6 Juiy 2025

THE MISSION MANDATE OF CHRISTIANS (3)

(Biblical & Spiritual Exhortations: BSE 19)

The second aspect of the Great Commission is “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt.28:19-20). How do we make or become disciples? Two things are mentioned: “Baptizing them (new believers) … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”.

From our Lord’s instruction, it is very clear that a believer who calls himself a Christian cannot be called or become a disciple without being water-baptized. Baptism is a command and is an affirmation of our true faith and submission to Jesus as Lord of our lives. In the NT times and early Christian age, those who were baptized were persecuted, jailed, or even killed for their faith. Baptism is a public confession of one’s faith and commitment to Christ, even when it may result in persecution and death. Those who are of age and are afraid to offend their family or religious leaders in baptism, shows that they either lack true faith (to face persecution) or have not yielded to the Lordship of Christ.

The second thing mentioned is “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded them”. The “everything” is the Teaching of Christ, His Apostles and Prophets as handed down to us in Holy Scripture. This the “whole counsel of God” Paul mentioned to the Leaders of the Ephesian Church (Acts 20:27-NKJV). We are to “obey everything” Christ has commanded us in the Word of God. This is again to show our submission to His Lordship. Christ once rebuked His disciples thus: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I say? (Luke 6:46). This is something that we must seriously ponder on. Are we disciples or merely nominal Christians bearing a name but not truly saved? We cannot be saved without acknowledging Jesus as Lord of our life (Romans 10:9-10).

That is why Christ gave a warning to people in His day: “Not everyone who calls Me “Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father Who is in Heaven” (Matt.7:21). What is “the will of the Father”? Obviously, it is to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior and to surrender to His Lordship. Surrendering to His Lordship means “obeying everything I have commanded you”. So, Jesus Lord in your life?

This brings us to a most important thing: the responsibility of the Leaders and Pastors. We are commanded to “teach them everything I have commanded you”. That means teaching the “whole counsel of God” as contained in the Word of God. So systematic Bible Teaching and expounding Scripture must be our passion and commitment in our ministry. Be it the Congregation, Sunday School, Youth Group or Cell Group, we must be disciplined to study and teach faithfully the Word of God to our audiences. As Paul exhorted: “Devote yourself to reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching” (1 Tim.4:13).Let us do likewise.

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