Our Grace Commission

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

·       Paul was not sent to baptize, but to preach the gospel. The Twelve apostles on the other hand were sent to baptize (Matt. 28:19,20). We are to imitate Paul, as Paul imitated Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). Paul received a different message than the twelve received (Gal. 1:11,12). Water baptism in this verse would be the same as what is called the wisdom of words. Paul tells us to just preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words. The preaching of the cross is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Rom. 1:16,17). There is no need to add anything to the gospel. Just preach it!

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

·       We are saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by doing good works or getting water baptized. Instead, it is a free gift from God. All we have to do is believe the gospel. That is, believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3,4).

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

·       The twelve apostles were given the power to forgive the sins of a person. However, we today under the Dispensation of Grace are not given that power. Forgiveness of sins is by the power of God. We have forgiveness of sins through our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:6,7). God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their sins upon them (2 Cor. 5:16-21). Our sins have been paid for, all we have to do is believe it. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. All you have to do is accept the free gift.

1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

·       God desires all men (all persons) to be saved. This is the first part of our commission. It is to preach the gospel. Preach that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day! He paid for all of our sins on the cross. The second part of our commission is to see that all men come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

·       This is the second part of our commission from the verse above. To have all men come to a knowledge of the truth is to make (cause) them to see what is the fellowship of the mystery. The mystery was hidden in God before the foundation of the world. It was only revealed to the Apostle Paul in due time.

·       What is the mystery? At least one part of it is the truth about the one new man (the new creation). God has reconciled both Jew and Gentile in one body (the Body of Christ). There is now no difference between the two. That middle wall has been broken down (Eph. 2). We are now all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

·       We aren’t told in Paul’s Epistles that we have to start in Jerusalem or anywhere else for that matter. We can start preaching the gospel wherever we happen to be. The Jews, the disciples, on the other hand, were told to start in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. He, therefore, has committed to us the word of reconciliation to take to the world. God has reconciled both Jew and Gentile in one Body. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile today. We can and should preach to both Jew and Gentile about the gospel, as well as the mystery that was given to Paul.