THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matt. 28:18-20

Morning Meditation 3/21/2014

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

"The round world before Him lay,

For that world this one command:

'Go, and I am with you alway,'

Send it out o'er every land.

North and south, and east and west,

At His Cross shall ransom'd rest

Mighty chapter! Great commission!

Till this earth be Christ's possession."

Let's look first of all at,

THE NEED

This is summed up in one word, "World." Jesus says, "Go into all the world and tell them I love them and paid the ransomed price for their redemption. The world of,

1. Sinful self within. This is the devil's nursery, where every evil in the world is germinated, and afterwards transplanted by actual deeds. Into this world the power of Christ must come.

2. Fashion and pleasures around. That which ministers to the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. That world of custom and habit and godless living.

3. Heathen and darkness beyond. A world of perishing, yet immortal souls. A world loved by God, and for which Christ died. The whole world lieth in wickedness. The need is great.

THE PROVISION

1. The incarnation of the Son of God. Jesus provided us with a gospel by entering this world by the Virgin's womb and dying on the cross to pay the price.

2. Propitiation by His precious blood. This is what Peter called it in 1 Peter 1:18-19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

3. Regeneration by the Spirit of God. Ephesians 1:13, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

4. Justification by faith. Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

5. Sanctification by the Word of God. John 17:17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." 1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

6. Resurrection by the power of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

7. Glorification at the coming of the Lord. 1 John 3:1-2, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

THE COMMISSION

Our text clearly outlines the task of the Church. It is to the Church He says, 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.."

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White