Marching Orders
The Great Commission: Our Marching Orders in Spiritual Warfare
The Christian life is not meant to be lived passively. We're not called to sit comfortably in our pews, content with our own salvation while the world around us desperately needs truth. Instead, we've been given clear marching orders—what Scripture calls the Great Commission. And it's called "great" for a reason.
The Command That Changes Everything
In Matthew 28:18-20, we find Jesus' final instructions to His followers before ascending to heaven: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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 always, even until the end of the world."
These weren't casual suggestions. They were divine orders from the King of Kings who had just conquered death itself. After enduring illegal trials, horrific torture, and a gruesome crucifixion, Jesus rose victoriously from the grave and was seen by over 500 eyewitnesses. His resurrection wasn't just proof of His divinity—it was the foundation for the mission He was about to entrust to His followers.
Already in Motion
Here's something profound about the Great Commission: the grammatical structure suggests we should already be moving. The phrase "go ye therefore" carries with it the assumption of previous action. It's more accurately understood as "as you are going."
This matters tremendously. We're not supposed to sit around waiting for God to send us a detailed blueprint before we act. The expectation is that because of what Christ has done for us, we're already involved, already on the way. God directs our paths as we move forward in obedience, not while we're sitting still.
Are we personally invested in spreading the gospel? Are we already in motion, or are we waiting for the perfect moment that may never come?
Three Essential Components
The Great Commission isn't just about getting people saved—though that's certainly where it begins. There are three distinct components that work together:
First, evangelism. We present the gospel to all nations—not just certain countries, but all ethnicities, all backgrounds, every type of person in every place. This requires us to do our homework. If God places someone from India next to us in our neighborhood, we need to learn how to effectively communicate truth to them within their cultural context. If we're witnessing to someone influenced by Islam, secularism, or Marxism, we need to understand their worldview well enough to present the gospel meaningfully.
God created logic and reason, and when used correctly, they always point back to Him. We shouldn't be intimidated by different philosophies or worldviews. Instead, we should study to show ourselves approved, ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us.
Second, baptism. Once someone comes to faith, we bring them into the local church. Baptism by immersion is an outward demonstration of an inward decision, and it's one of two ordinances given specifically to the local church. This means the Great Commission directly implies the involvement of the church body. We can't fulfill this command in isolation—we need each other.
Third, discipleship. The command doesn't end with a salvation decision. We're called to teach new believers "to observe all things" that Christ commanded. This is extended teaching, ongoing discipleship that helps believers grow strong in their faith and resistant to the worldly philosophies that seek to pull them away from truth.
Both Individual and Corporate
Here's where it gets beautifully complex: the Great Commission is both an individual calling and a corporate responsibility. We can only fulfill it when individual believers are actively sharing the gospel in their daily lives AND when the church is working together with accumulated effort.
Acts 1:8 expands on this: "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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
Notice the word "both." We can't be in two places at once, so how do we reach the uttermost parts of the earth while also witnessing in our Jerusalem? Through the church's missions program. When we support missionaries, we're fulfilling our obligation to distant peoples. And when they support us, we're helping them reach our community. It's a beautiful partnership.
But here's the critical point: we can't just financially support missions while neglecting to share the gospel in our own lives. That's not supporting missions—that's subcontracting our responsibility.
The Consequences of Obedience (and Disobedience)
When we think of consequences, we usually think negatively. But consequences work both ways.
If we obey this command, we remain in fellowship with God. John 14:15 tells us, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Love isn't just warm feelings—it's obedience. When we obey, we also get a front-row seat to watch God work in marvelous ways, both in our communities and around the world.
But if we fail to obey, we lose that fellowship. John 14:23-24 makes it clear: those who love Christ keep His words, and those who don't love Him don't keep His sayings. We miss out on His blessings and the joy that comes from walking closely with Him.
The Comfort in the Command
Here's the good news: we don't do this in our own strength. Jesus prefaced the Great Commission by declaring, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Through His victorious resurrection, Christ conquered everything. Death has lost its sting.
Romans 8:37-39 assures us that nothing—not death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, or any other creature—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Whatever He requires of us in this Great Commission, He is there with us. He'll fill us with His Spirit, open doors, give us boldness, provide the words, and cause us to remain faithful.
The Commitment Required
Understanding the Great Commission brings us to a point of decision. Not saying yes right now is saying no until later. We're really only left with two options: obedience or disobedience.
This requires three things from us:
We must participate. It is direct disobedience and sin not to engage with the Great Commission. All of us are included in all parts of it. The question isn't whether we should participate, but how we can participate more effectively.
We must prioritize. Nominal participation isn't enough. Our King is worthy of our best. We serve an excellent King, and we should serve Him excellently. What needs to be cut from our lives to make more room for obedience in this area?
We must persist. Rejection cannot be an excuse for walking away. Churches across America are filled with stories of people who heard the gospel repeatedly before finally surrendering to Christ. Just because someone has rejected the gospel doesn't mean we stop. We study more, cultivate relationships, build bridges, and continue presenting Christ at every opportunity.
The Great Omission
Sadly, the Great Commission has become the "Great Omission" in many modern churches. We get comfortable focusing on the social aspects of our church body while neglecting our mission to the lost. We become more concerned with programs than with people's eternal destinies.
William Carey, the father of modern missions, once asked, "Is not the commission of our Lord still binding upon us? Can we not do more than now we are doing?"
That question echoes through time to us today. Can we not do more? The answer, for most of us, is yes.
Ground Zero of Spiritual Warfare
This is the highest call. These are our marching orders in the midst of spiritual battle. This commission is so important that it was the last thing Jesus told His disciples before leaving earth. It's ground zero for everything else we do as believers.
Our communities are hurting. People need truth. They need to know who Christ is. They need to hear that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life—that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
We live in a dark world, but Jesus came into that darkness and showed us the exit plan. He showed us how to have eternal life, how to go to heaven. And now He's commissioned us to share that truth with everyone we meet.
The question isn't whether we're called to this mission. We are. The question is whether we'll obey.
The Christian life is not meant to be lived passively. We're not called to sit comfortably in our pews, content with our own salvation while the world around us desperately needs truth. Instead, we've been given clear marching orders—what Scripture calls the Great Commission. And it's called "great" for a reason.
The Command That Changes Everything
In Matthew 28:18-20, we find Jesus' final instructions to His followers before ascending to heaven: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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 always, even until the end of the world."
These weren't casual suggestions. They were divine orders from the King of Kings who had just conquered death itself. After enduring illegal trials, horrific torture, and a gruesome crucifixion, Jesus rose victoriously from the grave and was seen by over 500 eyewitnesses. His resurrection wasn't just proof of His divinity—it was the foundation for the mission He was about to entrust to His followers.
Already in Motion
Here's something profound about the Great Commission: the grammatical structure suggests we should already be moving. The phrase "go ye therefore" carries with it the assumption of previous action. It's more accurately understood as "as you are going."
This matters tremendously. We're not supposed to sit around waiting for God to send us a detailed blueprint before we act. The expectation is that because of what Christ has done for us, we're already involved, already on the way. God directs our paths as we move forward in obedience, not while we're sitting still.
Are we personally invested in spreading the gospel? Are we already in motion, or are we waiting for the perfect moment that may never come?
Three Essential Components
The Great Commission isn't just about getting people saved—though that's certainly where it begins. There are three distinct components that work together:
First, evangelism. We present the gospel to all nations—not just certain countries, but all ethnicities, all backgrounds, every type of person in every place. This requires us to do our homework. If God places someone from India next to us in our neighborhood, we need to learn how to effectively communicate truth to them within their cultural context. If we're witnessing to someone influenced by Islam, secularism, or Marxism, we need to understand their worldview well enough to present the gospel meaningfully.
God created logic and reason, and when used correctly, they always point back to Him. We shouldn't be intimidated by different philosophies or worldviews. Instead, we should study to show ourselves approved, ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us.
Second, baptism. Once someone comes to faith, we bring them into the local church. Baptism by immersion is an outward demonstration of an inward decision, and it's one of two ordinances given specifically to the local church. This means the Great Commission directly implies the involvement of the church body. We can't fulfill this command in isolation—we need each other.
Third, discipleship. The command doesn't end with a salvation decision. We're called to teach new believers "to observe all things" that Christ commanded. This is extended teaching, ongoing discipleship that helps believers grow strong in their faith and resistant to the worldly philosophies that seek to pull them away from truth.
Both Individual and Corporate
Here's where it gets beautifully complex: the Great Commission is both an individual calling and a corporate responsibility. We can only fulfill it when individual believers are actively sharing the gospel in their daily lives AND when the church is working together with accumulated effort.
Acts 1:8 expands on this: "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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
Notice the word "both." We can't be in two places at once, so how do we reach the uttermost parts of the earth while also witnessing in our Jerusalem? Through the church's missions program. When we support missionaries, we're fulfilling our obligation to distant peoples. And when they support us, we're helping them reach our community. It's a beautiful partnership.
But here's the critical point: we can't just financially support missions while neglecting to share the gospel in our own lives. That's not supporting missions—that's subcontracting our responsibility.
The Consequences of Obedience (and Disobedience)
When we think of consequences, we usually think negatively. But consequences work both ways.
If we obey this command, we remain in fellowship with God. John 14:15 tells us, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Love isn't just warm feelings—it's obedience. When we obey, we also get a front-row seat to watch God work in marvelous ways, both in our communities and around the world.
But if we fail to obey, we lose that fellowship. John 14:23-24 makes it clear: those who love Christ keep His words, and those who don't love Him don't keep His sayings. We miss out on His blessings and the joy that comes from walking closely with Him.
The Comfort in the Command
Here's the good news: we don't do this in our own strength. Jesus prefaced the Great Commission by declaring, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Through His victorious resurrection, Christ conquered everything. Death has lost its sting.
Romans 8:37-39 assures us that nothing—not death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, or any other creature—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Whatever He requires of us in this Great Commission, He is there with us. He'll fill us with His Spirit, open doors, give us boldness, provide the words, and cause us to remain faithful.
The Commitment Required
Understanding the Great Commission brings us to a point of decision. Not saying yes right now is saying no until later. We're really only left with two options: obedience or disobedience.
This requires three things from us:
We must participate. It is direct disobedience and sin not to engage with the Great Commission. All of us are included in all parts of it. The question isn't whether we should participate, but how we can participate more effectively.
We must prioritize. Nominal participation isn't enough. Our King is worthy of our best. We serve an excellent King, and we should serve Him excellently. What needs to be cut from our lives to make more room for obedience in this area?
We must persist. Rejection cannot be an excuse for walking away. Churches across America are filled with stories of people who heard the gospel repeatedly before finally surrendering to Christ. Just because someone has rejected the gospel doesn't mean we stop. We study more, cultivate relationships, build bridges, and continue presenting Christ at every opportunity.
The Great Omission
Sadly, the Great Commission has become the "Great Omission" in many modern churches. We get comfortable focusing on the social aspects of our church body while neglecting our mission to the lost. We become more concerned with programs than with people's eternal destinies.
William Carey, the father of modern missions, once asked, "Is not the commission of our Lord still binding upon us? Can we not do more than now we are doing?"
That question echoes through time to us today. Can we not do more? The answer, for most of us, is yes.
Ground Zero of Spiritual Warfare
This is the highest call. These are our marching orders in the midst of spiritual battle. This commission is so important that it was the last thing Jesus told His disciples before leaving earth. It's ground zero for everything else we do as believers.
Our communities are hurting. People need truth. They need to know who Christ is. They need to hear that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life—that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
We live in a dark world, but Jesus came into that darkness and showed us the exit plan. He showed us how to have eternal life, how to go to heaven. And now He's commissioned us to share that truth with everyone we meet.
The question isn't whether we're called to this mission. We are. The question is whether we'll obey.
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