The Great Commission

[timothyu]

As for your understanding of/comments about v24, all I can do, sadly, is guess at your meaning, because for whatever reason, you've chosen to hide it again.

Guess you've fallen into the parable category. Hang in there.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

Hi Timothy, you know, I look at v24 and am continually AMAZED at how much the Lord was able to reveal to us in that single verse Nevertheless, the meaning of John 5:24 is as plain as any verse in the Bible, because the Lord clearly and lovingly labored to make it so (for our sakes).

As for your understanding of/comments about v24, all I can do, sadly, is guess at your meaning, because for whatever reason, you've chosen to hide it again.

You know what, as I think about it, telling us what you actually mean is impossible for you to do, because explaining what you just said about v24, for instance, would force your hand and cause you to reveal the meaning of your principle "mystery", and you shouldn't do what you clearly do not want to do, and/or are uncomfortable with, especially around a place like this.

Also, I'm a (semi) old dude , and I've learned when to fold'm over the years, so I'm giving up and saying "uncle" (for now anyway ).

--David

Maybe @timothyu just doesn't want to share his beliefs right now. Why badger him?

 

[friend of]

I fully believe Christ was speaking to all of His followers when he leveled the Great Comission. I'm imagining how much better the world would be if Christian evangelism was something that one could expect nearly every day in the street corner, marketplace, alleyway or subway station. If the taboo was gone and the love we have for Christ was allowed to flow free and unrestrained and uninhibited by any social pressure. Just imagine how many would come to know Christ.

 

[Dave-W]

Hi Mathinspiration, the "Great Commission" was given to us by Jesus after His Resurrection and shortly before His Ascension. Matthew 28's "make disciples" is the "Great Commission" proper, and baptizing/teaching/going is what we do to carry it out. You will also find it (in part) in the last Chapter of Mark and the first Chapter of Acts.

Matthew 28
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Mark 16
15 Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation".

Acts of the Apostles 1
8 "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”​

--David

A point has been made by one of the leaders in our "denomination" on these verses. The word "GO" is rendered as a command in english while it is a passive verb in the Greek. He suggested it should more properly be rendered "as you go." So the going is not the focus, while sharing the gospel, teaching and baptizing is.

 

[St_Worm2]

Maybe @timothyu just doesn't want to share his beliefs right now. Why badger him?

That’s a very good point. In fact, if you read the second to last paragraph in the post of mine you just quoted, you’ll find that it was finally my conclusion as well.

I appreciate the good advice/friendly admonishment brother, so thank you for that

—David

 

[Pioneer3mm]

What is the Great Commission? How do you accomplish it and why? What would be your recommendations to accomplish The Great Commission?

You asked, "How do you accomplish it? / recommendations.."
----
"Great Commission" - in the 21st century.
- It means many type of missions.
- In terms of priority & focus.
---
My interest is in "unreached & restricted" countries.
- Christian literature is much needed.
- Leaders/workers can use literature for "training, discipleship.."
- Giving/Equipping them with literature can be very helpful.
---
It is not easy to understand - for those who still have access for
Christian literature..especially in United States.

 

[Mountainmike]

Indeed! Romans 10:15 "how can they teach if they are not sent?"

I think the great commission is grossly misunderstood. The great commission is the offensive of Christianity. Jesus said to his apostles "go forth into all the world...". That was after three years of instruction. He did not say that to everyone, just as he did not give to everyone the authority to forgive sins, that was given only to the apostles.

We are all told to provide the defensive of Christianity:

1Pe 3:15 - ...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Most people are ill equipped to evangelize. It's best left to the evangelists.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

Indeed! Romans 10:15 "how can they teach if they are not sent?"

Amen. How can they preach the Gospel if they haven't been sent. If God doesn't send Gospel preachers, if God doesn't make men willing to prepare for the office, if God doesn't issue God's call through the Church, how can the office be supplied? It's plain that if God would have all to call upon God, God designed preachers to be sent to all, whose mercy-proclamation being heard, might be trusted, and, being trusted, might lead people to call on God and be saved.

 

[Ing Bee]

What is the Great Commission? How do you accomplish it and why? What would be your recommendations to accomplish The Great Commission?

My thoughts on this have been shifting in the last few years. Rather than make dogmatic statements, I will just add some observations and questions I have found helpful in forming my own convictions from the biblical texts.

1. Is the "Great Commission" for everyone or was it the specific task of the capital "A" apostles (including Paul)?
   
   
2. What insight do we gain about the nature of the Apostle's unique status by noting the requirements listed in Acts 1 for Judas's replacement?
   
   
3. Is the "Great Commission" (in quotes because this phrase is not actually in the biblical narratives) distinct from Peter's command to all individual believers to always be prepared to "give a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15)?
   
   
4. Jesus seems to indicate in Matthew 24 that "the end" that will come following the preaching of the gospel is the destruction of the Herod's temple.
   
   
5. Paul seems confident that the word HAD gone out to all the world (Romans 10:18).
   
   
6. Paul seems confident that he had completed his assignment of talking the gospel to the gentiles. (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
   
   
7. Though Paul trained and appointed many, he does not charge anyone with "completing his work" in the sense of missionary journeys. He DOES urge continued shepherding and equipping of the Christian communities AND the living a quality of life that demonstrates Jesus' good rule so as to draw people into relationship with God through the individual churches.
   
   
8. What is the relationship between early Christians "adorning the gospel" with the quality of their lives (especially in the midst of suffering and hostile opposition) and sharing of the gospel verbally?
   
   
9. Aware that "evangelists" are those given a particular gift in the church body for the equipping of the body, how ready should all believers be when someone asks them about the "hope that is within" them?
   
   
10. What activities characterize the spreading of the Kingdom of God in Acts and in the Epistles? Who tends to do the proclaiming? Do the "proclaimers" emphasize gospel-sharing and "going out into the world" in their letters to the churches or do they focus on loving, self-giving, other-benefitting community in their current setting?
    
    
11. Is there biblical grounds for responding to a strong impression to share the good news about Jesus with a stranger on a bus?
    
    
12. In listening to stories of people who have come to put their trust in Jesus, what are common elements and themes?
    
    
13. What is the role of local churches in "good news spreading" in their communities?
    
    
14. What is the role of the local churches in the lives of new believers and the curious who are being drawn to gospel-shaped community?
    
    
15. Who is the true source of life transformation and relationship with the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit?
    
    
16. What are the various motivations that have driven and shaped Christian expansion in the world? Are these all Christ-honoring reasons?
    
    
17. When we look at the decline of Christianity in places that have a deep history of a gospel presence, what factors within the Christian community at large are most responsible? How should this understanding adjust our thinking about proclamation?
    
    
18. How does understanding the "Kingdom of God" as the center of the gospel change our understanding of evangelism?
    

 

[Ing Bee]

I think the great commission is grossly misunderstood.

I agree...with that first sentence anyway.

We are all told to provide the defensive of Christianity:

1Pe 3:15 - ...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

I somewhat agree:

In the context of this passage, the quality of every Christian's life, especially in the Agape-empowered Christian community, and especially in the face of suffering and hostility WILL prompt people to ask "Why and how do you live this way? What is the reason for the hope you have?" It is at that point that EVERY disciple of Jesus is commanded to have a ready answer that is clear and complete (apologia=like a courtroom defense e.g. 1 Cor. 9:3). It is not a "defensive" move in the sense of merely holding ground or protecting oneself from attack, it is a reasoned bulwark for the "offensive" (in both senses of the word) actions of a life transformed by God's grace in Christ in the midst of a hostile world.

Most people are ill equipped to evangelize. It's best left to the evangelists.

I agree with the first sentence, but the job of the evangelists (spirit-gifted individuals) is to equip the saints for ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).

As with eschatological disputes, my conviction is that differences of view and emphasis on the nature of the "Great Commission" derive from convoluted readings and equivocation (e.g. "Evangelism = the "Great Commission".)

 

[Jonaitis]

What is the Great Commission?

It is the main task of the Church while on earth until the return of Christ, which is:

1. Preach the gospel to all people.
2. Make disciples from all nations.
3. Teach and train all within to become mature in the faith and to live godly.

A healthy church will be doing just this, faithfully and consistently.

 

[timothyu]

Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

[Alithis]

I think the great commission is grossly misunderstood. The great commission is the offensive of Christianity. Jesus said to his apostles "go forth into all the world...". That was after three years of instruction. He did not say that to everyone, just as he did not give to everyone the authority to forgive sins, that was given only to the apostles.

We are all told to provide the defensive of Christianity:

1Pe 3:15 - ...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Most people are ill equipped to evangelize. It's best left to the evangelists.

The ministry of reconciliation is given to all believers... Evangalists ,as the others teachers prophets etc are given for equipping the body to the work. Not for doing the work while the rest watch.
Jesus gave the great comission to ALL
Because he commanded them what to do ..then he commanded them to teach the new disciples to observe All he had commanded the apostles.
Meaning they are then to also go and do what the apostles did

Heal the sick
Preach the Gospel
Raise the dead
Drive out devils
Baptize in Jesus name and make more disciples.
All off us are to do so.

The great comission begins with the word GO.

Go out of our comfort zone due to repuration of self and speak the Gospel to everyone everywhere .
Its not the job of the few...
An evangalists job is to teach the body how to do as they do so for example.

 

[HTacianas]

The ministry of reconciliation is given to all believers... Evangalists ,as the others teachers prophets etc are given for equipping the body to the work. Not for doing the work while the rest watch.
Jesus gave the great comission to ALL
Because he commanded them what to do ..then he commanded them to teach the new disciples to observe All he had commanded the apostles.
Meaning they are then to also go and do what the apostles did

Heal the sick
Preach the Gospel
Raise the dead
Drive out devils
Baptize in Jesus name and make more disciples.
All off us are to do so.

The great comission begins with the word GO.

Go out of our comfort zone due to repuration of self and speak the Gospel to everyone everywhere .
Its not the job of the few...
An evangalists job is to teach the body how to do as they do so for example.

I don't think it is a stretch here to as you if you are routinely in the habit of forgiving people's sins. Jesus said to his apostles:

Jhn 20:23 “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Is that something you also do?

 

[timothyu]

Meaning they are then to also go and do what the apostles did

Yet later on the church became a business and it's employees sent to church run schools to learn the art healing, preaching etc. Monopolizing the system.

 

[Alithis]

I don't think it is a stretch here to as you if you are routinely in the habit of forgiving people's sins. Jesus said to his apostles:

Jhn 20:23 “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Is that something you also do?

that relates to what i said how exactly ?
you implied evangelism is for the few -i was correcting you

 

[Alithis]

Yet later on the church became a business and it's employees sent to church run schools to learn the art healing, preaching etc. Monopolizing the system.

they did .. they turned the bride into a business - aka prostitution.
and is why i have nothing to do with that system

 

[HTacianas]

that relates to what i said how exactly ?
you implied evangelism is for the few -i was correcting you

Forgiving people's sins is one of the authorities Jesus gave to his apostles as part of the great commission. Now it seems that you have taken the great commission upon yourself and I just want to clarify what parts of that commission you perform.

How many people have you baptized? Just so you know, I have never baptized anyone and have no plans to.

 

[JosephZ]

What is the Great Commission? How do you accomplish it and why? What would be your recommendations to accomplish The Great Commission?

In my opinion there seems to be enough evidence found in scripture to come to the conclusion that the "Great Commission" found in the gospels was accomplished during the lifetime of the Apostles.

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:20)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. (Romans 1:8)

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” (Romans 10:18)

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ... ...according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;” (Romans 16:25-26)

“If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:23)

“(the Gospel) which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.” (Colossians 1:6)

It's important to remember that each book found in the Bible was written to a specific audience, who were facing specific circumstances, at a specific point in time. The Bible wasn't written to Christians living in the year 2019, but it was written for us in 2019. The instructions given by Jesus during His earthly ministry were to specific disciples at a specific time for a specific purpose. That doesn't mean that we aren't supposed to share the gospel and the love of Christ today. We are still to proclaim the "Good News" where ever God may lead us to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We should also to try and imitate Jesus in our day to day lives and walk as children of Light in hopes of leading others to salvation which is only found in Him. The best way to witness to the world is to be a living example of what it means to be a member of the Body of Christ and this in my opinion should be the mission of the church today.

 

[Devin Newsome]

What is the Great Commission? How do you accomplish it and why? What would be your recommendations to accomplish The Great Commission?

The “great commission” was given to the apostles. It’s not our responsibility to accomplish it.