Jesus Christ Great Commission/s vis a vis The Lord Jesus Christ’s Commission to the Apostle Paul:

Our last study reviewed the so-called Great Commissions of Jesus Christ to His disciples during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension into heaven as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts. Each varies somewhat so they should be incorporated to get the full picture of what Christ’s instructions (commissions) were. One commonality was Christ’s promise that He would send the Holy Spirit to come upon them with His power. This gift of the Holy Spirit to Israel has caused division among believers since then because many have tried to claim them for their own when they, in fact, are only addressed to believing Israelites. We’ll briefly review of those gifts and then compare them to the commission The Lord Jesus Christ gave the Apostle Paul from heaven for us.

• Christ told His disciples to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: and to teach them to observe all things He had commanded them, Matthew 28:18 - 2018 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 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.

.

• He told them to go to all the world and preach the gospel to everyone and that all who believes and is baptized would be saved; but those that didn’t would be damned. And all who believed would be empowered, in Christ’s name, to cast out devils; speak in the language of those to whom they addressed; would be immune to the bite of deadly serpents or any poison they drank. And they would have power to heal the sick by laying hands on them, Mark 16:15 - 1815 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

.

• It was not until after the Apostles had accompanied Christ for 3 years that He “opened their understanding” so they could understand that His suffering (death on he cross), resurrection from the dead the third day had been prophesied and on the basis thereof repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Christ promised to endue those believing Jews with God’s power (send The Holy Spirit upon them) but they were to stay in Jerusalem, until this happened. Luke 24:44 - 4944 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

.

• Jesus told His disciples that just as His Father had sent Him, so He sent them. He breathed on them the Holy Spirit so that they could grant forgiveness of sins to those who believed and retain the sins of those who did not believe. John 20:21 - 2321 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

.

• Christ commanded His disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for a few days for God’s promise; i.e., to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. They asked Him when He would restore the Kingdom to Israel and He told them that only God The Father knew but they were to be witnesses unto Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and all the earth, Acts 1:4 - 84 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

.

Again, note that all the above commandments were given specifically to Christ’s disciples. Nothing in any of them apply to subsequent generations, i.e., they do not apply to us today. The disciples to whom these are addressed believed the promises God made in the Old Testament (OT) and by Jesus Christ to them personally. The Apostle Peter told those Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem after Christ ascended into heaven that they had to repent (for Israel’s crime of crucifying their Messiah) and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:3838 Then 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.

. Relatively few did while Israel’s leaders did not and they persecuted the 12 Apostles and those of like belief. The disciples were never able to carry out all of what they had been commissioned to do. As a result, the “Kingdom Gospel” was set aside and has been for almost 2000 years now. However, God’s promises cannot be thwarted; they will be fulfilled after The Body of Christ of today is raptured and the following 7-year Tribulation plays out its course.

The Lord reached down and saved Saul, one Israel’s leaders who was bent on destroying all Jews who believed Jesus Christ was their Messiah, Acts 9:3 - 183 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

. Saul became the Apostle Paul and was given the commission that we follow today. It had been a secret until then, Romans 16:25 - 2625 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

; Ephesians 3:1 - 121 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

; Colossians 1:25 - 2625 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

.

Christ’s great commission for us today was revealed only to Paul. It has elements not found in any of the above commissions to Israel. Note that nothing in Paul’s commission is found in Christ’s commissions. None of His commissions documented above mention:

• The word “grace;”

• The “Gospel of the Grace of God;”

• The “preaching of the cross;”

• “Salvation through the Blood of Christ;”

• “Faith in His shed Blood;”

• “Christ’s death as payment for sin;”

• “Christ’s all sufficient work of redemption as the basis for salvation;”

• The offer of “Salvation as the gift of God apart from works;”

• The “Offer of “salvation apart from the Law of Moses;”

• The offer of “Salvation by faith alone apart from the law or works;”

• Or “Associate Christ’s death and resurrection with our justification;

• “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile;”

• Or “say one word about The Body of Christ;”

• Or “say one word about the believer’s divine baptism into Christ and his Body;”

• Or say one word about a “heavenly position or prospect;”

• Or say one word about “all spiritual blessings in heavenlies in Christ.”

Christ’s commission to the Apostle Paul for us today contains all the above. Paul said: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:2424 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

. Believers today are saved into the Body of Christ with assurance of spending eternity in heaven with our Lord. Our Gospel is simple and straightforward: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8 - 108 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

.

“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4 - 74 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

.

(I recommend Pastor Cornelius Stam’s book “Our Great Commission - What Is It” for your further study of God’s commission to us today.)