In Matthew’s gospel, the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples are what Christians call “The Great Commission.”
This is the mission that Yeshua commissioned His disciples to do in order to continue His work: expanding the Kingdom of Heaven/ God on earth.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Many times what is (or what I’ve) heard from the pulpit is:
- “GO. Make disciples. GO! Evangelize!
(My website blog is set to a standard size front. “Make disciples” should be tiny! A mere whisper! Certainly not something to be emphasized or to be equipped for.)
- “Lead as many people in the “Sinner’s Prayer as you possibly can.”
- “Save as many souls as you can; so that when you get to heaven, you can see a great crowd of those you personally saved from hell.”
But, wait!
Does Jesus say, “Go, (without being taught, equipped, empowered)”?
Does Jesus say, “Convert people by the ‘Sinner’s’ Prayer’ (which won’t be written until the late 1950s by Bill Bright)”?
“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”
Does Jesus say, “Your status and reward in heaven will be based on the number of ‘souls you save’?”
Does Jesus even say, “teaching them all that I commanded you”?
Read it again!
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.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
He says that His disciples are to be “teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”
Does Jesus say, “teaching them all of My commands” without intending for His commands to be obeyed?
Does Following Jesus Require “Works”?
Does following Yeshua include doing, i.e., obeying (actions of obedience) what He says to do?
Please, be aware, I am not saying that these “works” are the same as “works to gain salvation.” Salvation is by receiving the gift through faith. It is not earned by human efforts.
Rather, these “works” are as a response, our response, to following Jesus.
Obey or Observe?
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NASB
Note that the NIV, ESV, and others use “obey.”
However, the word “obey” in Greek is peitharxéō.
peitharxéō3980 (from peíthō3982, ” persuade” and arxē746, “what comes first“) – properly, persuaded of what must come first, i.e. what has priority (the higher authority).
But, the NASB, and some others, use “observe.”
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NASB
The Greek word actually used in this passage is tēréō.
tēréō5083 (from tēros, “a guard”) – properly, maintain (preserve); (figuratively) spiritually guard (watch), keep intact.
So, I think, perhaps a more amplified construction of Matthew 28:20 might be:
“teaching them to maintain the authority of, preserve the integrity of, guard against cultural syncretism and dilution of, to keep on keeping on doing the fullness of all that I commanded you.”
So our response, our “doing,” is, in my words:
“Make disciples, by observing as His command and obeying as the commission of Jesus, by going to all peoples; baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; teaching them all My commandments. And, I, Yeshua, am with you always, as long there is life on earth.”
The Great Commission: The Model of the Disciples
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost:
The sermon of Peter, given after receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Shavuot, Feast of Booths), exemplifies this model: “going about your life”; speaking the truth of Yeshua “teaching”; people receiving the truth; and being baptized.
- The disciples “were together in one place” (going about life).
- Peter said to them (teaching)
- [T]hose who had received his word were baptized (baptism)
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they [the disciples] were all together in one place.
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they [“devout men from every nation under heaven”] heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:1, 36-41 NASB
Philip and the Samaritans:
- Philip was one of the ones who were “scattered went about preaching” (as he was going in his travel to Samaria).
- Philip “proclaimed” (taught) the truth about Christ.
- The Samaritans believed, and were baptized (baptism).
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. Acts 8:4,5,12 NASB
Philip and the Eunuch:
- Later, as Philip was on his way back to Jerusalem, an angel of the Lord told him to “go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Also, “Go up and join this chariot” (going).
- He then “preached Jesus to him” (taught).
- The Eunuch believed and was baptized (baptism).
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:35-39 NASB
Peter and the Gentiles
- Cornelius, the centurion, sent word to Simon Peter to invite him to come to Caesarea. Peter, lead by a vision, “got up and went away with them” to Caesarea (going, led by the Spirit).
- When there, “opening his mouth,” he began to speak to them about Jesus (teaching).
- Then, seeing the evidence of the Holy Spirit, Peter “ordered them to be baptized” (baptism).
23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. Acts 10:23-24, 34-35,44-48 NASB
The words of Paul drew many to believe and be baptized.
Paul and Lydia, a European
- Paul, on his second missionary journey, traveled through Syria, Cilicia, Derby, Lystra, the Phrygian and Galatian region, by Mysia, to Troas, Samothrace, Neopolis, to Philippi in Macedonia (going).
- While there, “on the Sabbath day we went … and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled” (teaching).
- Lydia, from Thyatira, believed, and “she and her household [were] baptized” (baptism)
12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Acts 16:12 -15 NASB
Paul and the Jailer
- While Paul and his companions were staying with Lydia (while they were going), they were taken before the chief magistrates, beaten, and imprisoned.
- In the prison, they “were praying and singing hymns of praise to God” (teaching). There was an earthquake, but none of the prisoners escaped.
- The jailer, who had heard them praying and singing, asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul responded with more teaching. Then jailer “was baptized, he and all his household” (baptism).
29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. Acts 16:29-34 NASB
Paul and the Corinthians
- Paul “left Athens and went to Corinth” (going).
- In Corinth, Paul stayed with Aquila and Priscilla. He “began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ” (teaching). The Jews resisted, so Paul began to go only to the Gentiles.
- In the house of Justus, next door to the synagogue, “many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized” (teaching and baptism).
1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. Acts 18:1-8 NASB
The Distortion of the Great Commission
The discipleship model used by the disciples (and the early church) followed the directions given by Yeshua in Matthew 28:18-20 – Make disciples by going, baptizing, teaching.
This model is not the process often used today.
Mere Conversion
The call heard most often from the pulpit today is for conversion, not discipleship.
However, this is not supported in the Bible.
There is no biblical indication of a “streamlined” Commission that consists in merely preaching a “simple” Gospel and then allowing converts to decide for themselves into “the church of their choice.”
How Should Christians Fulfill the Great Commission? by Dr. Ron J. Bigalke
No one in the Bible ever prayed for their initial salvation. They did however believe, repent, confess Jesus and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins.
The Sinner’s Prayer: “Modern apostasy and false teaching that prevents men from being saved.” by Steven Francis Staten
Never in the Bible, particularly Paul’s epistles, do we read about someone praying in order to be saved.
… there is nothing about people saying a sinner’s prayer to be saved. Paul did not say, “Say the sinner’s prayer, and thou shalt be saved.”
Is the “Sinner’s Prayer’ Really Necessary? by Shawn Brasseaux
There is not a single verse or passage of Scripture, whether expressed in a command from Christ or one of the New Testament writers, or expressed by example in one of the many New Testament narrative passages, that gives any credence to the belief that the “sinner’s prayer” is biblical. It is simply not in the Bible.
Closing the Deal: An Unbiblical Component of Modern Evangelism by Tony Miano
Today, hundreds of millions hold to a belief system and salvation practice that no one had ever held until relatively recently. The notion that one can pray Jesus into his or her heart and that baptism is merely an outward sign are actually late developments. The prayer itself dates to the Billy Sunday era; however, the basis for talking in prayer for salvation goes back a few hundred years.
The idea that prayer was at the end of the process had been loosely associated with conversion in the 1700s. By the late 1800s it was standard technique for ‘receiving Christ’ as Moody’s influence spread across both the United States and the United Kingdom. This was where a systematic Sinner’s Prayer began, but was not called as such until the time of Billy Sunday.
After fire and brimstone sermons, heavy moralistic messages with political overtones, and humorous if not outlandish behavior, salvation was offered. Often it was associated with a prayer, and at other times a person was told they were saved because they simply walked down his tabernacle’s “sawdust trail” to the front where he was standing. In time people were told they were saved because they publicly shook Sunday’s hand, acknowledging that they would follow Christ.
The Sinner’s Prayer by Steven Francis Staten
With such an easy entry into the salvation of Christ, it’s not hard to see why conversion is the often-used way both clergy and congregation approach the spread of the Christian religion.
With such an easy entry into the salvation of Christ, it’s not hard to see why many church leaders and clergy seek quantity instead of quality.
Church leaders and clergy forever call for greater numbers of the “salvation of souls”; yet they assert that these new-born Christians are to quickly learn to “feed themselves.”
This emphasis on “conversion” is to the detriment of “discipleship.”
Commonly, “discipleship” is merely an added program, not a way of life, a way of life in the Kingdom in the here and now.
Often, “discipleship” is reduced to poorly- (or un-) trained “facilitators” (not disciple-makers) to oversee a small group in a program that is neither truly Intentional nor deeply Relational.
The Business Model of Christianity
Other churches promote a “Business Model” of Christianity.
From my personal conversation with Glenn Ware:
Their message, more often implicit than explicit, focuses on a short-term “sales” mindset, based on getting converts to “say the magic words of the ‘sinner’s prayer.’ ”
These churches tend to encourage bringing “souls” to salvation (fire insurance) and/or “bodies (with their money) to the building.
Of course, this also leads to “Works” = Rewards mentality.
After all, the main reason to close the most deals is to get the big bonuses.!
I am often asked, “How do you close the deal?“
The question itself is a tragic and unbiblical byproduct of one of American Evangelicalism’s most cherished traditions — the “sinner’s prayer.” And let’s be honest. That’s all the sinner’s prayer is: a tradition — a tradition created by sincere Christians who want lost people to come to genuine faith in Jesus Christ.
I wince every time I hear someone use the phrase “close the deal” when writing or speaking about evangelism. There is no way one can disassociate the phrase with its original and primary meaning: that of completing a sale.
The gospel cannot be sold because the gospel is not for sale.
No sales pitch offered by man will ever give the recipient anything more than a false hope and a false assurance.
Closing the Deal: An Unbiblical Component of Modern Evangelism by Tony Miano
Reality Check!
- We don’t get commissions on the Great Commission!
- We don’t get bonuses or rewards based on our lifetime number of evangelical conversions.
- We don’t get bonuses or rewards based on our lifetime number of buy-ins.
The Prosperity Gospel
Proselytes of the Prosperity Gospel believe that God gives financial rewards in exchange for tithes and offerings. To them the “abundant life” Jesus promises in John 10:10 is material wealth, and good health, based on a positive mindset of “name it and claim it.”
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 NASB
This statement comes in the middle of the Parable of the Good Shepherd. In this parable, Yeshua is naming Himself as the Good Shepherd, in contrast to the robber, the thief, and the hired hand. Jesus is affirming that He is the Savior, the Protector, the Provider, for His sheep – His people.
Does not the abundance of life reside in a life in relationship, a life under the loving care, protection, provision, and more, of the Good Shepherd, the Son of God? And not in the “mammon” of the world?
9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:9-11 NASB
In the years following World War II, the resurgence of prosperity in the United States encouraged some evangelists to seek miraculous healings and supernatural financial blessings. Apparent successes were heralded as evidence of the truth of their version of the gospel. Failures could be blamed on a lack of faith in those seeking the miracles. The key to gaining supernatural health and wealth was consistent positive thought.
[T]he faith of prosperity gospel adherents is positive thinking and expectation of God’s material blessing.
[F]inancial blessing is a guaranteed result of faith in God
All prosperity gospel believers see a connection between good health and spiritual blessedness.
What Is the Prosperity Gospel? by Dr. Andrew Spencer
About a third of Protestant churchgoers say their congregation teaches that God will bless them if they donate money.
Two-thirds say God wants them to prosper. One in 4 say they have to do something for God to receive material blessings in return.
The belief that God gives financial rewards in exchange for offerings is a central part of the so-called prosperity gospel[.]
Sixty-nine percent [of churchgoers] agree with the statement, “God wants me to prosper financially.” Twenty percent disagree. Ten percent are not sure.
Some churchgoers draw a direct tie from their actions to God’s blessings.
One in 4 (26%) agree with the statement: “To receive material blessings from God, I have to do something for God.” Seventy percent disagree. Five percent are not sure.
Prosperity Gospel Taught to 4 in 10 Evangelical Churchgoers by Bob Smietana
The Gospel of Moralism
Some Christians believe themselves to be “a good person” and that “that is enough to get into heaven.”
In our own context, one of the most seductive false gospels is moralism. This false gospel can take many forms and can emerge from any number of political and cultural impulses. Nevertheless, the basic structure of moralism comes down to this — the belief that the Gospel can be reduced to improvements in behavior.
[O]ne of the most insidious false gospels is a moralism that promises the favor of God and the satisfaction of God’s righteousness to sinners if they will only behave and commit themselves to moral improvement.
Moralism is not the gospel.
Why Moralism Is Not the Gospel — And Why So Many Christians Think It Is by Albert Mohler
This is also the view of some atheists I’ve met, who, while not believing in the Messiah, believe that if there is a heaven, they have been “a good person” and that will be enough, if needed.
The Results?
My greatest fear is that churches are filled with unsaved, not-quite-right-believing “Christians.”
A. W. Tozer said, “It is my opinion that tens of thousands, if not millions, have been brought into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ and they have not been saved.”
True and False Conversion by Ray Comfort
My greatest burden on my heart is that many people of the church, those who believe they are saved, will hear Yeshua say, “Depart from Me.”
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels Matthew 25:31-34,41 NASB
My greatest desire is for people to be Discipled and Make Disciples, through Intentional, Relational, Discipleship.
Is Conversion Enough?
So I ask:
- Is “obey everything I have commanded you” part of His command (v. 20)?
Therefore, does following Him by faith include doing, obeying, observing what He says to do?
[Of course, these are works of love/ obedience/ service. They are NOT works for salvation?]
36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 NASB
24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. John 14:24 NASB
- Is becoming a follower of Yeshua, becoming a Christian, as easy as “saying the magic words” of the “sinner’s prayer” without any more effort on the part of the believer?
- Is this the “faith once for all was handed down to the saints”?
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. Jude 3 NASB
- Is this the faith that spread across the then known world with the wildfire of the Holy Spirit?
- Is this the faith of the martyred, the massacred?
- Is this the faith of those who endure trials and tribulations?
- Is this your faith?
Please check it out for yourself!
What do you believe?
Let me know in the comment box below.
Blessings,
TLThomas
It’s ok to doubt, if you check it out!
Be a Berean!
10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10, 11 ESV
See also
By Faith or by Works? That is the Question
Please join me in this journey of discovery.
- Leave a comment, or ask me a question.
- Share this blog with others, whether they are doubting, or not.
- Take what I say and CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!
© 2017 by the author