Thursday, April 09, 2015

The Great Commission

People often confuse the Great Commission in Matthew 28 with the ascension in Acts 1, but there is a significant difference in these two texts. Matthew 28 takes place in Galilee. Acts 1 takes place in Jerusalem.

In the Great Commission, Jesus tells his disciples to "make disciples." The commission is not just to Israel, but now to all nations. This is not about some narrow "pray a prayer-ism" but about making followers of Jesus by teaching them "everything I have commanded you." Baptizing is mentioned, but it is only the beginning. The Great Commission is a commission to discipleship, not to evangelism as it is often narrowly conceived today.

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