This article was written by my dear friend and brother in Christ, Tony Kettle.
It is published with his permission as a guest writer on this blog.
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When I was called up for service in the former Rhodesian Army during the 1970s, I was determined to gain a commission – to become an officer, with all the prestige and status that accompanied it. So, I threw all my energy into the situation, doing all the right things, and, five and a half years later, after having progressively risen through the ranks, I was demobilised as a captain.
However, that all paled into insignificance when I became a Christian and, as a “soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3-4), I gained a better 'commission' – THE GREAT COMMISSION. Unlike my previous endeavours, though, this time there was no pride, no prestige, no status involved – just a humble desire to serve our 'Commander-in-Chief' – the Lord Jesus Christ!
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV)
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
So, what is the Great Commission? It was the final command given by Jesus before His Ascension to Heaven (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 14:16-24; Acts 1:8). The Great Commission was not just for the disciples who Jesus was speaking to at the time – it is given to all believers down through the ages. Essentially, it involves 'evangelism' (derived from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “good news”) and I will now lay a basic 'platform' to explain the subject further.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
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,
Despite any attempts by lawmakers, we cannot effectively legislate righteousness. In other words, it is futile to pass a law with the object of making people live according to the standards, attitudes and values enshrined in the scriptures. Biblical righteousness cannot be achieved by this approach.
Such was the basic problem with the Mosaic Law. It provided a framework for God's covenant people to embrace as a benchmark for godly living – but, because of the fallen human nature, they could not effectively hold fast to it. All it accomplished was, at best, a partial adherence to its provisions, based on fear of the consequences arising from non-compliance.
Nevertheless, it did not change the hearts of people. True righteousness can only become a reality in people's lives through the influence of the Holy Spirit working in their hearts and bringing about genuine repentance (John 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 12:3).
John 17:7-15 (ESV)
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV)
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
And here's the thing, it is not OUR righteousness – we become “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV).
Romans 3:22 (ESV)
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
1 Corinthians 1:30 (ESV)
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
This is why evangelism is so important. It is the 'tool' which God has instituted whereby the Holy Spirit can touch the hearts of people, using Christ's message of the Gospel of the Kingdom (Romans 10:13-17). Like any 'tool', it needs to be used.
Romans 10:13-17 (ESV)
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Evangelism, by definition, is the spreading of the Christian Gospel by public preaching or personal witness. Therefore, the original (and current) basic 'vehicle' for conveying the message of the Gospel was and is the spoken word.
Jesus used the example of “seeds” in order to describe the spoken word of the Gospel and this emerges powerfully in the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20). The analogy of the different kinds of soil depicted clearly shows that the “seeds” of the Gospel, when 'sown', will fall upon diverse heart attitudes, some positive, some negative. You could virtually call this a 'shotgun' approach. The response to these “seeds”, therefore, is a personal choice and will depend on the kind of heart attitude which exists in the person concerned.
It has been stated, “God is at work in the world, and He wants you to join Him. This assignment is called your mission, and it is different from your ministry. Your ministry is your service to believers in the Body of Christ, while your mission is your service to unbelievers in the world. God created you for both.”
Our English word “mission” comes from the Latin word for “sending.” Being a Christian includes being sent into the world as a representative of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John 20:21 NKJV).
John 17:18 (ESV)
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Acts 20:24 (ESV)
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course (mission) and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
This is not the sole responsibility of 'professional' preachers, as some people seem to think. Sure, there are believers who are anointed and equipped with the ministry gift of an evangelist (Ephesians 4:11) – but each one of us, as individuals, has been given the obligation to take the Gospel to unbelievers – to “sow” the “seed” of the Word of Faith into the 'soil' of their hearts.
This precious “seed” needs to be 'planted' in the hearts of all who have not committed their lives to Jesus – be they our families, neighbours, work colleagues, schoolmates, as well as others in our community, our nation – and the rest of the world. Being a “seed-sower” is, therefore, the essence of the Great Commission.
“This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.”
2 Corinthians 5:19 (ESV)
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
The KJV calls it the “word of reconciliation” and verse 18 in the KJV indicates that each one of us has been given “the ministry of reconciliation” - reconciling others to God.
Consequently, let us fully embrace the whole concept of evangelism – and become “sowers” for the Kingdom!
Which brings me to another point:
Psalm 40:9-10 ESV - emphasis added
“I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great CONGREGATION; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great CONGREGATION.”
The English word “congregation” is derived from the Hebrew word qahal, which means “assembly.” So, David is saying to God that he has declared the Good News of God’s Salvation to the Israelites - God’s COVENANT people. It is not categorically known what David’s status was when he wrote Psalm 40 but it is likely to have been written either during the beginning of his reign as King of Israel, or during one of his exiles in the wilderness.
While it is clear that believers today are required to declare the Good News of God’s Salvation to unbelievers - what about other believers? Are we ministering the Gospel - the Word of God - to our fellow believers - God’s present-day COVENANT people - in our churches and home groups? Despite what many Christians traditionally think, this is not a duty for church leaders only:
1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV - emphasis added
“What then, brothers? When you come together, EACH ONE has a hymn, a LESSON, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”
Therefore, in answer to those Christians who hold the view that ministering the Gospel - the Word of God - to other believers is the job of church leaders only, even if David was reigning as King when he wrote Psalm 40, he was NOT the High Priest or one of the subordinate priests (equivalent of modern-day church leadership). On the other hand, if he was hiding from King Saul in the wilderness at the time, he occupied NO official position of leadership of any kind.
Pursuing the point further, Revelation 1:6 (NKJV) shows us that Christ has made ALL believers to be “kings and priests”, so I believe this emerges as a ‘play on words’ in terms of the comments above, and supports my assertion that the preaching/teaching of the Gospel - the Word of God - to ‘ordinary’ Christians (i.e. the so-called ‘laity’) is the responsibility of ALL believers regardless of status.
Revelation 1:6 (NKJV)
and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- Believers also need to hear the Gospel - the Word of God - for the reason below:
Romans 10:17 AMP - emphasis added
“So FAITH comes from HEARING [what is told], and what is HEARD comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.”
Believers need to hear, again and again, the Gospel - the Word of God - because it maintains - reinforces - FAITH and is a reminder of our COVENANT with God.
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus the Name above all names!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!
