16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Here we have it...The Great Commission. After 28 chapters the Gospel is distilled down to this:
1. Jesus is the boss. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me".
2. We are the workers "Go and make disciples of all nations".
3. Obedience is standard "Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you".
4. The presence of Christ is our life's blood "And surely I am with you always".
This should settle it, but it doesn't for many...
We have tried to fiddle with this formula from the very beginning...which is foolish. We've tried to be christians on our own terms which defies all four stipulations. Most of the parables of the Gospel surround these points...
1. Our agreement is not necessary ("I don't believe it") - Truth prevails without our help
2. Our deference is not optional ("I don't want it") - There is no such thing as "kind of a disciple"
3. Our ideas are not relevant ("I don't like it") - The demands are not suggestion
4. Our ability is not sufficient ("I don't need it") - Spiritual life is found only in the blood of Jesus
If we are still debating the finer points of Christ's demands it proves we have failed to comprehend the most essential ingredient: It's not about us. To borrow an old sports axiom, "there's no "I" in atonement". As soon as I try to put it there, the next axiom holds true: "there's no "me" in eternity".
Live boldly out there today...
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