The Great Commission(s)

The Great Commission(s)
By Dr. Bob Munson
Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary
Bukal Life Care

Commission
The word “Commission” means “Entrust.”
This is a good word. The key point is not
that so much that Christ has commanded
us to do it, but He has entrusted us to
continue what He already started.

How Many “Great Commissions”?
 The “Great Commission” is written down
several times in the New Testament. Several
times the same event is described by the
Gospel writers.
 For the purpose of this presentation, SIX
passages will be referred to.

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age."

Mark 16:15-16
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world
and preach the good news to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will
be saved, but whoever does not believe
will be condemned. “

Luke 24:46-47
46 He told them, "This is what is written: The
Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on
the third day, 47 and repentance and
forgiveness of sins will be preached in his
name to all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem.

John 20:21
After Jesus had greeted them again,
he said, "I am sending you, just as
the Father has sent me."

Acts 1:7-8
But the Holy Spirit will come upon you
and give you power. Then you will tell
everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all
Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in
the world."

Acts 26:16-18
16`Now get up and stand on your feet. I have
appeared to you to appoint you as a servant
and as a witness of what you have seen of me
and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you
from your own people and from the Gentiles. I
am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes
and turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan to God, so that they may
receive forgiveness of sins and a place among
those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

Looking at these passages:
Each one emphasizes something different: For
example, the Matthew passage focuses on the
process. John focuses on model. Acts 1
focuses on the direction. And so forth.
Although these passages are not necessarily
there to be combined, a nice exercise is to
synthesize these passages into a single
sentence.

Synthesis Exercise
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age." /// 15 He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned. “ /// 46 He told them, "This is what is
written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. /// After Jesus had greeted them
again, he said, "I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me." ///
But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will
tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and
everywhere in the world." /// 16`Now get up and stand on your feet. I
have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of
what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you
from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and
a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

My Version
I have sent you, empowered by the
Holy Spirit, to be witnesses of me
everywhere. You will make new
disciples, preaching the good news
of repentance, forgiveness of sin,
and release from Satan’s control.

Trinitarian Look at the Great
Commission(s)
We will look at 4 of the GC passages:
 Matthew
 Luke
 John
 Acts 1
(We will look at roles of the members of the
Trinity)

“All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them
to observe everything I have commanded
you. And remember, I am with you always,
to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

“This is what is written, the Messiah would suffer
and rise from the dead the third day, and
repentance for forgiveness of sins would be
proclaimed in His name to all the nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of
these things. And look, I am sending you what
my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city
until you are empowered from on high.” Luke
24:46-49

“Peace to you! As the Father has
sent Me. I also send you. Receive
the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-23

“It is not for you to know times or periods that the
Father has set by His own authority. But you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in
Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8

Looking at these passages, consider the
prominence of each member of the
Godhead…
 God the Father: 1 in Matthew, 1 in Luke, 1 in
John, and 2 in Acts
 God the Son: 4 in Matthew, 3 in Luke, 2 in
John, and 1 in Acts
 God the Holy Spirit: 1 in Matthew, 1 in Luke, 1
in John, and 1 in Acts

Now, suppose one combines these points into a
Great Commission relating each of us to the
Godhead. We might get something like this:
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, promised by the Father, and
sent by the Son
Made confident by presence of the Son, sent by the Father
Accepting our calling from the Son to go into the world.
Giving the message of God to others
Being witnesses of Christ
Baptizing believers in the name of the Triune God
Training up people in the teachings of Christ
Doing all of this until the end, as decreed by the Father
With Christ always with us

The Great Commission(s)

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