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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 (Matthew 28:18-20).

In our article last week, we considered the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ in His giving of the Great Commission, and the privilege bestowed upon us as believers to go forth with the precious Gospel.

This week, let us consider the final two aspects of the Great Commission – Programme, and Promise (which will be covered next week):

Programme

“Teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

Firstly, we are to “teach.”  The word “teach” has the idea of “discipling” or “indoctrinating”.  We are to make disciples by teaching new believers the doctrines of the Bible and to build up their knowledge of God’s Word.

What is the extent of the Commission?  Not the Jews only but “all nations.”  Christ came to be the Saviour of the world.  In the Great Commission, the Lord looked beyond Judea, and commanded that the Gospel be offered to all nations (Acts 1: 8).  We live in a wicked and perverse generation that needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Without Christ, sinners perish in the eternal flames of Hell, “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”  Mark’s Gospel mentions this sobering statement three times (9: 44, 46 and 48)!  Obviously, it is to warn us of the grave estate of lost souls and the everlasting consequences of those without Christ.

Christ’s saving grace should be offered to all, “and none excluded that did not by their unbelief and impenitence exclude themselves.  The salvation they were to preach is a common salvation; whoever will, let him come, and take the benefit of the act of indemnity; for there is no difference of Jew or Greek in Christ Jesus” – Matthew Henry.

“The gracious commission was the foundation of the authority to go to the Gentiles.  The Jews had expected that the offers of life, under the Messiah, would be confined to their own nation.  Jesus broke down the partition wall, and commissioned His disciples to go everywhere, and bring the world to the knowledge of Himself” – Albert Barnes.

Secondly, we need to bring the new converts into the church, which is the “Body of Christ” - by “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” 

Baptism is a sacrament taught in God’s Word and observed by the church of Jesus Christ.  Water baptism is a sign and seal of the new believer’s faith.  It is also an opportunity to declare one’s faith, and to witness for the Lord. 

“Baptizing the converted disciples is the first step of outward obedience to the Lord and brings entrance into the membership of the local congregation” – Parallel Bible Commentary.  The occasion marks the new convert’s entry into the church (the communion of saints) which is a means of grace.  He is received into the love and fellowship of the church officially as a member with the rights and responsibilities associated with it. 

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I (Jesus) have commanded you.”

Thirdly, we are commanded to teach them “to observe all things whatsoever I (Jesus) have commanded you.”  The root word for “teaching” is different from the word for “disciple” or “indoctrinate.”  Here, it implies “didactic” teaching.    The new believers are to be taught “all things” that Jesus taught.
“The duty of the apostles of Christ, and His ministers is to teach the commands of Christ, to expound them to His disciples, to press upon them the necessity of obedience, and to assist them in applying the general commands of Christ to particular cases.  They must teach them, not their own inventions, but the institutions of Christ; to them they must religiously adhere, and in the knowledge of them Christians must be trained up.  A standing ministry is hereby settled in the church, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come to the perfect man (Eph. 4: 11-13).  The heirs of heaven, till they come to age, must be under tutors and governors. …  Our admission into the visible church is in order to something further; when Christ hath discipled us, He hath not done with us; He enlist soldiers that He may train them up for His service … Due obedience to the commands of Christ requires a diligent observation; we are in danger of missing, if we take not good heed: and in all our obedience, we must have an eye to the command, and do what we do as unto the Lord” – Matthew Henry.
Christ has set us the example of faithful and godly living.  He lived a perfect life and died to atone for our sins.   Note what Apostle Peter said in I Peter 2: 21:  “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.”  Every new believer is expected to be taught the Holy Scriptures and the life example of Christ.  One writer commented, that those who teach  “… should take care that they teach not human creeds and confessions of faith, in place of the Sacred Writings; but those things, and those only, which Jesus has commanded.” 

- Pastor