The Great Commission and the Church

The Church has many functions. On the priorities of 1) God, 2) others, and 3) self, we can unfold its many functions. Its highest function is worship, since God is the ultimate meaning and purpose behind all existence. Towards itself, it has the important functions of discipleship and fellowship. Towards others, it not only has service but, much more importantly, it has the mission of evangelism, sharing the good news of the Lordship of Jesus Christ to the world.

The Great Commission

The Great Commission, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 28:18-20, is one of the most significant mandates in Christian theology. It reads: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This charge, given by Jesus to his disciples, encapsulates the core mission of the church: to spread the gospel to all corners of the world and make disciples of every people.

From the earliest days of the Church, the Great Commission has been seen as a foundational directive. It encapsulates the final instructions of Jesus to his followers, emphasizing the global scope and eternal significance of the Christian message.

Evangelism

At the heart of the Great Commission is the call for evangelism. Evangelism is about proclaiming and sharing the good news. The good news is that “Our God reigns” (Mark 1:14-15). The good news is that Jesus is Lord and that he rules over all (Rom. 1:1-4). The good news is that Christ died for our sins and rose victoriously, defeating death (1 Cor. 15:1-8). “If we confess with our mouths that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved” from the wrath of God that is to come (Rom. 10:9). Paul was not ashamed of this good news, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith (Rom. 1:16).

The church is to proclaim this gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone. Interestingly, some see this sharing of the good news as merely getting people “in the door,” so to speak. But the “long tail” of the Great Commission is “teaching them to observe everything I have commanded.” The actual foundational verb of the sentence is to “make disciples,” and you don’t make disciples simply by having someone read a prayer and dunking them in water. Grammatically, the words “go,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” all hang on the main verb, “make disciples.”

To be sure, the Great Commission involves going and baptizing. It involves playing a key, God-ordained role in bringing others to faith. “How will they hear without a preacher,” Paul muses in Romans 10:14. Clearly, we must go. Clearly, we must inform others of the Lordship of Christ and the opportunity for salvation. Clearly, we are to lead others across the threshold of faith and see them baptized into the people of God, an outward sign of the cleansing of their sins.

The instruction to reach “all nations” or “all peoples” underscores the universality of the Gospel. The church is to transcend cultural, racial, and national boundaries. The message of Jesus is for everyone, everywhere. The church, at its core, is missional. Every believer, not just official missionaries or ministers, is called to be an ambassador for Christ. Sharing the gospel is not just a program or an event but an inherent part of our identity as Christians. To reach all nations, the church must understand and engage with various cultures, languages, and worldviews. This demands cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and a commitment to understanding people where they are.

Tools for Evangelism

There are different tools you can use to lead someone across the threshold of faith (you might also consult the “Sharing Your Faith” micro-course on this platform.) One tool is called the “Romans Road,” which leads a person through the rationale for needing Christ. These four stops on the road are:

• Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and are lacking the glory of God.”
• Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Romans 5:8: “God demonstrates his love toward us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.”
• Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Another tool is the mnemonic: “repent, believe, confess, receive.” There are any number of verses that you can use to present this process of going from death to life:

• Repent: “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) 
• Believe: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
• Confess: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)
• Receive: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12)

Yet, as mentioned above, the Great Commission goes far beyond getting people in the door. It is a call to discipleship. This implies a deeper, ongoing, long-term relationship where new believers are nurtured, taught, and equipped to live out their faith and in turn, disciple others. The Church is entrusted with the teachings of Jesus and all of Scripture. We are responsible to ensure that these are taught accurately and effectively.

The reference to baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit not only underscores the importance of baptism as an outward sign of an inward change but also emphasizes the Trinitarian nature of God in Christian belief. At the same time, Jesus assures his followers of his constant presence. This promise of continual support and guidance has been a source of comfort and motivation for believers throughout the ages.

Challenges and Opportunities

The path to fulfilling the Great Commission hasn’t been without challenges. In today’s globalized yet fragmented world, there are unique barriers and opportunities:

• Religious Pluralism: In a world with countless different beliefs and worldviews, the church must navigate how to proclaim the exclusivity of Christ while respecting and understanding other beliefs.
• Technological Advancements: Technology offers unprecedented opportunities for spreading the gospel. From online sermons to virtual reality church services, the digital age presents innovative methods for evangelism and discipleship.
• Persecution and Opposition: In many parts of the world, proclaiming the Christian faith is met with hostility, persecution, or even death. This calls for courage, wisdom, and often, a price to pay for obedience to the Commission.

Conclusion

The Great Commission is not merely an ancient directive but the enduring heart and soul of the Church’s mission. It reminds us of our primary purpose and responsibility to the world: to make the good news of the kingship of Christ known and give everyone the opportunity to become part of it. This good news entails the power of God leading to salvation to everyone who has faith. In a changing and challenging global landscape, our commitment to this Commission is part of our faithfulness to Jesus.