Go Into All The World

Introduction:

Just before he ascended back to heaven, Jesus had one final instruction to impart to his disciples. He gave them his plan for spreading the gospel, good news, and making more disciples. This Final instruction, which Jesus gave his disciples before leaving earth and returning to heaven, is what is commonly called the Great Commission.

The text for our lesson today is Matthew 28:16-20.

Body:

1.  Exegesis of the text:

·  Verses 16 and 17:

Jesus had left Jerusalem and gone to Galilee. This was possibly the time when over 500 brethren saw him at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Some doubted, almost certainly not referring to the apostles. The tense of the verb doubted in Greek suggests they did not continue to doubt. It was only momentary, for a short while.

·  Verse 18:

Jesus asserts he has” all authority." This means his will and commands must be submitted to and obeyed by all. Before he tells his apostles to go teach all the nations, he shows his authority over them: “Go tell my subjects my laws." His rule extends over the entire world (Matthew 25:31, 32).

He has this power and authority because he is faithful and obedient as the Son of God. Notice carefully Romans 1: 4 and Philippians 2: 8, 9.

Jesus is now reigning as our king in heaven, Hebrews 1: 8.

·  Verses 19 and 20:

“Go”—We are not told to wait for the world to come to us. We must take the gospel to the world. We can be aggressive because the authority of Christ is behind it. If we understood this better, maybe we would not be so timid and shy and maybe even short-sighted in our efforts to evangelize the world!

The instruction to spread the gospel is in the imperative mood in Greek, so it is a command. It's as much a command as baptism. If those who refuse to be baptized will not be saved, what about those who refuse to evangelize?

“Make disciples”

A disciple is a learner, John 6: 44, 45. Just knowing, though, does not make someone a disciple. Following is essential, putting it into practice, Luke 9:23.” “Make disciples” is the main or leading verb. “Baptizing" and “teaching” are present tense participles. This means they are to take place at the same time as the main verb. Thus, baptizing and teaching describe how disciples are made.

2.  baptism:

·  Baptism is not for infants. Baptism subjects must have the mental capacities to accept and understand the teaching of Christ.

·  Baptism is immersion, dipping, plunging, or burial. The idea is complete submersion, which is in accordance with Paul's description of baptism as a burial in Romans 6:4.

·  Baptism is into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  “Into” is more accurate than “in”.  We learn from other passages, such as Acts 2: 38, that baptism is to be in the name of Jesus Christ- by his authority. Our text informs us of another vital part of baptism- it is into the name of the Godhead. The baptized person is immersed in a union with all the members of the Godhead. The baptized individual becomes a possession of God, 1 Peter 2: 9, and comes under the control of God- dedicated to him. This special relationship with God begins at the point of baptism, Galatians 3: 26, 27.

3.  Teaching:

·  Teaching must occur both before and after baptism. The new Christian must understand their need for forgiveness and salvation and God's plan of redemption for mankind. The Christian must learn God's laws and his duties as a Child of God, one of which is to carry out the Great Commission.

4.  Applications:

·  A farmer was asked the question, when do you go to work, In the mornings or in the in the afternoon?  The farmer answered, when I wake up, It's all around me!

·  The mission field is all around us, mark 16: 15.  As you go, wherever you find yourself, bears your mission field.

·  If we ever lose faith in the gospel it's God's power to save, our church buildings will soon be empty. If we forget about our mission which is telling others the good news, turn inward and focus on meeting our so-called minimal obligations, we will become an irrelevance in our world.

5.  Invitation:

·  Matthew 28:18-20, “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.

 

 

 

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Sermon prepared by Bobby Stafford

January 26, 2020

Prepared by Bobby Stafford

The church of Christ at Granby, MO

Located at
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109

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