"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." Matthew 28:18 – 20
The first thing one must see here is the word “power” it
means – privilege but it also means authority or a token of control – and most
times in the scriptures the translators use this Greek word “exousia” to mean
“authority”. Therefore, we must conclude that the definition of the word
carries the definition “authority”. In this passage Jesus met with the
leadership of the first church, started by Him, and He gave them this power or
authority. Jesus did not give this authority to the world, secular
organizations, or to just anyone who wanted it, He gave it to the local New
Testament Church. I’m not going to debate the church existence because that is
settled doctrine in my heart. The church without question was started in
Jerusalem and Jesus was the founder, through mission works out of that church
other churches were started. Churches are the corners stone of doctrine and truth,
therefore if an assembly is not doctrinally sound they are not a church by
definition. Churches are Sovereign Independent Bodies of Born Again, Baptized
believers. Verse 16 tells us “Then the eleven disciples went away into
Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.” Only the 11
Apostles that were the leadership of the church was present with Jesus at the
time of this giving of commission. This authority or power was given to them on
behalf of the church, therefore only the church has this authority to preach
the gospel. You will find that only true Sovereign Grace Bodies have the true
gospel and the true doctrine to carry out this authority. No other assemblies,
not even counterfeit Baptist carry the true gospel and true doctrine to the
world. Just being like or similar is not being true. Jesus, Who had all power
and authority gave this power to the local church.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” this is an absolute command.
Some say it is not, I guess that’s maybe the way the church at Jerusalem
because the Lord scattered them, then they would go and after they did look at
the explosion of Christians and churches. I am a firm believer that a church
must, it is not an option but a command to support mission work in the world. I
also believe a church should use every tool at her disposal to preach the
gospel and doctrine of the scriptures as far in the world as they can.
Next the Lord commanded, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Again this authority or power is not given
to just anyone but the local church. It also is a command with authority. Baptism
is the second most important thing a new born again believer can do. Baptism is
not an option it is a command both of the church and the born again Christian. Baptism
unifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, but it is also a
must to be a unified member of a local church. Acts 2:41 “Then they that
gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls.” Look, Three Thousand souls were born again,
baptized, and added to the church at Jerusalem, what a blessed day. The little
church Jesus started just started growing into that super church Jesus
promised. Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.”
Next the Lord commanded, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”
Once they are a believer, been baptized, and part of the church, then as
Pastors, Ministers, and Elders in the church we are commanded to teach them to
be part of the pillar and ground of truth or the church. Church membership is a
blessing from God, because He sets the members in the church as it pleased Him.
1 Corinthians 12:24 “For our comely parts have no need: but God hath
tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part
which lacked:” It should be treated like a blessing and if people cannot consider
it a blessing and honor it, they ought to be excluded. The church MUST be in
unity. It is the churches duty not to please people but to teach them.
And Jesus ends with the Great Promise, “…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.” A church that is faithful to Jesus then He will be faithful to
her. This promise is our strength and power to always walk in the truth and
keep the church as the Pillar and Ground of truth, “…But if I tarry long,
that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which
is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1
Timothy 3:15 The church honors the truth of the bible and as long as we do, we
have nothing to fear. The world hates the truth, some believers do not stand on
the truth, but the church must stand on the truth no matter what always know,
she is what Jesus has made her. Being worldly will only destroy the church,
secularism has never helped a church. Churches belong to Jesus not us; we are
the church that belongs to Jesus, we are what we are by God’s grace.
God bless the churches and their works!
