The Great Commission

God gives us insight into Himself so that we can share that knowledge with others....He wants everyone to hear the Good News of the Gospel. The Holy Trinity wants no one to perish...no not one. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to us to empower us to do that which we could not do on our own! In the unity and power of the Holy Spirit nothing is impossible.

The plan of God as outlined in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms was being fulfilled in Jesus. This threefold categorization of the ancient Scriptures summarizes the contents of the Old Testament. The disciples’ comprehension involved seeing how God’s plan, as outlined in the Scriptures, fits together. Two parts of God’s plan had been fulfilled. Jesus had been crucified and raised from the dead. Jesus summarized the mission of the disciples as preaching repentance, calling people to turn from their own selfish ways to Christ, the One who had died for them. The content of the disciples’ preaching would center on God’s gracious offer of forgiveness to all who would believe.

Forgiveness and blessing come only through the work of the risen Jesus. The message of Jesus’ salvation can go to all nations, to Jews and Gentiles alike. The offer is made to anyone who will receive it. The disciples’ mission would begin in Jerusalem where Jesus died; from there, it would spread out into the entire world.

Peter called the promise of the Father.....this coming of the Spirit “the beginning”  because the real fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation would start in those people united by the Spirit to establish the church.

Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸ And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:14-18

¹⁴ Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. ¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Luke 24:44-49

⁴⁴ Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” ⁴⁵ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

⁴⁶ Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And you are witnesses of these things.⁴⁹ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”