle John said, in
1 John 1:1-3, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
(4) Another part of the so-called "great commission" is given in Mark 16:15-16,
"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."
Scripture is clear that only the Holy Spirit can and will send out those to preach the Gospel to every creature. Acts 13:4, concerning Paul and Barnabus, says,
"So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus."
Undoubtably there were a number of good men in the church at Antioch who were not sent out.
Romans 10:15, "And how shall they preach, except they be sent?"
No man, no group of men, no church, no "missionary board," no seminary, no Bible school has a right to send forth anyone. Those whom the Holy Spirit sends out must be prepared by the Lord and must have a heavenly vision. They must understand the purpose, plans, perspectives, will, and ways of the Lord. Otherwise they can only preach that "Jesus saves." Christians should "go" only if they are called to go by the Lord and then sent by the Holy Spirit.
(5) Now let us look at Matthew 28:18-20, which is an expansion of Mark 16:15.
18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and disciple 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."
The order of events in Matthew 28:19 is: First, make disciples, not disciples of any man, but disciples of Christ. Of course, we must first be born from above before becoming a disciple. Jesus said that if any man would come after Him or be His disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). The apostles were charged to make disciples. The Lord Himself makes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
Second, the order is to baptize or immerse the disciples into the nature, the character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The third and last step is to teach the disciples to observe all things that Jesus has commanded. That speaks of obedience. Who teaches the disciples? The 5-fold ministries and the local teaching elders. More accurately, it is the Christ within those ministries and offices.
Second, the order is to baptize or immerse the disciples into the nature, the character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The third and last step is to teach the disciples to observe all things that Jesus has commanded. That speaks of obedience. Who teaches the disciples? The 5-fold ministries and the local teaching elders. More accurately, it is the Christ within those ministries and offices.
1 John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him."
What is the anointing? the Spirit of the living God. The word, "Christ," means "anointed" or "the anointed one."
We should note several aspects of all of those related five sets of verses. It is commonly taught, particularly by evangelicals, that those verses apply to every Christian. However, to whom were those verses in Mark and Matthew originally addressed? to the remaining 11 disciples, who were then commissioned to be apostles. Is it correct interpretation of scripture to change a rhema word of God to the apostles and make it a logos word to every Christian? I will attempt to answer that question from scripture shortly. Jesus said, in
We should note several aspects of all of those related five sets of verses. It is commonly taught, particularly by evangelicals, that those verses apply to every Christian. However, to whom were those verses in Mark and Matthew originally addressed? to the remaining 11 disciples, who were then commissioned to be apostles. Is it correct interpretation of scripture to change a rhema word of God to the apostles and make it a logos word to every Christian? I will attempt to answer that question from scripture shortly. Jesus said, in
Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
What is the Gospel? the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Has the gospel of the kingdom been preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations? No. What has been preached as the evangelistic message? how to be saved and then one day go to heaven. Leonard Ravenhill, a highly respected 20th century evangelist once said, "The sinners' prayer has sent more people to hell than all of the taverns in America."
There must be an expansion of our walk - of our life on earth. Heaven is not simply some faraway land that we hope to go to when we leave this earth. Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you.
Most evangelistic events and most of the so-called Lord's work in all of our many activities, is usually based on a location and on people. But very little is centered on Him. That is why the outcome is often so disappointing. Today so much of the emphasis in the church is geared towards evangelism, but wrongly interpreted and wrongly implemented. A man named Ray Comfort has written a book giving the poor results of even many of the great evangelists. Exhortations to evangelism produce far more backsliders than real converts. We can agree mentally with a doctrine, go to church every Sunday, lead a morally good life and never be born again. Paul told the church at Corinth, and us, in
There must be an expansion of our walk - of our life on earth. Heaven is not simply some faraway land that we hope to go to when we leave this earth. Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you.
Most evangelistic events and most of the so-called Lord's work in all of our many activities, is usually based on a location and on people. But very little is centered on Him. That is why the outcome is often so disappointing. Today so much of the emphasis in the church is geared towards evangelism, but wrongly interpreted and wrongly implemented. A man named Ray Comfort has written a book giving the poor results of even many of the great evangelists. Exhortations to evangelism produce far more backsliders than real converts. We can agree mentally with a doctrine, go to church every Sunday, lead a morally good life and never be born again. Paul told the church at Corinth, and us, in
2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
We must always remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Apostle, our great Prophet, our Evangelist, our Pastor and Teacher. We read in Ephesians 4 about the 5-fold ministries, given by the Lord. One of those ministries is that of an evangelist. Paul said, in
1 Corinthians 4:1, "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."
The word "ministers" means an assistant or a helper. None of those 5-fold ministries are in charge of the ministry. We are simply called to be co-laborers with Christ, no matter what type of ministry we have received. The word "stewards" in that verse means a "house manager." The Lord is the One who owns the house ... the 5-fold ministries are simply house managers who are to "occupy until He comes" (Luke 19:13). I have no ministry and no title. It is the Lord's ministry. People come and go but the ministry of the Lord through the 5-fold ministries continues.
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"
Ephesians 4:13
Again, if Christ within does not minister through us, we only produce wood, hay, and stubble.
Paul told Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5). What is the "work of an evangelist"? The answer is found in
Paul told Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5). What is the "work of an evangelist"? The answer is found in
Ephesians 4:12, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
So an evangelist, like the rest of the 5-fold ministries, is given for the church, not to the world. The primary role of an evangelist is to teach the rest of the church how to relate to those in the world.
Acts 8:26-31,
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
It is important to note that the Lord specifically told Philip, an evangelist, to go from Jerusalem down toward Gaza into the desert. Then the Lord specifically told Philip to go near to a specific chariot. Note that Philip never started anything that led to the Ethiopian eunuch being "saved." Philip simply heard the rhema word of the Lord and obeyed.
Around 1972 or 1973 the Lord specifically quickened to me and my wife to start a Bible study in our home and to invite our neighbors. About 6 or 7 of the neighbors came regularly, one evening a week. We had no idea whether any of them were Christians. For about 6 weeks I shared with them about, "Who is Jesus Christ"? Then we started through the Gospel according to John. All sorts of good things happened. It was like we sat back and watched the Lord work with those people. One evening the Lord lengthened arms and legs of most of them to make them equal in length. The Lord baptized a few of them in the Holy Ghost in their own homes, although I never talked about Pentecost. No one laid hands on them, no one prayed for them. The Lord just moved on those folks in miraculous ways. About 6 months later we saw a need for a similar type of meeting for some new people in the New Testament house church of which we were a part. But nothing happened. Why not? because the first time the Lord said, "do it." The second time we saw a need and set out to fulfill that need. But the Lord honors what He tells us to do.
Now we need to be careful. There are two ways to evangelize ... man's way and God's way. Man's way includes a number of approaches to increase the number of people in "our" church. We use the best ways of the world to try to get more people to join "our" church - anything that will appeal to the natural senses of mankind at all ages. But unless the Lord gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) then all of our "work" amounts to wood, hay, and stubble.
As a result of walking in man's ways to evangelize, we produce a mixed multitude and eventually a division. Historically, this has happened over the past 150 years or longer. That has produced hundreds or thousands of different denominations, non-denominations, and house churches.
Now, what about God's way of evangelizing? First, the Lord adds to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47). Notice that word "daily." How many people did Peter "save" on the day of Pentecost? none. Man can add to man's church but only the Lord can add to His church.
Shortly after the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts, there must have been at least 10,000 souls in the church at Jerusalem. I am sure that they all loved hearing the apostles preach and teach. And they received the true Gospel, not some watered-down version. BUT ... the Lord never worked with a multitude. He never promoted one large "mega-church" where the believers could just relax and be spectators. Therefore, the love of God went into action to allow persecution against the church at Jerusalem ... to get the believers back on track to fulfill His way of bringing the Gospel to all of the earth.
Acts 8:1, "And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles."
Therefore, the first major formation of Christian churches was not accomplished by apostles, evangelists, or sent preachers. The apostles stayed in Jerusalem while the others spread the good news everywhere. There is no indication the apostles exhorted them to preach, or to evangelize, or to obey the so-called great commission. I sincerely doubt that the early apostles ever heard of a phrase called "the great commission." But the Word of God is quick and powerful. Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and where He takes up residence, He will change the lives of those around Him.
We know, from 1 Corinthians 12:18, that God sets the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him. I believe that is true geographically as well as spiritually. Almost 50 years ago the Lord quickened to me that He set me and my wife in a suburb of Washington, D.C., not to do something and not to say something, but primarily just to be. Just by the presence of Christ within (and the presence of other Christians around our nation's capital) we help to hold back the presence of evil.
There are two major ways that we can preach the Gospel. One way is by speaking.
Matthew 23:1-4, "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."
The scriptural way for the majority of the church to preach the Gospel is primarily by our example. The early churches exhorted Christians to evangelize by their lives, not by preaching. Words today mean very little to non-believers. But people in the world are hungry. They want to see something to give them hope, particularly during this pandemic. Actions speak louder than words. A picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, too many Christians today act very much like those in the world. Are we living out our faith, our walk with the Lord?
If each Christian, by our example, were to help two neighbors to come to the knowledge of the saving grace of God and each of those two repeat the process, it is amazing how fast the number of Christians would multiply.
In Justin Martyr's First Apology, written about A.D. 155, he mentions three examples of how Romans were converted to Christ. (quote)
[The Romans were] overcome by ..."the constancy which they have witnessed in their neighbors' lives.""the extraordinary forbearance they have observed in their fellow travelers when defrauded.""the honesty of those with whom they have transacted business." (end quote)
None of those things mention preaching or any great commission. Apparently, the majority of those converted in the 2nd century were converted by witnessing the lives of the Christians, not by preaching.
Consider what will happen when God's people arise and shine.
Isaiah 60:1-6,
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD."
Now it is true that those verses speak about Jesus. But they also apply to Christians who are abiding in Christ. When that happens, we won't have to beat the bushes to try to save the lost. They will come to our door.
Paul told the church at Thessalonica to mind their own business in order to win the world!
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."
What was the result after they walked honestly toward them that are without? Paul said he didn't need to preach.
1 Thessalonians 1:7-8, "So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing."
The second thing that every Christian can do is to intercede for those whom the Lord lays on our hearts. Jesus said he did not pray for the world. He said He only prayed for those whom the Father had given to Him (John 17:9). Lord, by Your great mercy you opened my eyes to see who You are. By Your grace I have been born again. Lord, now I ask You to extend that same mercy and grace to those You have put on my heart. Then we will find that one day some of those you intercede for will come to you because they see something different in your life. One brother shared that a man came to him and said, "Why are you being so nice to me?" That opens the door to let people know how lost you were at one time, but that Jesus came to save that which is lost. You can then "preach" Christ. We are talking about God's better plan for evangelism. The Lord's method of evangelism is perfect, converting the soul.
In the book of Acts whenever the disciples multiplied, the Word of God grew and multiplied. That has nothing to do with more books or more Scripture being written. Consider the following three verses.
In the book of Acts whenever the disciples multiplied, the Word of God grew and multiplied. That has nothing to do with more books or more Scripture being written. Consider the following three verses.
The Word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. (Acts 6:7)The Word of God grew and multiplied (Acts 12:24).The Word of God grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 19:20).
The Word of God is capable of growing and increasing in two ways. First, as the number of disciples increase and second, as they become filled with the Word of God, which grows in them like a seed planted in good soil. He must increase, but we must decrease.
A disciple lives by the Word of God, which is intended to grow inside of him.
Acts 17:28, "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring."Colossians 1:27, "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
That being true, what will come out of a disciple's mouth? the Word of God.
"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34).
If the Word of God is inside us, everywhere we go we would preach the Word by our life, by our actions, because that is what is in us.
Matthew 5:13-16,13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Some Christians have never even heard what it means to be a disciple. Churches should consist of disciples, not a mixed multitude. The most effective weapon the devil has against the church is filling it with non-disciples, so that our churches become diluted and a mixed multitude. This is a huge problem, but we have our own ways and traditions that we don't like to give up.
In summary, to interpret the so-called great commission in terms of Acts 28:18-20 and/or Acts 16:15-16 is just not true. The Bible contains perhaps hundreds of commandments. The phrase, "the great commission" implies all other commandments are some lower-level exhortations.
More importantly. Consider Matthew 22:35-40
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, [a lawyer in those days was one who taught the law]36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Here we see what the great commission or the great commandment really is - love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Under the Old Covenant that was a commandment.
Under the New Covenant, that is a promise. If we continue in the faith, we really will come to love the Lord with all of our being. Of course, that is impossible except by the power of the Holy Ghost.
It all comes down to obedience to the Lord in all things.
1 John 2:5-6, "But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked."John 8:31-32, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue [abide, remain, exist permanently in, inseparably united] in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.Romans 8:21, "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
A glorious liberty awaits all those who remain, abide, inseparably united with the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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