Biblical Discernment
Our “Great Commission”
jacksdon@gmail.com
While the term “Great Commission” is not found in the Bible, every commission given by our Lord is a “Great Commission.”
The apostle Paul refers to the gospel that he preached as “my gospel” [Romans 16:25, “that gospel that I preach among the Gentiles” [Galatians 2:2], “the gospel of the grace of God” [Acts 20:24], “the gospel of your salvation” [Ephesians 1:13], “the gospel of peace” [Ephesians 6:15], and “the gospel of God” [1 Thessalonians 2:2]. He also calls it, “the gospel by which you are saved” [1 Corinthians 15:1,2].
Most frequently folks refer to Paul’s gospel as the “gospel of the grace of God,” or, simply as “the gospel.” Regardless of what it is called, it is THE GOSPEL that was revealed to Paul for the Body of Christ, and it is different from the “gospel of the kingdom” preached by John the Baptist, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the twelve.
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.” The end of what? The end of the tribulation [vs 29ff]. Our Lord Jesus Christ speaking in Matthew 24:14. Once, in a discussion with a minister, I asked him, “Which gospel are we to preach in this dispensation of the grace of God, the gospel of the kingdom or the gospel of the grace of God?” He replied, “The gospel of the kingdom, of course!” Hmmmmmmm!
Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His ministry to Israel, foretold that the “gospel of the kingdom” will be preached in all the world prior to His second coming to establish that kingdom on earth. He is not saying that the gospel of the grace of God will be preached around the world prior to the rapture. There is a huge difference here. Of course we are to preach and spread the gospel of the grace of God wherever we are, but that is not what the Lord Jesus Christ was referring to in Matthew 24. He is speaking of the tribulation [vs 21-29] and the fact that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world during that trying period. It will be preached by 144,000 Jews [Revelation 7:1-8], and the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12. This is after all Christians have been caught up in the rapture [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18].
Are we to preach the gospel of the kingdom in this dispensation of the grace of God? Of course not. Paul warns: “If any man preach any other gospel unto you that ye have not received, let him be accursed” [Galatians 1:9]. We are to preach Paul’s “my gospel” to a lost and dying world.
But what about the “Great Commission” of Matthew 28:19-20? Earlier we mentioned that no where in the Bible is this called “The Great Commission.”
This commission was given to the eleven [Jews] for the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom to Israel. It is not referring to Paul’s gospel, which had not yet been revealed.
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave other “Great Commissions” to this same group of men. Note the following:
1. Matthew 10:5ff cf Matthew 15:24
2. Mark 16:15-18 cf Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21
3. Luke 24:44-49 cf Acts 1:8
4. John 20:21-23 cf Matthew 19:28; Matthew 16:19
The apostle Paul does provide evangelistic instructions for the Body of Christ. The “Great Commission” for the Body of Christ can be found in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 and Ephesians 3:9. We are to be well trained “ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ.” We are to preach the word of “reconciliation” and we are to make “all [men] see what is the revelation of the MYSTERY” as revealed to Paul by the Risen, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, for the Body of Christ.
Our “Great Commission”
jacksdon@gmail.com
While the term “Great Commission” is not found in the Bible, every commission given by our Lord is a “Great Commission.”
The apostle Paul refers to the gospel that he preached as “my gospel” [Romans 16:25, “that gospel that I preach among the Gentiles” [Galatians 2:2], “the gospel of the grace of God” [Acts 20:24], “the gospel of your salvation” [Ephesians 1:13], “the gospel of peace” [Ephesians 6:15], and “the gospel of God” [1 Thessalonians 2:2]. He also calls it, “the gospel by which you are saved” [1 Corinthians 15:1,2].
Most frequently folks refer to Paul’s gospel as the “gospel of the grace of God,” or, simply as “the gospel.” Regardless of what it is called, it is THE GOSPEL that was revealed to Paul for the Body of Christ, and it is different from the “gospel of the kingdom” preached by John the Baptist, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the twelve.
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.” The end of what? The end of the tribulation [vs 29ff]. Our Lord Jesus Christ speaking in Matthew 24:14. Once, in a discussion with a minister, I asked him, “Which gospel are we to preach in this dispensation of the grace of God, the gospel of the kingdom or the gospel of the grace of God?” He replied, “The gospel of the kingdom, of course!” Hmmmmmmm!
Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His ministry to Israel, foretold that the “gospel of the kingdom” will be preached in all the world prior to His second coming to establish that kingdom on earth. He is not saying that the gospel of the grace of God will be preached around the world prior to the rapture. There is a huge difference here. Of course we are to preach and spread the gospel of the grace of God wherever we are, but that is not what the Lord Jesus Christ was referring to in Matthew 24. He is speaking of the tribulation [vs 21-29] and the fact that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world during that trying period. It will be preached by 144,000 Jews [Revelation 7:1-8], and the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12. This is after all Christians have been caught up in the rapture [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18].
Are we to preach the gospel of the kingdom in this dispensation of the grace of God? Of course not. Paul warns: “If any man preach any other gospel unto you that ye have not received, let him be accursed” [Galatians 1:9]. We are to preach Paul’s “my gospel” to a lost and dying world.
But what about the “Great Commission” of Matthew 28:19-20? Earlier we mentioned that no where in the Bible is this called “The Great Commission.”
This commission was given to the eleven [Jews] for the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom to Israel. It is not referring to Paul’s gospel, which had not yet been revealed.
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave other “Great Commissions” to this same group of men. Note the following:
1. Matthew 10:5ff cf Matthew 15:24
2. Mark 16:15-18 cf Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21
3. Luke 24:44-49 cf Acts 1:8
4. John 20:21-23 cf Matthew 19:28; Matthew 16:19
The apostle Paul does provide evangelistic instructions for the Body of Christ. The “Great Commission” for the Body of Christ can be found in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 and Ephesians 3:9. We are to be well trained “ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ.” We are to preach the word of “reconciliation” and we are to make “all [men] see what is the revelation of the MYSTERY” as revealed to Paul by the Risen, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, for the Body of Christ.
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