The So-called "Great" Commission

The so-called “Great” Commission is also called the Kingdom Commission. God promised Israel that they would inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5), they would receive a King, and that King would deliver her from her enemies. In Matthew through Acts, there are six key passages that explain the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven (which means kingdom out from Heaven) will be that earthly reign of Christ when He sets up His Kingdom on the earth. The gospel of the Kingdom says you must believe in the name of Christ (John 1:12) to be saved. That means to believe that Christ is the prophesied Messiah (King) of Israel. To believe that He is the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16).

Matthew

Matthew 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

·       This is the first part of the Kingdom Commission. The twelve apostles were originally told and sent to go only to the Jews. Why? It was because Israel, according to prophecy, had to be saved first. The children must be filled first (Mark 7:27).

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

·       Then the twelve apostles, after Christ’s resurrection, were sent out to and supposed to take the Kingdom gospel to the nations. They were told two things. 1) Baptize them (the nations) in the name (or authority) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 2) Teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ had commanded them to do. That would mean they were instructed to follow all the law and so were the Gentiles. They were still under law. However, they never fulfilled this part of the Commission. Why? Because, they were still to carry out the first part which is in Matthew 10:5-7. Israel still had to be saved first. Israel was to be that light unto the world to bring blessing and salvation to the Gentile nations. Gentiles would be saved through the rise of Israel. However, we read in Acts 8:1 that all the Jews at Jerusalem scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. They have not yet gone out to all the nations with the Kingdom gospel. They will in the future, but this part of their commission hasn’t been fulfilled yet.

Mark

Mark 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

·       Again, they were instructed to go into all the world and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. There are two conditions to being saved under this gospel and commission and both must be met. 1) He that believeth. Faith is required in every dispensation. 2) And is baptized. Water baptism is a requirement under this commission. Salvation under the Law and the Kingdom gospel is faith plus works. Works were required to show your faith to be saved. But, faith is still important. If you didn’t have faith to begin with, then there is no point in doing good works or being water baptized. You’re damned from the very beginning. After you believe and are baptized, then signs will follow those that believe. We don’t see this today.

Luke

Luke 24:47-49 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

·       Repentance and remission of sins were also to be preached in Christ’s name among all the Gentile nations. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. But, where were they to start? They were to start in Jerusalem. Why? Because, Israel had to be saved first. Also, they were told to tarry in Jerusalem, until they received the Holy Spirit (endued with power from on high). In Acts 2:4, the twelve apostles were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

John

John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

·       The twelve were also given the power to forgive sins or not to forgive them. This is because they were to reign with Christ on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28). We certainly don’t have this power today. And why would we need it since we are told that Christ himself has forgiven us of all our sin in this current Dispensation of Grace. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them. We are instructed to forgive others, because Christ has forgiven us. 

Acts

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

·       Again, the twelve apostles are told to be witnesses of Christ both in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and then the uttermost part of the earth. They were to begin in Jerusalem, and then work their way out to the rest of the world. But, they never left Jerusalem, because the nation’s leaders and the nation as a whole never repented and didn’t believe Christ was their Messiah.

Our Grace Commission

Christ, then set aside Israel as a nation temporarily and raised up a new apostle (Paul). Paul was given the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) and the revelation of the mystery (Rom. 16:25). He is called the apostle of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13). He was given a commission to take this new message, the word of reconciliation, to the world (both Jews and Gentiles). Now, there is a new creation (the Body of Christ) where there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, bond or free (Gal. 3:28). Instead, we are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). The gospel today is to just believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3,4).