by Ps. Sibi George-22nd July
Mat 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 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,
20 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.
This is called the Great commission that Jesus commanded each of his disciples. There are 3 parts –
- Go to all nations
- Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
- Teach them to observe all things that was commanded
Jesus also gave a 2 fold promise –
- “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth”
- “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Most of us think that preaching the gospel to the people is evangelism and when accomplished, one’s assignment is complete. However, the Great Commission says otherwise. It involves baptizing & teaching the masses.
Luke 24:44-48
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And you are witnesses of these things.
The Great commission that Jesus gave can be called – Witnessing. Hence, we witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, what is the true & full gospel? Do we believe it?
Mark 16:15-18
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Jesus promised the following when He commissioned the disciples to preach –
These signs shall follow he who believes –
- Cast out demons
- Speak with new tongues
- Take up serpents
- Drink deadly and will not hurt them
- Lay hands on the sick & they will recover
The list seems like the things that Jesus would have done when on earth. Whereas, do we have the faith to believe that it can be accomplished through us?
One thing is for sure. It’s not us who do “these signs” but Jesus through us. This means, when we go and preach the Gospel, God WILL follow His message with Signs & Wonders.
Are we ready to believe and head out?
Now, we know from scripture that God has our back and we can preach the Gospel. So what is the gospel?
1 Cor 15:1-8
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
Acts 10:34-43
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
The above 2 passages cumulatively taken, comprises of the gospel in its entirety.
- Jesus was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit & Power, went about doing good & healing all who were oppressed by the devil
- Jesus’ arrival was proclaimed & was fulfilled which was written in the Law, Prophets & Psalms.
- Jesus died according to the scriptures, was buried and rose again according to the scriptures.
- Jesus was seen by more than 500 people at once and we are His witness
- Jesus is coming back as He is ordained by God to Judge the living & the dead.
- Anyone who believes in Jesus will receive remission of sins.
