Sunday, March 11, 2007

3-11-07 The Great Commission "Matthew 28:16-20"

Memory Verse: Matthew 28:19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 28:18-20 is known as the Great Commission. Three words leap out at the reader considering verse nineteen: "Go," "teach," and "baptize."

Thousands have left home and fortune to serve the Lord on mission fields around the world because of the message in these verses. Sincere Christians have witnessed in untold numbers of neighborhoods in obedience to the "Go" of the Great Commission.

And what is the purpose of all this going? It is to teach people of all nations the Gospel of Christ, the good news that He died for sinners on the cross, that He rose again and that He invites all to come to Him for salvation.

To whom have you gone with that message?

After conversion, people are to be baptized. Commenting on this verse in his book "The King Of The Jews," Dr. John R. Rice says, "Baptism is to be for converts all through the ages. There aer those who teach that baptism was for Jews only. Others teach that baptism was to last only during a 'transition period.' There is nothing in the Bible to indicate anything of the kind. In fact, the Saviour plainly commands that as long as people are to be converted, they are to be baptized."

He continues: "Christian, do you yourself try to follow the New Testament standard of observing all things whatever Christ commanded His apostles? Let us be satisfied with nothing less than an earnest attempt to follow the pattern given the apostles and really be New Testament Christians."

Have you obeyed the Great Commission?

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