Who was the Great Commission given to?

[kyredneck]

....but those Jews , Devout men, from every nation I believe were Jews who returned to Jerusalem [from every nation].....

Yes, in order to observe the feast at Pentecost, then they returned home (eventually).

Paul told the Jews, "It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you" (Acts 13:48). The gospel was to 'the Jew first' [Acts 3:26; Ro 1:16]. There was a very serious time line involved for every Jew of 'that generation' alive on the planet. The urgency of the message to 'the Jew first' was 'Save yourselves from this crooked generation' (Acts 2), and 'Every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people' (Acts 3).

Consider what was coming upon 'that generation':

upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. Mt 23:35,36

God made sure that every Jew on earth was given the chance to 'hearken to that prophet' before the wrath came. All the Jews of that generation on earth heard the gospel, and were given the chance to repent and escape the wrath that was to come upon 'that generation', and for their progeny to avoid the curses of the OT [Lev 26; Dt 28 & 31,32] that were to come upon the race. God gave her time to repent (a full forty year generation), but she would not

 

[kyredneck]

If the great commission was given to all Christians as some believe, why is it not mentioned more in the rest of the N. T.? I don't recall any instruction to laymen in Paul's letters, to preach the word or even to testify to one's neighbor. Maybe I missed it.

In most SBC churches, testifying to one's neighbor is a constant theme. Yet, I don't recall it being specifically addressed in the N. T. I am not suggesting that we should not testify to others; it is just that I don't recall it being addressed or stressed in the rest of the N. T. Why?

I was raised in a very fervent evangelical fundamental dispensational missionary SB Church. 'The great commission', as some call it, has most certainly been abused, and the awful horrendous lie/burden that slacking soul winners will be responsible for many of those perishing in hell has indiscriminately been placed upon the backs of God's lambs. Even those under the harsh schoolmaster of the law had no such burden placed upon them, and it's totally contrary to Christ's words:

28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mt 11

 

[kyredneck]

Mt. 28:19.... I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen[/COLOR].

Whoever, Christ gave this commission to, he promised he would be with them "unto the end of the world."....

.....and lo, I am with you all the days -- till the full end of the age.` YLT

The 'consumation of the [Old Covenant] age'.

 

[saturneptune]

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. No one can be saved without the Lord. I am a definite believer in God's sovereignty, but this thread sounds like an elaborate excuse for laziness.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. No one can be saved without the Lord. I am a definite believer in God's sovereignty, but this thread sounds like an elaborate excuse for laziness.

Not at all. Though the Great Commission was directed specifically at the apostles there are other verses for Christians in General Ie... Matthew 25

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

and again

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

and again

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

or how about Matthew 5

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

or Matthew 6

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

each of these were directed at the greater audience than just the 12.

 

[saturneptune]

Not at all. Though the Great Commission was directed specifically at the apostles there are other verses for Christians in General Ie... Matthew 25

and again and again or how about Matthew 5 or Matthew 6 each of these were directed at the greater audience than just the 12.

Maybe I typed my post incorrectly. Let me say it a different way. It is not up for us to decide who to tell about Jesus Christ and the Gospel, we are commanded to go. It is up to the Lord to touch those who we have told. If the Lord does not touch them, they will not respond. God is the Decider, not man. The point I was making, God deciding gives us no excuse to sit on our lazy backside in pew for fifty years like a manikin.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Maybe I typed my post incorrectly. Let me say it a different way. It is not up for us to decide who to tell about Jesus Christ and the Gospel, we are commanded to go. It is up to the Lord to touch those who we have told. If the Lord does not touch them, they will not respond. God is the Decider, not man. The point I was making, God deciding gives us no excuse to sit on our lazy backside and sit in pew for fifty years like a manikin.

I don't disagree. However, I will add that along with our "being ready at all times to give an answer to the hope within us" that acts of Charity must be done as well. Rather than just give money and food to food banks we should be actively helping the poor and the needy.

 

[saturneptune]

I don't disagree. However, I will add that along with our "being ready at all times to give an answer to the hope within us" that acts of Charity must be done as well. Rather than just give money and food to food banks we should be actively helping the poor and the needy.

I actually have done that before, even when the church thought the person asking for benevolence was not being honest, on more than one occasion. Once I felt lead to hand over a $20 bill. Maybe he used it for what he said he needed, maybe he did not. I did what I felt was right at the time.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

I actually have done that before, even when the church thought the person asking for benevolence was not being honest, on more than one occasion. Once I felt lead to hand over a $20 bill. Maybe he used it for what he said he needed, maybe he did not. I did what I felt was right at the time.

quite understandable. I will take a person to the grocery store and by them a couple of weeks worth of groceries. This way I know they are getting food that they need.

 

[steaver]

All I can do is point you to the immediate contextual evidence in Matthew 28:7-20 and other chronological evidence from the gospels.

You are quite correct brother. Yet it is not that difficult to understand even without the evidence of others present it is still a command from Jesus to His disciples, which I am one and any other who claim to follow Jesus Christ.

Disciples of Jesus Christ are commanded to LEARN, CONFORM and TEACH others to do the same, which is all throughout the scriptures.

Matthew 28 is for ALL CHristians. :thumbsup:

 

[savedbymercy]

kyr

All the Jews of that generation on earth heard the gospel, and were given the chance to repent and escape the wrath that was to come upon 'that generation',

You said some good things,however, God does not give chances to repent to men, He gives Repentance to them Acts 5:31

31Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

 

[saturneptune]

You are quite correct brother. Yet it is not that difficult to understand even without the evidence of others present it is still a command from Jesus to His disciples, which I am one and any other who claim to follow Jesus Christ.

Disciples of Jesus Christ are commanded to LEARN, CONFORM and TEACH others to do the same, which is all throughout the scriptures.

Matthew 28 is for ALL CHristians. :thumbsup:

Amen, and any theory comes up with not going as we are commanded is nothing but laziness. God is Creator, Savior, Lord, Counselor, and hundreds of other titles, however, one thing He is not is our autopilot so we can sit on our duffs. If we were destined to be mindless robots, then I doubt the Lord would have given us a brain and the ability to think. It is amazing that man will spend more effort thinking up insane theories about why not to go and tell others about Jesus than to just go and do it.

Picture this, Moses is in front of Pharoah. Pharoah says, "I will not let your people go." Moses says, "I have nothing to say, the Lord wills what the Lord wills." Oh yes, and I remember the story of Phillip saying to the Ethiopian as they passed, "have a nice day." Then a few miles later, the Lord appears with His magic wand, zaps the Ethiopian, and voila, he is saved. And always remember, when the disciples went out two by two, they observed a vow of silence until they returned. My questions, after all the advanced education most on this board have had in Scripture and theology, did they sleep through class and pay the professor for a passing grade? Or is it just sheer laziness?

 

[The Biblicist]

You are quite correct brother. Yet it is not that difficult to understand even without the evidence of others present it is still a command from Jesus to His disciples, which I am one and any other who claim to follow Jesus Christ.

Disciples of Jesus Christ are commanded to LEARN, CONFORM and TEACH others to do the same, which is all throughout the scriptures.

Matthew 28 is for ALL CHristians. :thumbsup:

There are three classes of people noted in the Great Commission:

1. "all nations"
2. "ye" or "you"
3. "them"

The first class represent the lost.

The second class are those who have already been discipled through this three stage processs (gospelized, baptized, congregationalized and observing)

The third class are unbaptized, untaught believers outside the congregation.

Furthermore, the second class are not only gospelized, baptized and congregationalized and observing disciples but they are of like faith and order with Christ in all of these things - disciples!

Christ did not commission any believer to go preach "another gospel" than what he preached (Jn. 3:16) as any other gospel is accursed (Gal. 1:8-9).

Christ did not commission any believer to administer another baptism than he received (Mt. 3:15-17) or administered through his disciples (Jn. 4:1-2) because there is but "one baptism" that is according to "the counsel" of God (Lk. 7:29-30).

Christ did not commission any believer to teach anyone to observe another faith and order than what He commanded as any other is a departure from the faith once delivered (1 Tim. 4:1; jude 3) and such are to be avoided and withdrawn from (Rom. 16:17; 2 Thes. 3:6).

In other words they were to make "disicples" and the very meaning of the term is a follower or one who conforms to the SAME gospel, SAME baptism and SAME teaching and SAME congregation as the one they are following:

"Follow me as I follow Christ" - 1 Cor. 11:2

Not all professed believers identify with the SAME gospel Christ preached. Not all professed believers submit to the SAME baptism Christ commanded. Not all professed beleivers submit to the same faith and order Christ commanded. Hence, this commission is not given to all professed believers but only those of LIKE FAITH AND ORDER with Christ as that is the very intent of the term "disciple."

Most of professed Christendom are INOVATERS not "disciples" of Christ.

 

[kyredneck]

.....Consider what was coming upon 'that generation':

upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. Mt 23:35,36

God made sure that every Jew on earth was given the chance to 'hearken to that prophet' before the wrath came. All the Jews of that generation on earth heard the gospel, and were given the chance to repent and escape the wrath that was to come upon 'that generation', and for their progeny to avoid the curses of the OT [Lev 26; Dt 28 & 31,32] that were to come upon the race. God gave her time to repent (a full forty year generation), but she would not

kyr

.....God does not give chances to repent to men, He gives Repentance to them Acts 5:31

31Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying,
2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Mt 3

From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mt 4:17

22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. Lu 21

And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. Rev 2:21

......Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: Rev 18:4

See:
http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=1525607&postcount=11

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Lu 13

And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. Acts 2:40

And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. Acts 3:23

IMHO, there were many of His children who fell away [back to] apostate Judaism and perished in that judgment that came upon Israel.

 

[savedbymercy]

kent

1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying,
2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Mt 3

From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mt 4:17

22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. Lu 21

And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. Rev 2:21

......Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: Rev 18:4

That has not changed anything, God gives Repentance and that is how someone repents ! Paul taught that 2 Tim 2:25

25in meekness instructing those in opposition. Perhaps God will give them repentance, that they may acknowledge the truth,

 

[drfuss]

The Great Commission was given for those present and many have taken that to apply to all Christians. Does anyone know of anywhere else in the N. T. where laymen are specifically instructed to preach or teach the Gospel to the unsaved?

 

[The Biblicist]

The Great Commission was given for those present and many have taken that to apply to all Christians. Does anyone know of anywhere else in the N. T. where laymen are specifically instructed to preach or teach the Gospel to the unsaved?

In post #43 I have provided the immediate and overall contextual evidence to prove that more than merely the eleven disicples were present. Please examine the evidence I have provided.

I also provide evidence that The commission was given to the New Testament congregation WITH its ordained leaders (see also Mt. 18:15-18; and Rev. 2-3).

The contextual "we" of the epistles are baptized believers existing in New Testament congregations. That is the NORM of the New Testament. An unbaptized and/or unchurched believer is something abnormal to the New Testament pattern.

 

[drfuss]

In post #43 I have provided the immediate and overall contextual evidence to prove that more than merely the eleven disicples were present. Please examine the evidence I have provided.

I also provide evidence that The commission was given to the New Testament congregation WITH its ordained leaders (see also Mt. 18:15-18; and Rev. 2-3).

The contextual "we" of the epistles are baptized believers existing in New Testament congregations. That is the NORM of the New Testament. An unbaptized and/or unchurched believer is something abnormal to the New Testament pattern.

I have examined your post #43 and have not found anywhere that says laymen are specifically told to witness to the unsaved. I suppose if one assumed that the Great Commission is to include every Christian, then one could come to a general (desired) conclusion that it includes Christain laymen.

With all the instructions to the Christians (laymen and ministers) included in the books after the gospels, one would expect instructions to the Christians would include laymen witnessing to the unsaved, if all Christians are included in the great commission.

Can you find a scripture (other than in the Gospels) that either specifically says or even implies that laymen are directed to witness to the unsaved.

I am not saying that laymen should not witness to the unsaved; I just can't find a scripture to support it.

 

[savedbymercy]

drf

Can you find a scripture (other than in the Gospels) that either specifically says or even implies that laymen are directed to witness to the unsaved.

The unsaved were not even the objects of the Great Commission, it was only for the Sheep that had been made Alive by the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead, or Begotten Again 1 Pet 1:3

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

All such ones would be teachable and able to be made disciples ! Just like the ones on the Day of Pentecost that Peter preached to, they had been Begotten Again by Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the Dead Acts 2:32-33

32This Jesus hath God raised up, of which we are all witnesses.


33Therefore, being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.

They were made Teachable by the Spirit's Work in them Acts 2:38

37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"


38Then Peter said unto them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

These are some Christ meant that they, The Apostles should make disciples and to teach them. And these were Teachable Acts 2:42


42Ad they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine[teaching] and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

 

[drfuss]

drf



The unsaved were not even the objects of the Great Commission, it was only for the Sheep that had been made Alive by the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead, or Begotten Again 1 Pet 1:3

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

All such ones would be teachable and able to be made disciples ! Just like the ones on the Day of Pentecost that Peter preached to, they had been Begotten Again by Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the Dead Acts 2:32-33

32This Jesus hath God raised up, of which we are all witnesses.


33Therefore, being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.

They were made Teachable by the Spirit's Work in them Acts 2:38

37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"


38Then Peter said unto them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

These are some Christ meant that they, The Apostles should make disciples and to teach them. And these were Teachable Acts 2:42


42Ad they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine[teaching] and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

My question was:
"Can you find a scripture (other than in the Gospels) that either specifically says or even implies that laymen are directed to witness to the unsaved?"

The above does not answer the question. So you could not find a scripture that directs laymen to witness to the unsaved. Apparently, there is no scripture that says or implies that laymen are directed to witness to the unsaved. Perhaps someone else knows of a scripture that answers the question.

Of all the instructions that Paul gives to the churches in his letters, I don't think the issue of laymen witnessing to the unsaved is addressed.