THE GREAT COMMISSION AS THE FOUNDATION OF SALVATION

INTRODUCTION: A sincere study of the Great commission as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 has proved the fact that it is an indispensable foundation of acceptable service. Anyone who really wants to be acceptable to God needs to build their service on the foundation of Matthew 28:18-20.

One’s entire life, particularly the aspect of service, can be likened to a process of building a house. We all know that any building without a strong foundation is doomed with a great fall. Therefore, we need to make sure that the life we are living is built firmly on a solid foundation, so that we do not crumble at the time of receiving our eternal home (salvation). We will be sincere and true to ourselves, if we agree to learn and obey the two basic steps the Lord commanded, according to Matthew 28:1820, in building our eternal home of salvation. STEP ONE: BECOMING A DISCIPLE. The first basic step for anyone who desires the eternal home of salvation is to believe and obey the gospel. It is what the Lord commands in Mark 16:16a, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved”, and Matthew 28:18-19. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…

A. Jesus made disciples by having them baptized during His earthly ministry (John 4:1)

B. Jesus commanded His followers to go and preach, ‘ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved’ (Mark 16:16a). 

C. The Apostles preached in obedience to Jesus’ command (Luke24:47;Acts. 2:22-36); those who desired forgiveness of sins and the eternal home (salvation) asked a question and were told what to do by the Apostles. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts. 2:37-38)

D. Those who desired forgiveness and the eternal home (salvation),received the Apostles’ word (that word which was bound in heaven,Matthew18:18) with gladness and were baptized to become disciples(Acts. 2:41). This is the pattern of becoming disciples throughout the account found in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. See Acts. 8:12-13; 8:35-38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:13-15; 16:31-34; 18:8; 19:1-5; 22:16.

E. It is at baptism that we can have total encounter with the death of Jesus for our sins. See 1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 6:3-8; Gal. 2:20.

It is there that we find ransom (Matt. 20:28; 1 Peter. 1:18-19; Rev.5:9).

It is there we find propitiation (Rom. 3:25;1 John. 2:2; 4:10).

It is there we are justified (Rom. 5:9).

It is there we are reconciled (Rom. 5:10).

It is there sin is condemned (Rom. 8:3).

It is there we are freed from sin (Rom.6:16-17; Rev. 1:5).

It is there we find redemption and purification (Gal. 3:13; Tit. 2:14)

It is there we are delivered from the worldly system (Gal. 1:4; Col.

1:13, 14)

It is there we are imputed with God’s righteousness (2Cor. 5:21)

It is there that we are released from the demands of the Law (Rom.

7:6)

It is there that we put on Christ (Gal. 3:27).


F. Buried with Christ in baptism (Rom. 6:4a). We are buried with Him in baptism for the old self to dissolve and be hidden in Christ (Col. 2:12; 1 John. 3:2).

G. Raised to new life with Christ in baptism (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12-13; Eph. 1:19-20; 2:5-6). We are raised with Christ in baptism for justification (John. 12:24; Rom. 4:25; 1 Peter. 1:3-5) We are raised to a new life with Christ in baptism (Col. 2:12, 13). We are raised to be hidden in Christ through baptism (Col. 3:1-3); so that just as those in Noah’s Ark were covered from the punishment of the flood as the ark was raised by the waters, those who are baptized into Christ’s death are raised, covered and saved from the consequences and judgment of sin (1Peter. 3:21). See 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

H. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit as we are baptized into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection (Acts. 2:38; 5:32). We are given the Holy Spirit during baptism as He baptizes us into the body of Christ, the church universal (1Cor.12:13). We are given the Holy Spirit during baptism for sanctification. (1 Cor. 6:11; 1Pet.1:2). We are given the Holy Spirit in baptism to set us free from the law of sin and death. (Rom.8:2). We are given the Holy Spirit to help fulfil God’s righteous requirement in us. (Rom.8:4).

We are given the Holy Spirit in baptism to enable us for service. (Acts. 1:8). We are given the Holy Spirit to guide and help us here on earth. (John. 14:16). We are given the Holy Spirit as a seal of God’s ownership. (Rom. 8:9, 14-15; Gal. 4:6). We are given the Holy Spirit to indwell us. (1Cor.3:16;6:19). We are given the Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth and also not to be misled (John. 14:26); some of those promises were given specifically to the Apostles (1 John. 2:19-20). We are given the Holy Spirit to know and abide in the truth of Christ. (John. 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). We are given the Holy Spirit to comfort us as He abide in us. (John. 14:16). We are given the Holy Spirit as a means for the Father and Jesus to make their home in us. (John. 14:23; 14:23; see Rom. 8:9). We are given the Holy Spirit to help us know that God abides in us. (1John3:24). We receive the grace of God through the Holy Spirit (Heb. 10:29). We are given the Holy Spirit to intercede for us in our weaknesses. (Rom. 8:26-27). God through the Holy Spirit, provides a way of escape during temptation, that we may be able to endure (withstand) it. see. (Rom. 8:13). We are given the Holy Spirit so that by walking in the Spirit we will not carry out the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). We are given the Holy Spirit for the assurance of salvation and bears witness to our sonship in Christ. (Rom. 8:16-17; 1 John. 4:13).

STEP TWO: LEARNING TO OBSERVE ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDS.

A. The second basic step for those who diligently seek salvation and have repented and been baptized to be forgiven is to submit to learning to observe as they are taught all that the Lord commanded. Matthew 28:20.

B. We read in Acts 2:42 that both the apostles and those who obeyed the gospel in baptism and became a child of God, obeyed the second basic step to be acceptable to God in building their lives on the foundation as commanded by the Lord. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and in prayers.

C. The statement of Acts 2:42 is the summary of how the Apostles were teaching those who had been baptized to become disciples and were observing all that the Lord commanded.

They continued (devoted themselves) to the Apostles Doctrine (Teaching). Acts 2:42. It is instructive to know that “The Apostles” is PLURAL while “The Doctrine/Teaching” is SINGULAR. There is no room for DIVISIONS/PLURALITIES of DOCTRINE, FAITH, TEACHING (Acts.13:43; Gal.2:2, 6-9; Col.1:21-23; 1Cor.11:2; Eph.2:19-20). Remember, the Apostles Doctrine (Teaching) was given to them by the Lord (Matt. 28:20; Acts. 1: 1-2; 1Cor.11: 23; 14:37; Gal.1:11-12). The Lord made it clear that it is only those who continue (Abide) in His Teaching that are truly His disciples (John.8:31-32; 15:4-6; 15:8-10; Acts.26:22; Rom.11:22; Heb.8:9b; 10:38-39; James 1:25). The Apostles urged the disciples to continue (abide and devote themselves) to the Doctrine (Teaching) of the Apostles as commanded by the Lord (Acts. 11:23-26; 14:22; Col.1:21-23; 2:6-7; 2Thess.2:15; 2Tim. 3:14; 2Pet. 3:17-18; 1 John 2:24-25; 2John 9; Jude 20-21).

They continued (devoted themselves) to the (Apostles) fellowship (Acts. 2:42. See Acts. 4:23; 5:12; Eph.3:6; Phil.1:7; Heb. 3:14). The Apostles urged all disciples to continue (abide and devote themselves) to the (Apostles) fellowship (1 John 1:3. See 1 John1:7; Phil.2:1-2; Heb.10:25). They continued (devoted themselves) to the breaking of the bread (Holy Communion) Acts.2:42; this was done every Sunday because it is the purpose of Sunday worship (Acts.20:7, 11; 1Cor.10:16-17; 11:23 -26). The Apostles and disciples did not just devote themselves to the communion for formality. The Lord’s promise in John.6:53-56, 58 is trustworthy and should be obeyed. He is the only true ONE. SEE John 6:66-69.

CONCLUSION:

The preaching and learning of the gospel as commanded by our Lord in Matthew 28:18-20 and Luke. 24:46-47; and believing to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit; continuing in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship; and celebrating the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) every Sunday. Acts. 20:7, 11; and the prayers is the foundation of salvation upon which our eternal house is being built. These are important commands of the Lord; and anyone who fails to heed these simple, indisputable and indispensable (crucial and necessary) commands are like the foolish man who built his house upon the shifting sands that our Lord refers to in Mathew 7:26-27. See Luke 13:26-27).