The great commission | biblical questions and answers

 

971. What was our Saviour’s last command before He took His departure for heaven? 

That His disciples should evangelize the world. 

972. When were they to begin? 

After they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8) 

973. How does Matthew report this command? 

“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 whatso-

ever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway” (Matthew 28:18-20). 

974. How does Mark report it? 

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). 

975. How does Luke report it? 

“That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” (Luke 24:47).

976. What are the leading features of this command?

(1) Preach the Gospel. (2) to all nations, (3) teaching to keep it all, (4) beginning the work at home. 

977. In what three ways may this command be violated? 

(1) By failing to let our light shine at home while professing to be great workers away from home. (2) By 

not trying to let all the world know about Christ. (3) By simply preaching Christ without practising and 

teaching obedience to all He taught. 

978. Where should we begin our obedience to this command? 

At home (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). 

979. Why begin at home? 

A light which does not light the things close about it cannot light the objects far away. 

980. What must we think of those who do not let their lights shine in the home, in the home church, in the 

home community? 

There is no light in them. 

981. Should a man who is not known to be an earnest, consistent Christian worker at home ever be encour-

aged to work away from home? 

He should not. 

982. What are the first essentials to be looked for In mission workers? 

A devoted Christian life, fully submissive to God and the Church. 

983. What of those who confess that they are not consistent now, but expect to be in case the Church ap-

pointing them to special work? 

That indicates a spirit of job-hunting. Let them first show the fruits, and then appointment can be made with 

more confidence. 

984. How did the apostles prove their worthiness? 

By their earnest, active, obedient, pious, zealous, self-sacrificing Christian service in and about Jerusalem 

before they thought of going out to other fields. 

985. How did they prove that they had the “power from on high”? 

By the vast amount of work accomplished during the first century (Colossians l:6, 23). 

986. What made this amount of work possible? 

The blessings of God resting upon the efforts of a self-sacrificing people. 

987. What did they do in the line of self-sacrifice? 

(1) They left all and followed Jesus. (2) They gave themselves over to fasting and prayer. (3) Their property 

was upon the altar of the Lord. (4) They counted no hardship too great to bear for the sake of the cross. (5) 

They counted no worldly tie so dear that they did not break it when duty demanded it. 

988. What should we do along these lines? 

Follow them, as they also followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). 

989. Is it necessary that we carry the Gospel to nations who once heard the Gospel but have discarded it? 

Just as necessary as it is for us to instruct our own children. 

990. Was the Great Commission given only to the apostles, or to the whole Church? 

If given to the apostles only, why should men like Mark and Luke have been out in the work? 

991. Was it given only to the first generation or to the Church of Christ for all generations to come?The promise was, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). If this means 

only the first generation, where is the proof that the rest of the Bible was not meant for that generation only? 

992. What duty, then, rests upon each generation? 

To evangelize the world. 

993. Is this possible? 

In the light of what that little congregation at Jerusalem accomplished in one generation, we should not say 

that our total membership can not evangelize the world in one generation. 

994. What stands in the way of real effective work today? 

(1) An alliance between the Church and the world. (2) A failure to realize that God really means for us to go 

out and evangelize the world. (3) A disposition to do the pleasant things while all the world around us is 

sinking in sin and folly. 

995. What money now spent for luxuries should be spent for the spreading of the Gospel? 

That which is spent “for that which is not bread,” such as for costly houses and furniture, fine horses and 

carriages or automobiles, superfluities in clothing, jewelry and costly array, expensive works of art, whis-

key, tobacco, musical instruments, pleasure seeking, and other things too numerous to mention. Read Amos 

6:1-6. 

996. Will I be held personally responsible for the fact that millions are now lost in sin without ever having 

heard of Christ? 

That depends upon whether I have done all in my power to help carry out the Great Commission. 

997. What saith the Scripture? 

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). 

998. What is the measure of our duty? 

“As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good” (Galatians 6:10). 

999. When will our duty cease ? 

“Be thou faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10). 

1000. What is the faithful Christian worker’s final consolation? 

“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over 

many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:23).