OceanSide church of Christ

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THE GREAT COMMISSION (1)

Mark 16:15-16

The Charge

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Our theme for OceanSide this year is:  “We Will Go…I Will Go.”

 

B.      This theme stems from the Great Commission found in all three of the synoptic gospels:  Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

 

C.     Today is our “Kick-Off” Sunday. 

1.        We want to focus on our theme.

2.       We want to encourage us to take our theme seriously in 2020.

3.       We will have three lessons centering on the words found in Mark 16:15-16.

 

D.    In this lesson, we will begin by looking at “The Charge.”

1.        In these two verses, the Lord Jesus Christ sets forth a charge to His disciples.

2.       We will be looking at four points relative to this charge.

 

I.             THE AUTHORITY OF A CHARGE

 

A.    In the Bible, there are several Greek words that are translated “charge.”  One of them is the Greek word “paragellia,” which means “mandate” or “command.”

 

B.      When we speak of the Great Commission being a “charge,” we do not mean that it is an optional matter. 

 

C.     It is something that MUST be done.

 

D.    As a church, the charge is something we understand. 

 

E.      As individuals, we have failed to understand the command aspect of the Great Commission.

1.        There are many Christians who will never teach another person the gospel of Christ.

2.       If anyone got it as an individual, it was the apostle Paul.

a.       Romans 1:14-15

 

I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much a in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

 

b.      I Corinthians 9:16

 

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of:  for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

 

3.       On January 1, 1988, Ivan Stewart published a book entitled, Go Ye Means God Me.  His intent was to exhort every Christian to see their personal responsibility to carry out the Great Commission.  On page two of his book, brother Stewart writes:

 

“Many Christians admit the truth of the message of Jesus in that ‘go ye’ means ‘go me’ as much today as when Jesus spoke those words from the Mount of Ascension overlooking the Kidron Valley a short distance away from the walled city of Jerusalem, but then they do little about it.  Will Christians be surprised to learn at the judgment that the Lord really meant what He said when He commanded all His followers to ‘go’…”.

 

 

II.           THE AUTHOR OF THE CHARGE

 

A.    Anyone can set forth a charge from a world leader to a little child.

 

B.      The authority of the charge, however, stems from the position and power of the one who issues the charge.

 

C.     In our case, the charge comes from Jesus Christ the Son of God.

1.        He is God (John 1:1; Heb. 1:8).

2.       He is the I AM (John 8:58).

3.       He is the Creator of all things (Col. 1:16-17).

4.       He is the Redeemer of mankind (Jer. 50:34).

5.       He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25).

6.       He has been given all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18).

7.       He has been given a name that is above all names (Phil. 2:9-10).

8.       He is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).

9.       He is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim. 6:15).

10.    He is the Chief Shepherd (I Pet. 5:4).

11.     He is the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession (Heb. 3:1).

12.     He is the Judge of the quick and the dead (I Tim. 4:1; Acts 17:30-31).

 

D.    This is the one who has authored this charge.  He is one to be listened to.

1.        Matthew 17:5

 

…This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

 

2.       Hebrews 2:1

 

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

 

3.       Hebrews 12:25

 

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh…

 

4.       James 1:19

 

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

 

III.         THE ARTICLES OF THE CHARGE

 

A.    We are to “go”:  “Go ye…”

1.        The word “go” is an action verb.

a.       To move or proceed

b.      To leave or depart

2.       We cannot sit in our buildings.

We cannot hibernate in our homes.

We cannot hide behind our excuses.

3.       Jesus tells us where to go:  “into all the world.” 

a.       Seven continents

b.      Almost 200 countries:  195, 196, 197

4.       We can go in numerous ways:  walk, car, boat, automobile, airplane, radio, TV, social media, etc.

 

B.      We are to “preach”:  “…and preach…”

1.        That which is to be preached is “the gospel.”  We will talk about that in our next lesson.

2.       Paul said it is to be spoken in love (Eph. 4:15).

 

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

 

3.       NOTE:  We cannot preach what we do not know.

a.       Example:  I do not hardly know anything about the brain other than its location.  You do not want me teaching brain surgeons about the brain.  I cannot teach what I do not know.

b.      Some Christians act as if they know everything there is to know about the Good Book, but they have hardly cracked its cover.

c.       Knowledge comes by reading, study, memorization, and application of the Word of God.

d.      Psalm 119:27

 

Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:  so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

 

C.     The scope of our going and preaching

1.        All the world

2.       To every creature

a.       7.6 billion souls

b.      Every person has a soul to be saved.

c.       If we miss just one, it might have been the one who would respond if he/she had heard the gospel.

 

IV.        THE ANSWER TO THE CHARGE

 

A.    Once a charge has been issued, it has to be answered.

 

B.      There are only two answer:

1.        A refusal

2.       Or, obedience to the command

 

C.     When the apostles heard the charge, they were obedient thereunto.   They began to preach the gospel on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4, 11, 14, 22, 37, 41).

 

D.    Even when they were threatened by the authorities, they continued to preach the gospel (Acts 5:27-29).

 

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council:  and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we  straitly command youthat ye should not teach in this name?  and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with this doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

E.      We, too, have a choice to make.  Will we neglect the charge?  Or, will be neglect the charge.

1.        Is the charge really given to us? 

2.       Answer:  I believe II Timothy 2:2 confirms that it has.

 

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

 

a.       Paul taught Timothy.

b.      Timothy taught others.

c.       Those individuals continued to teach others.

d.      This was to continue throughout the Last Days until Jesus returns.

 

F.      All of us must answer the question.  Our theme encourages us to answer:  “Yes, I will go.”

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We cannot stress the seriousness of this charge enough.

 

B.      Evangelism is the lifeblood of every congregation.  Those churches that spread the gospel grow.  Those who do not will die.

 

C.     What will it take for us to take the gospel to the world.

1.        A deep love for God.

2.       A heart full of compassion for the last.

3.       A life that is full of faith.

4.       A mindset that is wrought with courage.

5.       A will that will endure to the end.