Title: Be Resolved! Sermon by Joey McLeod 12-28-2014 Calvary - TopicsExpress

Title: Be Resolved! Sermon by Joey McLeod 12-28-2014 Calvary Presbyterian Church Mize, Mississippi Matthew 28:16=20 The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Over the last three weeks, we have been examining the three-fold office of Jesus as our Prophet, High Priest and last week his role as King. But the question becomes what now? With these offices in mind and the beginning of a New Year, I thought it would be appropriate to take some time this morning and focus on the “what now.” I think this is a great time to get refocused on the task that Jesus has left to us, and that task is no where more clearly stated than in Matthew 28:16-20, which we more commonly know as the “Great Commission.” As Christians, we are commanded to go forth in the authority of Jesus to make disciples of all nations. The Core of the Commission As we have celebrated Christmas, we have thought about the birth of Jesus, but with this passage we move to the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Jesus was born a “Man of Sorrows” of lowly birth in a manger, but is raised as “King of kings” and “Lord of all.” During his lifetime, he was full of glory, but it was a glory that was veiled in his humanity except for a few brief moments such as at the Mt. of Transfiguration, and this revelation to a few select disciples. After his resurrection, he appeared over a period of 40 days to various people, and groups of people, but his appearances were strange. At times, such as the road to Emmaeus, he was not recognized, and yet there was no mistaking his identity as his disciples ate, drank, touched and worshipped him. Thomas would even proclaim, “My Lord, and my God,” after placing touching his pierced hands and side. It is here in Galilee that we have a record of one of his initial public appearances following his resurrection, at the place to which Jesus had directed the disciples to meet him. It is here in Galilee that his followers who had just a few days earlier all deserted him and were scattered, are now being gathered together. They behold the resurrected Jesus, and they fall down and worship, and yet there appears to be a little uncertainty as they doubt as well – hesitate. This was the same Jesus whom they had just witnessed being crucified and had seen being placed in a tomb, and now here he was alive. He had told them what must happen, and yet they never fully grasped his purpose for coming, which was for this moment – to die and rise again. It was through his obedience to the will of the father that he was exalted, that he was given great authority, that he was glorified. It was not that he had lacked authority prior to this, he was Son of God, but now thru his obedience something had happened. John 17:5 Jesus prays, “Glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had before the foundation of the world existed,” almost a restoration. His authority had been set aside at his incarnation, but was restored, even intensified in some sense as a result of his obedience to go to the cross. But now, he was raised and he says, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” It resides in the person of Jesus the God-man. Let that sink in a moment. Jesus says there is nothing in heaven or on earth that lies outside of his authority, outside of his power – “All authority!” There is an unrestricted freedom granted to Jesus to do whatever he wills in heaven and on earth. It has all been granted Him. He has authority over demons, authority over life and death, authority over pardoning of sins or condemning. There is nothing in heaven or earth that lies outside his authority. He is the fulfillment of Daniel 7. As the one with the authority, he is the one with the rights and the freedom to command the “therefore” and direct our paths, which is what we find here. But this also means that he has the authority to make the spread of the gospel effective, and call people to himself through the gospel message. The Commission When most people think of the great commission today, they typically focus on the first word of the command “go.” But it is important that we understand that the controlling verb in Jesus’ commission is “make disciples.” The words go, baptize and teach are all participles that modify or explain the command “make disciples.” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given Jesus, therefore or on account of this he commands us to “make disciples” or followers of him. This is a verb in the imperative tense, meaning that it is not a suggestion, or something that would be good to do, but a directive. You make disciples! Make students. Make followers of Jesus is the command issued by the one to whom all authority belongs. Now comes the “go” part, as it is a participle defining the when and the where we are commissioned by Jesus to make disciples. Probably a better translation would be “as you go,” or “while you are going” make disciples – either would be acceptable translation. The point that Jesus is making here is that this is not a command that is limited to any one time, but to all times, while you are going make disciples. This is not a command that it limited to any one place, “as you go” make disciples. As we have witnessed while working through the book of Acts this was not easy transition for these disciples who had been brought up as Jews. The general thought was that the promises had been reserved for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, but now Jesus commands while you go, make disciples. And to make sure his point is not missed he adds, “of all nations” meaning there is no place you go that is to be excluded. His authority is not limited to the nation of Israel but rather he has all authority in heaven or on earth, therefore wherever and whenever you go make disciples. We are to be faithful in the work, and by his authority he will make the work effective in every nation where the gospel is heard. So how exactly are we to go about fulfilling this task of making disciples? We are not left to wonder as the two remaining participles define how we accomplish this task. First we are to baptize them into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism is a sacrament used to admit people into the visible church, but is so much more than this. Baptism which is into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the means of joining us to the Trinitarian work of God and bringing us into the covenant of grace and the life death and resurrection of Jesus, just as circumcision united one to the covenant under Abraham. Baptism is the means of bestowing all of the work of the Son – the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness by faith upon the one sealed with this sign when made effective by faith. It is a sign of regeneration and of repentance and giving one’s life up to God to walk in the newness of life. It is the seal of our union with Christ Jesus. The point of this command is not to prove the Trinity, but before we move on this is one of the major texts used to prove the trinity. It is here where we see the threefold distinction – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is here that we see Jesus placing himself on an level path with the Father and the Holy Spirit. It is also to be noted that it is not into the names, but into the name (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God three in one. The third participle defining how we are to go about making disciples is “teaching.” Jesus no-where commands us to take up a sword or to force people to become disciples against their wills. We are simply to be faithful to the commission and teach them to obey his commands, and he is the one who has the authority to make it effective, to change hearts as he sends his Holy Spirit to regenerate and call his people to himself. It is through the teaching and the preaching of the word that the power and the authority of Jesus is displayed, and disciples are made. It is his commands that are to be taught – not the commands of man, not the desires of our hearts, but those things which he commanded. We have a record of these commands recorded for us in the pages of the scriptures that inform us who we are, and who he is and what he has done, and they tell us how to live in this fallen world, as well as what to expect in glory. But it is not enough to simply have knowledge of the commands, but notice a disciple is not simply one who knows, but one who obeys. There is no profit in simply going to church, and hearing the word, and even knowing the word if it goes no further. Obedience to the commands of God is the only proof of the reality that one is a disciple, a child of God. As James informs us faith without works is a dead faith. The Comfort of the Commission It is interesting that the last words recorded by Matthew take us back to the very beginning where the gospel started. The book began by announcing the birth of “Emmanuel” or God with us, and ends by announcing, “I am with you, even to the end of the age.” I think Jesus knows our hearts, and knows our greatest need in this life is to know the presence of God with us always. He is commissioning his people to go into a hostile world in enemy territory and wage a great spiritual war for the souls of sinners, and it is a lonely and dangerous task. But he reminds us that we do not fight it alone, “I am with you always.” I can’t help but think of Moses on Mt. Sinai when God commissioned him to lead Israel into the Promised Land. He plead with God saying if you will not go with us then don’t send us. God assured him He and not an angel would accompany him as they went through the wilderness in the Promised Land. Moses knew the battle was too great for any man apart from God’s presence, but when God is with us, whom shall we fear. In the same way, we need this reminder as we go forth as ambassadors of our King Jesus – “I am with you always,” especially given the fact he was about to ascend into heaven. In the words of JC Ryle, “It is impossible to conceive of words more comforting, strengthening, cheering, and sanctifying than these,” I am with you always. If you are God’s child, there is no time nor any place that you can go and not find Jesus with you – I am with you always. Jesus is with you to give strength when strength is needed. Jesus is with you to give sanctification when sanctification is needed. Jesus is with you grant pardon when pardon is needed. Jesus is with you to daily lead you and guide you, to open his word to your hearts, to make your efforts at making disciples effective. Jesus is with you in sickness, and in health, in life and in death and everywhere in between. I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. As we enter this new year, I think it is appropriate to remind you of the charge and the command that Jesus gave before he ascended and we entered this new era. Make disciples of all nations as you go, baptizing and teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded. There are souls all around us everyday that are perishing in their sins, those without Christ, and Jesus last words are go tell them about Me. Go in the authority of the one to whom all authority in heaven and on earth belongs, knowing he will not leave you, but is with you always. Go in his authority, knowing that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him to make your efforts effective. I’ll leave you with a final quote by JC Ryle, “It may well be questioned whether a man knows the value of the gospel himself, if he does not desire to make it known to all the world.” Now, as you are going, make disciples of Jesus, baptizing and teaching them to observe all that he has commanded!