Read Mat 28:16-20 — The Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mat 28:19) “Go… teach… baptising.” These words are Christ’s great commission to all His followers of every generation.
They state the goal, responsibility and commissioning of the church’s missionary task.
• The church is to go into the entire world and preach the gospel to all people according to the NT revelation of Christ and the apostles (see Eph. 2:20). This task includes the primary responsibility of sending missionaries into every nation (Acts 13:1-4).
• The preaching of the gospel is centred on “repentance and remission (forgiveness) of sins” (Luke 24:47), the promise of receiving “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38) and the exhortation to separate from this corrupt generation (Acts 2:40), while waiting for the return of Jesus from heaven (Acts 3:19-20; 1Thes 1:10).
• The purpose is to make disciples, not just converts, who will observe Christ’s commands. This is the only direct imperative in this passage. Christ does not intend that evangelism and missionary witness result only in conversion decisions. Spiritual energies must not be concentrated in merely enlarging church membership, but in making disciples who separate themselves from the world, observe the commands of Christ and follow Him with all their hearts, minds and wills (cf. John 8:31).
• Furthermore, note that Christ commands us to concentrate on reaching lost men and women, not on Christianising society or taking over the world. Those who believe must come out of the current evil world system and be separated from its immorality (Rom. 13:12; 2 Cor. 6:14) while exposing its evil (Eph. 5:11)
• Those who believe in Christ and the gospel are to be baptised with water. This represents their covenant pledge to renounce immorality, the world and their own sinful nature and to unreservedly commit themselves to Christ and His kingdom purposes (see Acts 22:16). Baptism symbolises submission to Christ.
• Christ will be with His obedient followers in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (cf. v. 20; 1:23; 18:20). They are to go to all nations and witness only after they are “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49; see Acts 1:8). 28:19 “Teach all nations,” mathēteusate. The command to make disciples is the only command in the Great Commission. The word go could be translated “as you are going.” Jesus understood that the disciples would go for many reasons. Wherever they went they were to make disciples. Disciple means “learner.” Jesus had been their teacher; now the Holy Spirit would teach them. A true disciple delights in studying God’s word and putting it into practice.
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