CHRIST’S COMMAND

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

     Jesus was about to leave his disciples and here was giving them some final instructions.  This is referred to as The Great Commission.  When people ask what God’s will for them is I tell them there is a general will that applies to every Christian’s life and a personal will based on the gifts and talents the Lord has given them. The Great Commission would be considered the general will of God for all believers.   

     Let’s take note of several important points within these verses: 1) since God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent*, Christ is over all things, meaning He has authority over all things in creation; 2) His command to go into the entire world to share that which they were taught is the primary reason for evangelism and missions, which still takes place today and 3) the reason ministers baptize in the name of each member of the Trinity is because they are One and the one being baptized belongs to God.  The statement to teach the new believers to obey tells us that Jesus not only taught the twelve disciples what to believe but also how to obey what they were taught. 

     It’s no different for us today.  Being a true believer in Christ comes in the obeying of God’s teachings.  That is how we expand our faith and allow our trust in Him to grow.  We must know His teachings before we can obey them.  That is what being a Christian is, not just saying we believe in the Lord, but also allowing the Holy Spirit of God to radically alter your path in this life.

     Since no one can actually see God it may seem difficult at times to believe He is with us, especially in hard times.  That may be why Christ made sure His followers knew that Immanuel (Matthew 1:23) signified His involvement with His children.  Immanuel means God with us and He is, always and for all time.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible.

* Knows all things that can be known, is all places at one time by His spirit and is all-powerful, as in nothing is more powerful than He is.